"What?! I totally thought he was really Joseph Smith!!!"

Me with Elder Escobar

Outside our apartment that is attached to this deli owned by the ward mission leader

Well, I'm in Worcester! WOOSTAH. The Boston accent is more prevalent and widespread here than anywhere else I've served, I think, but I'm so accustomed to it by now that I barely even notice it. This is my first time serving in a rural area; we have a small part of the large city of Worcester in our area, but for the most part, we work in the small towns just north of the city (Holden, Boylston, Rutland, Paxton, etc). Westford and Chelmsford in my last area were definitely more spread out too, but we were in Lowell most of the time.

Speaking of Lowell, I miss it there, but I'm very excited to be here in a new place with tons of new people to serve! My companion and I are already working and praying hard for the work of the Lord to be hastened in this area. The ward is small and some of the members are more apprehensive about missionary work, but I look forward to building up this ward and helping them take part in this marvelous work and a wonder! I'm already having learning tons of learning and faith-building experiences here, and it only reinforces my love of being a missionary. =D

Sister Rivera and Elder Hanberg are in my district again - we were together in a district during my time in the Revere 2nd ward, and here we are together again! Sister Rivera and her companion serve in both Worcester wards (there's another companionship of Elders for the Worcester 2nd ward), and Elder Hanberg and his companion are in the Framingham ward. It was nice to have familiar faces at district meeting on Friday to go along with all the new ones.

You're probably wondering about the title of this email...so, last Sunday, the Primary Presidency of the ward asked the Elders to come in to Primary to do part of Sharing Time. I got transferred in on Thursday, and Elder Escobar told me about it. They're learning about the Restoration right now, and the lesson manual suggests that a priesthood holder comes into the room in a simple costume and plays the part of Joseph Smith, telling the story (from a first person point of view) of how he received the golden plates and how gospel truths were restored through heavenly visitors. Elder Escobar said I would probably fit the part better, and I jumped at the chance to do a bit of acting. It worked out perfectly, because it was my first Sunday in the ward and nobody knew me yet! I went in without my coat, tie, or nametag on, and told the kids that I was Joseph Smith. Their eyes got all big, and I told them my story in a few brief, simple sentences. I told them about "my" First Vision and how the Angel Moroni gave "me" the plates. I talked about translating the Book of Mormon, receiving the priesthood, and learning more about the sacrament and temples, etc etc. After that, I told them I had a secret, and asked if anyone could guess my secret. One of the girls in the back raised her hand and said with a grin on her face that I wasn't really Joseph Smith. I admitted it, and there was a small boy in the front who said, "WHAT?!? I totally thought he was really Joseph Smith!!!" I got a good laugh out of that afterwards. After the cat was let out of the bag, I walked over to the table, put my nametag back on, and told them that I was the new missionary in the ward. I bore my testimony to them of Joseph Smith, the Restoration, the Church, and of Jesus Christ as our Savior while I put my tie and suit coat back on. It was tons of fun and a special experience to bear my personal testimony of Joseph Smith in a different way.

It's hard to believe that it's already almost May. Time certainly does fly...all the more reason to get out and work! =]

Love,

Elder DeLong

WOO-STAH!!! =D

The Cambodian sisters in Lowell

 

 

Well, no reason to keep you all in suspense. I'm getting transferred! Lowell is now officially an English area. It already was, technically, but I was still here and translating for sacrament meeting every week. I'm not sure what the ward is going to do without me to help communicate with the elderly Cambodian sisters, but I know that the Lord will provide a way.

Anyway, I'm going to be serving in the Worcester 1st Ward of the Boston Stake! No, it's not pronounced "wor-chest-er," it's pronounced "woo-ster." Like the double-O sound in the word "book." If you've got the local accent though, it's "woo-stah." Remember, any R at the end of a word is replaced with an AH. Then, Rs are added where they're not supposed to be. "Idear" for idea and "Almer" instead of Alma. Conservation of consonants, Boston style. My new companion is Elder Escobar, in case any of you were wondering. He's of Hispanic descent, but doesn't speak any Spanish at all. Haha!

The last 6 or 7 months here in Lowell have really flown by, now that I'm looking back on my time here. I've been through a lot, learned a lot from the Lord and from different companions, and I've grown more than I can say; probably even more than I realize. My heart is heavy as I think about leaving this place and these people, because I truly have grown to love them. However, I feel ready to leave at the same time. The Lord has had a work for me to do here, and He has a work for me to do in my new area. I'm really excited to go to Worcester and fall in love with a people and an area all over again. The Lord truly does bless us with an increasing capacity to love as we serve others. Their needs become more important than ours, and they enter in to our hearts as we do all we can to bring them unto Christ. On the flip-side, it's incredible to see just how much we mean to them and how much they love us as missionaries. Saying goodbye to people is difficult, but it isn't really a goodbye; it's a see-you-later. =]

I know that Elder Johnson is going to do well here - I've already seen him taking charge of the area and teaching the people who I won't be here to teach with power and authority. He's the one to be here in Lowell right now. We really have become a companionship during our two transfers together. We've worked hard and seen miracles take place through our faith, both with members and investigators.

