This week, I learned that here in Massachusetts, if you take your recyclables to a local grocery store, they give you 5 cents for each item. The Ciuncis gave us all of theirs from the deli's trash and we got $7.10 out of it!
The work has been picking up here, and I'm getting really excited! We had more appointments set up this past week than we've had the entire time I've been in this area! The Lord truly recognizes our best efforts, and helps us to do better when we're not doing our best. He is at our side as we labor together in the vineyard! I was having a rough day this week, and who do I get a letter from? My aunt Lori, my mom's sister. She had written me an encouraging letter that I really needed at that moment. Our Father in Heaven works in mysterious ways. =]
We're getting REALLY close with one of our part-member families...the wife has been less-active for years, and came back to church about 3 months ago. Now, she's on fire with family history, food storage, and all sorts of stuff. She studies the Book of Mormon in-depth on a regular basis and has truly caught the "light" of the gospel. She's completely different from when we first met her. Her husband loves having us over, and though he's not ready to join the Church, he let us teach him the Plan of Salvation this week. It was incredible...his father died when he was only 9 years old, so he had plenty of questions for us. We're actually going to their home this week to have dinner on the 4th and watch fireworks...the wife wants us to teach another lesson. Prayers for them are appreciated! I definitely have a testimony of the power of prayer.
A man referred himself to us via mormon.org - he works in Salt Lake City from time to time, and wants to understand more of what we believe. He said that he'll invite his coworkers out for coffee or to get a drink after work at a bar, and they always turn him down! That was his initial interest, but he quickly developed a desire to learn more about the doctrine we hold so dear. We met with him at the hospital - he spends most of his time there because his son was born inside out. No, really. His son (he and his wife's first child) was born with a hole in his abdomen, and his stomach and intestines were outside of his body. The thing is, the skin and muscles had to stretch to make room for the organs since his body had developed improperly. Over the past 4 months, the doctors have been able to get all of his insides back where they are supposed to be, and the skin is "sealed up" so to speak. This miracle baby is now taking food orally instead of intravenously, and he's starting to gain needed weight! Throughout this experience, his parents have stayed faithful to God. They have faith in Christ as our Savior, and it was really great to meet with this young father. His wife is opposed to missionaries of other faiths and so she didn't want to meet us, but our time with this man was wonderful. He had several doctrinal questions for us, and we ended up teaching him the Plan of Salvation as well. Hopefully things move forward for him this week, too.
Yesterday, I was asked to sub in Primary for singing time. It reminded me of being Primary chorister in my home ward for 3 months before I went to college...that is seriously the best calling in the Church. (Second only to being a missionary!) I love our Lord and Savior, and I love being a part of His great work! =]
Love,
Elder DeLong
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