Another transfer in Lowell for Elder DeLong

Shaham and Dan DiRocco (She is Cambodian, but grew up in America- she speaks and cooks Cambodian!!)

Elder Mitton, who is going home this week

Well, transfer texts came in - I'll be in Lowell for another transfer. Elder Butters is going to Oxford, and Elder Griffin is going to the young single adult wards in Cambridge. Elder Ban is my new companion - he's from Cambodia (Justin told me he was called to the Boston mission to speak English). I'm sad to see Elder Butters being transferred, but I know that he is going on to greater things. He has grown so much since we've been together, and he's gained experience, confidence, and a joy for this work. I'm grateful to have been his trainer and to have taken part in his journey of becoming a powerful servant of the Lord.

We got our car back on Friday, which we were VERY grateful for. We also found out this week that the Portuguese Elders will be moving in to our apartment with us after transfers...it's going to be packed in there! I can't even imagine it, but I won't have to imagine soon enough. =P

This past Saturday, we had the first of several musical firesides that the mission will be doing, and which I am honored and very happy to be a part of. I really loved this weekend's "performance" - I felt the Spirit so strongly, and as a whole the program went very, very well. I'm so grateful for the opportunity to bear my testimony of the Atonement and of my Savior's love through song. There are about 10 participating missionaries who sang or played, and about 8 who bore testimony. It was almost like a "Music and the Spoken Word" format. I had a couple of very special and meaningful spiritual experiences while there that evening. That fireside wasn't just for the members and investigators of the Boston area, but it was for the participating missionaries as well. Pres. Packard and his 12-year-old son Michael sang "A Child's Prayer," and the Spirit hit me like a sack of bricks. I cried because of the strong emotion I felt as I thought of the simple truth of the song, but also because I couldn't help thinking of me and my future children. I saw myself singing with my future son or daughter, and I think that's how that song should be. That's what it really means, that's what it's about. There were many other musical numbers and testimonies, all of which were very inspiring. I played piano for Pres. Packard as he sang "Savior, Redeemer of My Soul" (by Rob Gardner) with his daughter Natalie, and I played for Sis. Jordan for the song she sang. I also sang a piece myself: "Make Me Whole" (also by Rob Gardner). I felt the Spirit testify to me of the truth of the words that I sang, it was a very powerful moment for me. Pres. Packard came up to me after the fireside and told me that the Spirit was with me that night. He also said, "You have a gift, and you magnified it. Or rather, the Lord magnified you." Life as a missionary is beyond difficult, but the Lord knows me and is helping me along the way. He supports and sustains me in every thought, word, and deed, and I truly do feel my Savior's love each day.

Also on Saturday, we had the baptism of Dan DiRocco, the newest member of the Billerica ward. I'm so excited for his family - they're well on their way to entering the House of the Lord to be sealed for eternity together.

Speaking of sealings, we had a lesson with an "etern-igator" this week that was incredibly spiritually powerful. Her husband is a member, as is her daughter. Her husband is in jail right now for a crime he committed prior to his baptism, and his wife (our investigator) began taking lessons shortly after her husband and daughter joined the Church. We felt prompted to talk about why the Restoration was important, focusing on the restored priesthood authority. Our discussion turned to eternal families and temples, and our investigator commented that she had heard about "being sealed" before, and asked her daughter if she had been sealed to her father yet. The member-present we had with us responded with just the right amount of boldness and love: "No - she can't. Children must be sealed to a parental unit. The mother and father must be sealed first." Our investigator simply said, "oh," and you could practically see the Spirit testify to her heart. She got emotional and the Spirit filled the room. I feel like she finally realized why we've continued to come over and see her. She loves having lessons, but she lacked the understanding of why the priesthood is so important. Our member-present went on to bear powerful testimony of the Restoration and of temple ordinances. It was a "perfect" lesson, and I'm excited to see where things will go for this investigator!

With love,
Elder DeLong