Happy Memorial Day!

Hope everyone had a good time yesterday with their families. I didn't get to write yesterday because all of the libraries were closed, so here I am today! We got to go to the temple yesterday morning, which was a beautiful experience for me, even more so than normal. I'm thankful for the scriptures, for personal revelation, for friends, and for mission leaders that are aware and compassionate to the needs of those whom they have stewardship over. I have great zone leaders and an awesome district leader! There was a surprise at the temple, too - who else should happen to walk into the celestial room as I sat there after our session than Matt Phillips (formerly Elder Phillips, from my very first district in the mission field)! He's here visiting with his family, and it was great to see him. 

Another eventful happening yesterday was the arrival of an unwelcome guest upon my scalp. I was sitting under some trees, writing letters, while other missionaries in our zone played soccer on an open field. Suddenly, I have a strange feeling on the top of my head, and I go to brush it away, but it doesn't move...almost like when you have a scab or something and it doesn't come off of your skin. I asked the Elder next to me to look at my head, and he was like, "uhm....that's definitely a tick." There's a first time for everything, I guess, and this was my first time having a tick on me. I have no idea how it got there, but I didn't care at that point, I wanted it OFF. I didn't have any on my anywhere else, and we managed to get it out and off successfully. I'm surprised at how calm I remained during the whole thing - I'm learning to manage my stress! Look mom, I'm growing up! 

Elder Moser (one of my zone leaders) and I got asked to do a duet of "How Great Thou Art" for this next upcoming musical fireside (this Saturday) - him on guitar, and me on piano. We've been working on it, and it's coming along really well! I'm excited for it, and for the rest of the normal program. Also on the music front, I played a piano solo of  "I'll Go Where You Want Me to Go" in sacrament meeting on Sunday. (Sorry mom, I forgot to record it...) The ward loved it, and the music coordinator wants me to sing next month, too. I'm honored at the opportunity to bless the lives of others. 

We went on exchanges last week with Elder Soares (our district leader) and his companion, Elder Hanberg. I got to serve with Elder Hanberg again, in Framingham. It was really cool to be with an old mission friend from my first area and apartment! I'm also currently on exchanges with Elder Moser. 

Great things happening with a couple of less-active and part-member families here. There are a lot of issues to resolve in this ward and in this area, but I know that the Lord will bless us as we work hard and give Him our all! One less-active member, Maria, came to church this week for the first time in years! She's Brazilian (and an AMAZING cook), and I'm so glad we've been able to help her on the path back to the fold. Trials may come, but all we have to do is trust in our Savior. Nothing can stop His work, and being part of it is the best thing I could ask for! 

With love, 

Elder DeLong

My shortest email yet!

Justin on way to district meeting and lunch in the big van

I apologize - we have no time today. This email is going to be VERY short. Quick recap of this week!

We had zone conference (which was awesome!). Stake conference was this weekend and there was a priesthood conference Saturday morning, adult session in the evening, and then a general session (broadcast from Salt Lake City to 35 stakes and 2 districts in New England, with Elder Ronald A. Rasband, Sis. Linda K. Burton, Elder L. Tom Perry, and Pres. Boyd K. Packer speaking - it was wonderful!) Sunday morning. My companion and I are working hard to get to know this area and get things up and running. We've been meeting with ward leaders like the Bishop and the Elders Quorum President to understand the situation here more and discern what we can to do help. There have been lots of roadblocks but things are getting better. 

I really love being a missionary! My best wishes and love to my cousin Leah and my friend Meagan, both of whom are leaving within the next couple of weeks for their missions. I really don't have much to say this week. The work is tough but I'm feeling good - VERY good. =D

Much love to you all!

Sincerely, 

Elder DeLong

Happy Mother's Day!

This is going to be really short - not much time today!

Thank you to all you mothers out there. It was wonderful to be able to talk to my family yesterday, and especially my Mom. The First Presidency made a statement many years ago, and I really like it: "Motherhood is near to divinity. It is the highest, holiest service to be assumed by mankind. It places her who honors its holy calling and service next to the angels."

Kate's baptism! Elders Johnson and Metcalf, her husband, Chris, and me

 

 

So much has happened over the past 4 days. I was able to attend the baptism for Kate Duncan, an investigator I had in Lowell, on Saturday afternoon. We had an amazing musical fireside on Saturday night in Nashua (every time we do this fireside, it gets more and more special to me!). There was an emergency transfer - an Elder in another area had one of his YSA, female investigators fall in love with him...so he had to get out of there, stat! He had to be moved, and people got switched around to accommodate the need for the emergency transfer. Elder Escobar was transferred to Avon, CT and my new companion is Elder Williams. It's tough, because I've only been here for a couple of weeks, and I don't know many people here. However, I know more than I would know otherwise, and so for that I'm thankful. We're just working hard to get our companionship going (we've only been together for 3 full days!) and at the same time, get the work up and running in this area. I tell you what though, I'm learning a lot. So, that being said, we also went to a baptism in Elder Williams' previous area this weekend. Saturday and Sunday were crazy! We've barely been able to breathe.

