No car, and temperatures below freezing.... nice

Sorry in advance - this week's email will be short. Lots to do today, and we don't have much time here at the library!

As the subject line suggests, we will be losing our car today. I'm not sure if I mentioned this in past emails or not, but someone backed into our parked car a couple of days after Christmas...really unintelligent of that individual, but we forgive and forget, right? Except that we have to deal with not having a car this week while it's getting the small scratches buffed and re-painted at the local autobody shop...and it's below freezing here, all the time now. We'll try and be as productive as possible this week - I'm not letting the lack of a car keep us down! It's actually supposed to "warm up" to the 30s and 40s this week, so for that I am truly grateful. Tender mercies from the Lord help to keep me humble, but most of the time He has to use other means to make sure my pride is in check. =P

We have been busy, since we're technically now over 3 wards...the third ward (Billerica) is only one investigator, but he's getting baptized this Saturday! I'm grateful to be such a small part in his conversion. He's been investigating on and off for 8 years (his wife is a member), but about a month ago he called the elders and told them of his decision to be baptized. He's a great guy and has a lot of faith - we've just been reviewing the lessons with him and helping to prepare for his baptism. After that, though, Billerica will be shut down for a few months.

Most of our zone came down to Lowell a couple days ago, and we did another "blitz" to contact the inactive YSA members here in Lowell. About 95% of them have moved, some are there and not at all interested, and the remaining few (seriously, maybe 3 or 4 out of the list of 500 or so) have agreed to meet with the missionaries again. We're slowly but surely cranking through it!

We had an amazing lesson with one of those YSAs...his name is Raymond, and he opened up to us and told us about the difficulties he's had in his life. We've met with him a few times in the last 3 weeks or so, but this is the first time he's ever really talked with us. He's had a lot of issues in his family, and he cried as we tried to talk to him about it. He eventually told us that he couldn't "do this right now" and asked us to leave. We said a prayer together as a companionship in the car before we left the parking lot, and I think that's the hardest I've ever prayed for another soul. Our prayers were answered - he came to the Church basketball game at the stake center the next day. He's not ready to come to church just yet, but he's on his way.

I'm so grateful to be an instrument in the hands of the Lord in this great work. May He bless you and your loved ones in all you do (especially missionary work!). Godspeed!

Love,
Elder Justin DeLong