Not much else to say this week, everybody. It's been really really busy, with a lot going on, but I don't know what else to include in this letter. It's my last day in Lowell - a place that I never thought would mean so much to me.

With love,
Elder DeLong

"The kingdom of God is built on the edge of exhaustion"

I want to begin this week's email by expressing my condolences to the victims and families who lost loved ones in the bombing tragedy at the Boston Marathon yesterday. I'm glad to know that all of the missionaries in the area are safe and unharmed, but it's still a bit of a depressing thought. We must really be in the last days, since "perilous times [have] come" (see 2 Tim 3:1-5).

On a lighter note, two of the recent converts in the Lowell ward that we have stewardship over were finally able to go to the temple to do baptisms for the dead this last weekend! It took them a while to get there, but they finally made it, and I'm so thankful that the blessings of the temple have been extended to two more of our Heavenly Father's living children and countless more who had their saving work done for them.

We have a new senior couple in the ward, too: Elder and Sister Jueschke (pronounced jew-ski). They're phenomenal, and it's going to be great having them here. They've already proved to be a fantastic asset to the work in this area. Plus, the ward already loves them! They came with us to a lesson on Sunday afternoon, and we were able to get two new investigators with their help!

More good news! This last week, we participated in a "Faith Fair" on the campus of U-Mass Lowell. It's the university campus pretty close to where we live, and we're actually in the student library right now as we email. We weren't allowed to "proselyte" per se, but we were able to talk to a lot of people and get some people to sign a petition of sorts to start an LDS club on-campus! This means we can reach out to the 16,000 students at this campus in our missionary efforts, advertise events, and hold activities (such as institute or FHE for the YSA ward) on campus. This is going to be huge! We're really excited for the work to hasten with the YSAs in this branch of the Lord's vineyard.

Elder Johnson and I went on exchanges with our zone leaders this week - I spent the day in Nashua on Friday with Elder Wilding, and Elder Neil came down to spend the day in Lowell with Elder Johnson. It was good, and we had a couple of awesome experiences while with our temporary companions. Things always happen on exchanges that are only possible with the companion from the other area being there, and I have a testimony that the Lord is involved in the details of His work.

Yesterday was Patriot's Day (hence why this email is coming on a Tuesday and not a Monday), and we got to go to the temple in the morning! I always love the peace and serenity that is present in the House of God. Our zone was in the same session with the Springfield Zone, and so I got to see some friends! Elders Langford, Stradley, Croft, Hanberg, and Butters. =]

I haven't been sleeping well this last week or so, and I've just been emotionally and physically exhausted. It makes "wear[ing] [myself] out in the service of God" a reality, and all the stress caught up with me on Sunday. Our progressing investigators didn't come to church, a couple extra problems came up, I wasn't feeling too well, and it was all just adding up to be too much at once. So, we went home after sacrament meeting of the Heritage Park Ward (we had been at the church for 7 hours at that point) to get a bite to eat and do companionship study before heading to a couple of appointments. I took a short power nap instead of eating, and that seemed to help calm me down. I felt rested for the first time in several days, and my head was finally cleared. Once that happened, I was finally able to receive some personal revelation, comfort, and encouragement from my Heavenly Father as I studied the scriptures with Elder Johnson. As a mission, we have a Book of Mormon reading schedule, and it just so happens that the assigned chapter for this last Sunday was Alma 26. If there's anything that can get a missionary feeling good, happy, and motivated, it's Alma 26! I was deeply touched by the Spirit and was filled with a renewed sense of dedication to this sacred work, no matter the cost. "How great reason have we to rejoice!" What a great opportunity to forget about myself and my own needs and to lose myself in the service of others as I focus on their needs. This area is beginning to blossom, and I'm not going to give out when things get tough. My Savior stands by me and lifts me up through my difficulties, and He is mindful of my every need.

During this last week, the odometer on our car broke 40,000 miles, and 7,000 of those have been personally added to the car by yours truly. I've been here in Lowell for over 6 months, and transfers are next week. We'll find out this Saturday who's staying and who's going, or if anyone's leaving at all. I'm just doing my best this week to not think about it and praying that I'll be able to accept the Lord's will for me, whatever it may be. "I'll go where you want me to go, dear Lord, over mountain or plain or sea. I'll say what you want me to say, dear Lord, I'll be what You want me to be."

With love,
Elder DeLong

"No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God" (Luke 9:62)

Boston Temple with Meredith to do baptisms for the dead

I thoroughly enjoyed General Conference this weekend. It was wonderful, as always. I saw a friend of mine in the BYU choir in the Saturday afternoon session, so that was cool! Better than that, though, is the personal revelation and comfort that I received from our Father in Heaven over the two days. Some of the talks really touched my heart and answered my prayers, and others were just wonderfully uplifting. Conference is over all too quickly, but I'm infinitely grateful for the guidance and counsel we received this weekend.

