"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