The work of the Lord is truly hastening. I really love being a missionary, especially in such an exciting time to serve. This area is tough, but I know that our Heavenly Father's blessings are with us as we give Him our all each day. As we give ourselves over to Him, He transforms us into true disciples of Christ. I'm grateful for that, for this chance to serve, and also for my amazing mother. =]

Love,

Elder DeLong

"Forget not to be happy now." - Pres. Uchtdorf

Lots of new experiences this week: I tried fresh milk for the first time (milked that day, homogenized and pasteurized on site, then on the dinner table that night at a member's home), we volunteered at a blood drive helping people sign in and whatnot, we were waiters for the lunch and babysitters for the rest of the time during the stake's women's conference that took place all day Saturday, and we had dinner a different night with a member family where the husband is Jewish (literally, FROM Israel, and is a member of the Church) and the wife is Thai. Very interesting combination - they both speak Hebrew fluently since they lived together in Israel for 10 years, and Thai is the wife's first language. It was cool to compare notes with her about differences between the languages of  Cambodian and Thai. Some very similar words, and I caught some of the things she said as she prayed. The husband has translated a few hymns into Hebrew, and he taught us a couple of them. It was way cool!

Church yesterday was really great - we had an awesome testimony meeting, and a few people we've been working with (less-actives and part-member families) came! The Primary kids and leaders are still thrilled with how cool my "cameo appearance" was last week. One little girl came up to me and said, "HELLO, Joseph Smith!" and another little girl came up and randomly started telling me about her family's recent trip to the Sacred Grove.

As a ward, we fasted yesterday for the Church to be strengthened in this area, and as a ward, we broke our fast together! We had a massive, Cinco de Mayo potluck, which was tons of fun with lots of great food!

Last night, I had a wonderful experience as I was guided by the Spirit. I felt prompted to go and see one of the less-active young single adults we have been trying to meet with. His mother is the Brazilian member who invited us in for dinner on a whim last weekend when we went by there to try and see him. The young man wasn't there, but his mother, Maria, was, and she invited us in and gave us some dessert. We asked if we could share a message with her and her husband, but he was busy working on something. She agreed though, and as I flipped through my copy of the Book of Mormon that I was holding (we hadn't planned for this lesson since there was no way to have known we would be sitting down with her!), I felt prompted to stop on a certain page, then flip the back back one, and read what I found. It was Moroni 7:27-29, which tells us that miracles have not ceased. I read it for her, and then felt prompted to read a related verse that I know, Mormon 9:15 - God has not ceased to be a God of miracles. We ended up having a fantastic discussion on miracles, and she disclosed some of her personal struggles with us. She told us of her health problems and of her desire to quit smoking. The Spirit was present, and I felt guided to offer her two things: first, a blessing, and second, a stop-smoking workshop that I have taught several times on my mission. She agreed to both, and we gave her the blessing at that time and set up another appointment to do the workshop. We would have never been able to give her the help she needed if we had never known her needs, and we wouldn't have known her needs if we hadn't had the conversations we did. We wouldn't have had those conversations if I hadn't read those verses, and I wouldn't have read those verses if I wasn't inspired to turn to that page. None of this would even have happened if I hadn't heeded the prompting to visit their home last night. I know for certain that the Spirit guided us in every aspect of that visit, and I feel incredibly blessed to have been used as an instrument in the hands of God to help one of His daughters who is suffering. It's a great comfort to me that He finds me worthy to send me on His errand to accomplish His work here on the earth. 

I have also come to gain a testimony of the power of our thoughts, for good and for bad. I noticed on one occasion this week that as I focused on a negative or self-loathing thought, my mood worsened and I felt a loss of Light and the Spirit. As I contemplated what had happened to me throughout the day, I realized that I was the only one preventing me from being happy or from moving on. I decided right then to pray and from that point on to be happy, and the entire course of my day changed. It was powerful! And so, "Let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power," as we read in Doctrine and Covenants 123:17, as we serve the Master and take whatever part He has for us in His great work. May the Lord bless each of you as you strive to repent daily, to heed the promptings of His Spirit, and to endure to the end through faith, hope, and happiness. 

With love, 

Elder DeLong

"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