Happy New Year!

My first white Christmas

Elder Butters and me on Christmas morning

 

 

It's so nice to feel love not only from my family back home, but also from the members here. They know that we're away from home and they have reached out to make us feel loved, especially during this holiday season. What a blessing this has been!

Christmas Day was certainly eventful. We were able to call home of course, and what a great experience that was. I don't think I ever truly realized how much I love my family until I came on this mission. I've gained a greater appreciation for them and a resolve to always strengthen the eternal ties we have to each other.

The four of us Elders here in Lowell were invited to three different homes for large meals that day - one for a big breakfast at 10:00 AM, another for dinner at 3:00 PM, and ANOTHER for dinner at 6:00 PM. We ate so much food...I don't know if I've ever felt so stuffed in my life. We walked around downtown Lowell between the dinners and caroled to try and spread some Christmas cheer (and burn some calories).

Our mission is putting together a musical fireside, and I've been asked to be part of it! The planning and rehearsing is officially underway, with our first performance on the 27th of January. This is going to be such a great opportunity for us to bear our testimonies through music and to help others feel the Spirit. I'm so grateful to be included in this project.

I had the wonderful privilege yesterday to sit in and translate for an elderly Cambodian member's tithing settlement interview. (For those of you former Elders who served here, it was Om Yoeuth!) It was an honor to be able to use the gift that God has given me to bless her life and to help out in such a special way. I was definitely humbled by that experience - the Lord is always finding new ways to ensure I'm "sufficiently humble" (Alma 5).

It's strange to think that today is the last day of the year. I've been a missionary during the entire year of 2012, and it's odd to know that I won't be a missionary for all of 2013; most of it, but not all. This has made me ponder and reflect over the past 13 months of my life and the service I've rendered. Of course, I've also been thinking about some New Year's resolutions, and I've resolved to give my all to the Lord every moment of every day. Sometimes I get so caught up in becoming the husband and father I need to be (especially with all these great talks from October's General Conference), and I focus too much on making the changes I need to make in my life. I just need to realize that as I serve my Savior with all my heart, might, mind, and strength, He will transform me into the man He wants me to be.

While reading Moroni 8 yesterday with Elder Butters in companionship study, verse 16 really stuck out to me:

"Behold, I speak with boldness, having authority from God; and I fear not what man can do; for perfect love casteth out all fear."

It's difficult to avoid discouragement, but I am a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ, and if He be for me, who can be against me? No regrets, no fears - only His love shining through me to others as I serve Him.

Happy New Year!!!

Love,

Elder DeLong