March 28, 2011

The big news for this week: Jeff received his itinerary to come home! The day we have looked forward to for 2 years is June 7th.
 And did you get the travel Itinerary that I forwarded to you?  That's really important that you respond to that as soon as possible.
 So, I'm flying to New York!  That will be pretty fun, (minus the 11 hours in a plane part) but I'm excited to see New York.  Then I'll fly to MN and land at 2:30.  You guys will be able to go and pick me up right? 
Really, would we be anywhere else that day?? I chuckled at that question from him.

 Thanks for the encouragement, it's been a good experience. (Being the lone zone leader ) E' Clark and I get along really well, so I am happy about that.  I think going to BYU was a good choice too, (Jeff went one year to BYU before heading out on his mission. At the time I wasn't sure this was the best choice...) helped me get used to being away from home and being on my own.  The culture here is much different, kids don't leave the house till mid 20's or later at times.  So when they go on a mission it can be a big shock for them.

Yes, Dylan got baptized yesterday.  It went well :)

We have a baptismal date with the mom, Jovanna, because we thought for sure that she wasn't a member, but now somehting has come up and we aren't sure again.  So President King today is going to research it so we can have a definite answer.  I love President King, he is a great man and great example.  It's been fun having him my last year on the mission.
We have been teaching the recent converts, we have ward missionaries now and are trying to orient them in and train them, but the process has been going slow.  Hopefully things will work out so they can teach the converts

On being "two tall white guys" as a missionary tool:
I do think that people listen to us more cuz we are so huge to them.  They are probably scared haha.  But we definitely draw a lot of attention.  But I 've gotten used to it now, it will be nice however that everyone won't stare at me in the states haha.
 It will be interesting to see if I'll end my mission here in this sector or if President will send me somewhere else.  We'll see.  But remember to email the mission that you can pick me up so they can buy the ticket. 
Alright, well I don't really have much more to say. My feet and legs have been killing me this last week, we've been walking a lot lately. But the work is moving forward well, in the month of March we had 15 baptisms as a zone! That hasn't happened in a long time here in the mission. So that was cool to be a part of it. Hopefully this month we can keep baptizing. We have 2 potential baptisms, hope that all goes well.

Alright love you all and am always praying for you. I really like the poem mom, it was a good find. Went strait to the heart ;)

Stick to your task till it sticks to you;
Beginners are many, but enders are few.
Honor, power, place, and praise
Will come, in time, to the one who stays.

Stick to your task till it sticks to you;
Bend at it, sweat at it, smile at it too;
For out of the bend and the sweat and the smile
Will come life’s victories, after awhile

Love,
Elder Jeffrey Douglas DeLong





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