This week, I finished my study of the Doctrine and Covenants! I set a goal to read all 4 of the standard works while on my mission - I've now completed the Book of Mormon (again), the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price. Next up: the Old Testament!

Friday during the day, our assistant ward mission leader for the Heritage Park ward, Nick, drove us all around the Nashua, NA area to contact less-active YSAs there. We didn't get to everyone we wanted to meeting because of time, but it's a work in progress! Friday evening, we had the marvelous opportunity to attend the temple with our recent convert, Meredith, as she did baptisms for the dead for her first time. She had an incredible experience there, and it was a privilege to feel the sweet Spirit of the temple, as it always is. I also had a very special surprise: it just so happened that the YSA group from Ludlow, MA was at the temple the same time as us, and guess who's currently serving there? None other than my brother, friend, and previous companion, Elder Langford. It was awesome to see him, especially in the temple. It reminded me of the experience Alma the Younger had as he was reunited with the sons of Mosiah at the beginning of Alma 17.

The work here seems to be taking off! Ever since Meredith began progressing, other investigators came out of the woodwork, so to speak, and two of them have accepted baptismal dates since Meredith was baptized. I think the Lord trusts us more than He has before. Sunday (yesterday) was a day of miracles. One of our investigators got her answer from God as to the truthfulness of the restored gospel, another one of our investigators accepted a baptismal date that we extended to him, AND we managed to contact a less-active member that the Bishop asked us to try and find not even 30 minutes after we received the assignment from him...all in one day, apart from General Conference.

One experience this week, though small, stands out in my mind. We had contacted this guy on the street one day, and he seemed like a nice guy. A little strange, but a nice guy. We set up an appointment to come see him a couple days later, and found out that he lives with his aged father. Both of them seemed mildly mentally disabled, and though they enjoyed our visit and our lesson, they didn't want to set up a return appointment. Although they didn't seem to fully grasp everything we said, I was filled with a knowledge that our Father in Heaven knows them both and loves them dearly. I did my best in that lesson to act as the Savior would if He had been there. That's really who we are, isn't it? Representatives of Jesus Christ in this area. I love my mission, I love this work, and I love my Savior.

With love for each of YOU,
Elder DeLong

"This is the day the Lord hath made... rejoice and be glad in it" (Psalms 118:24)

Spring is here! The sun is shining, the weather is absolutely beautiful, and the birds have been singing! =D

I've said it many, many times before and I'll say it again: I LOVE being a missionary. The work is picking up and miracles continue to take place. Let me just share something from Pres. Packard's email this week: "The mission continues to progress and improve. March shattered the all-time record for baptisms in the MBM (at least for as far back as we have data.) We will never place a great emphasis on numbers in this mission, but we do want you to know that the things you are learning do work. This is the Lord’s way of doing missionary work and we are finding great joy in as we continue to learn how to serve in the Lord’s way."

Great things are happening. I'm so excited for General Conference this weekend! I haven't really cared all that much about General Conference until the past couple of years (since I began preparing to go on a mission, really). As a missionary, General Conference is just extra special. Meredith was confirmed a member of the Church yesterday, and received the gift of the Holy Ghost. It was an honor to participate in that ordinance, and on top of that, she met with Bishop and now has a temple recommend! We'll be going with her to do baptisms at the temple this week. =]

Elder Maldonado, our district leader, was speaking to Elder Johnson and I last night, and he gave us a wonderful compliment. He said that he thinks he figured out why our area has been progressively getting better and better; he attributed our success in the work to our unity as a companionship. He said he notices how well Elder Johnson and I get along, and how we work hard in the service of our Lord. Thinking back on the last 6 months in Lowell and over my entire mission thus far, I've realized that Elder Maldonado is right. Elder Langford and I did very well together in Revere because we were so close, got along very well, and respected and loved each other as companions. Elder Ang and Elder Butters were good companions, but there was this thing or that thing that seemed to hold our companionships back. Nothing at all against either of them, and no hard feelings between us. Elder Johnson and I have only had one very small "spat" or disagreement, and it was in our very first week together. Since then, he and I have been doing very well together, and that's when the successes and miracles began to flow. I testify to the importance of companionship unity and to the fact that the Lord trusts His servants with His children as they are obedient and work together in love and respect for each other. Companions truly can be friends, too.

I hope each of you had a wonderful Easter. It's definitely my favorite holiday - the commemoration and celebration of the Atonement and Resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ has such powerful meaning for me. It's by His hand and His grace that I am able to make it through each day. It's by His suffering that He is able to succor me, lift me up, and redeem me from my sins. It's by His voluntary death and Resurrection that I will live again someday. My debt of gratitude is impossible to repay and nearly impossible to express. I love Him and will praise His name forever.

Love,
Elder DeLong