Welcome to the Packards!

Pres. and Sis. Packard are pretty awesome - I'm excited to have them and their family here in our mission! We got to meet them last Thursday. Their oldest son Brent is in the MTC right now, and will be serving his mission in Chile. Next is Angela, who has hydrocephalus and cerebral palsy - she reminded me so much of my sister, Keira. The two of them are even the same age. Angela can walk and talk and read well, so she's not quite like Keira, but I felt a very similar, special spirit about her, the same way I feel around Keira. The next youngest is Natalie, who is in high school, and she's the musically talented one. She plays piano very well, and is involved in plays and gymnastics and dance. Their youngest son, Michael, is pretty awesome. He can break-dance like nobody's business! When we got to meet each of them in person after the meeting, he read my nametag and gave me a big hug - my heart melted everywhere. He reminds me of my own little brothers. Needless to say, I missed my family a bit more than usual on Thursday. It was great getting to know them all, especially Pres. Packard. He was talking to us and I found myself loving him as my mission president already. I also received a spiritual confirmation that he's been called of God. I'm sure some of the missionaries are having a hard time switching their loyalties from Pres. Evans to Pres. Packard, but it's not a problem for me. Meeting him in person, I just knew - he had the same look of care and spirituality that Pres. Evans had, and that my old stake president (Pres. Gulbrandsen, who is actually currently a mission president in Argentina) had.

The 4th of July was INSANE here. We didn't have any teaching appointments, so we basically tracted and contacted people all day. It was cool to try and overcome my fears of talking to people, and I think I've finally made some progress! We then had dinner on the beach with a member family, and then changed into "street clothes" and headed down into Boston for the fireworks! We got to see part of the Boston Pops concert, including a performance from Jennifer Hudson! The fireworks were awesome, of course...and then it started pouring rain. We got soaked, and the fireworks went on, unhindered. It was a really great time! It was so packed with people though, it was NUTS trying to get out of there. The T stations were packed and we didn't get home until about 12:50 AM...we went right to bed.

We have a bunch of new investigators, as well as 3 who are actively progressing towards baptism. The work continues to move forward. Sometimes I feel like I'm just being dragged along for the ride without much effort on my part. I feel so honored and blessed to be here. I'm loving life as a missionary! It's been 7 months now and it keeps getting better.

Transfer texts came in this week - Elder Langford and I are still here (he's technically still being trained by me, but I don't consider him a "greenie" by any means), but Elder Swasey got transferred to the Rosindale/Dorchester/Quincy area of Boston. I'm sad to see him go, but it's not like I'll never see him again. It's just weird - he's been in our apartment since day 1 for me! Elder Castellano is coming to replace him, so at least we'll have someone who I know in our apartment.

I had a surprise visitor in our ward on Sunday - my stepuncle and his family were on a vacation in Boston, and my mom sent them my way. It was cool to see them and meet their family. To be honest, I don't really know them that well, but it was still cool that they came out to see me. Definitely unexpected, though!

Elder Langford has been under the weather the past couple days, and I'm starting to feel it a little bit...I should have known it was only a matter of time before I got sick, too. Good thing today's P-day. Nap time, anyone?

I had my first lobster roll yesterday - it was SO good! You know, I really hated seafood before I came out here, but now I love it. Clam chowder, lobster, mussels, even just fish and chips. Living in New England has given me a real appreciation for good seafood.

One of the most amazing parts about being a missionary is being completely guided by the Spirit (or seeing your companion act under spiritual guidance) and knowing that you were in the right place, doing the right thing, at the right time. It's incredible to be an instrument in the hand of the Lord as we take part in His work. I feel honored to be here and to feel His guidance in my life. I hope and pray that I can learn and grow as much as I'm supposed to, that I can help those who the Lord puts in my path during my 2 years, and that I can remain as strong and active as a missionary even after I'm released.

"May your wisdom be your armor, your compassion be your sword, may your strength be forged with mercy, your courage, lives restore."

Elder DeLong