My First Time as a Chili Cook-off Judge

This past Friday night, our ward had its annual Chili Cook-Off and Trunk-or-Treat party for Halloween. We didn't have any investigators come, but a couple of less-actives we've been working with were able to make it! And of course, who else to judge the chili but the Elders? There were 23 different pots full of chili that people had brought, and we sampled all of them, and then went back to our favorites, having just a spoonful each time. I think I ate enough chili just in judging it to fill me up for the night! It was a great time though, and I enjoyed it.

We've been able to get bikes and helmets from members in our ward, and so we've used those a couple of times this week! That's been fun, and humbling...I'm definitely out of shape. Let's just say my mission has made me a little more "cushy" as I've only been in areas that have cars. My legs are still a little sore.

We went on splits with members of the ward twice this week, and have two more nights for splits lined up for this week! Lots of work to be done in this area, and lots of potential as well! A couple of weeks ago, President and Sister Packard went to a conference with the mission presidents and their wives in the region. Several general authorities were there, including Elder S. Gifford Nielsen ("EXCLAMATION POINT!" from this last General Conference) who will be coming to our mission next month, and Elder Russell M. Nelson. President and Sister Packard shared a cool quote from Elder Nelson: "The day of members and missionaries working in different orbits is over." What an exciting time to take part in the work of salvation as the Lord is hastening His work! 

I'll close with a wonderful experience from this weekend. We went on exchanges with our zone leaders on Friday, and I've got to say, I really love Elder Moat and Elder Carvalho. They're fantastic leaders, full of love and a desire to help each of us in the zone succeed in the work. Elder Moat especially has become a great friend to me as we cope with nearing the ends of our missions. I had let him and Elder Carvalho borrow one of my CDs that they wanted to listen to, and so he let me borrow a CD of his that he thought I might enjoy; it was a burned disc, with the title "Uplift" written on it. I figured it was probably a collection of inspirational and uplifting hymn arrangements, and I thanked him for it. That night and the following morning, I was more depressed and upset about our lack of success and about my inevitable return home (and all fears associated with that) than I had been in a long time. Elder Gibson noticed that I was having a hard time, but as he has said, he doesn't really know how to help people when they're struggling emotionally. It came time for us to leave the apartment for the day, and I thought maybe some beautiful music would cheer me up. I put in the CD that Elder Moat had given me to listen to, but to my surprise it was a collection of audio tracks from several Mormon Messages, quotes from prophets and apostles, etc, each focusing on a quality such as diligence, priesthood duty, patience in trials, feeling the love of God, and service to others. It was exactly what I needed to hear that day, and there's no way Elder Moat or I could have been able to tell I would need it. I felt spiritually revitalized, encouraged, and filled with a new-found determination to contribute to the work of the Lord. I'm grateful for Elder Moat, for the words of modern-day prophets, for the Spirit, and for a loving Father in Heaven who knows me and reaches out to me in my times of need.

Love,
Elder DeLong