December THREE--YOU DID IT, YESIREE!! :) :) :)

Subject: The final time I will get to write my letter home ... 

I am certain that you're right--this is my last P-Day. I am really glad that you showed your love for me in my letters this week!  I am grateful for all that you have been able to help me with. I am glad you are here for me.  I am truly impressed with this last two years, I am not sure I thought it was going to go the way that it did.  I have been pondering this last week what I would be doing and how this is really not the "Best 2 Years" as everyone that I talk to says about their missions. I realized that it is really the Best 2 years FOR your life! This is just a microcosm of my life; setting the stage for the rest of my life.  The most incredible feeling is to feel just like you said "Well done good and faithful servant." That was really something that came over me on this fast Sunday. I went up to bear my testimony and I was feeling the spirit very strongly.  I got to the pulpit and Matthew 25:23 came to my mind."Well done, good and faithful servant; thou has been faithful over a few things." Right then the emotions of the spirit overwhelmed me and truly I knew I was able to do what I was suppose to!  I am glad that the Lord is there for me!

I am grateful all that I have and the Words of the Savior, "Behold, I stand at the Door and Knock and if any man hear my voice and open the door I will come unto him..." I am certain as day and night that this is true! I am so glad I could serve these last two years! I love you very very much and I am sitting with a heart of joy!

Love!
Elder Christian James Delis

November twenty-SIX--great blessings are what he picks!

Subject: Well it was a mighty fine turkey day!

This was a fun thanksgiving! We played some two-hand touch, it was really quite an adventure! It was a brutal game towards the end. it was quite the game. I played the line quite a bit with the amount of people there...my arms are still pretty bruised up.  The dinner was so good! It may have had dads turkey dinner on its toes! The family was the R---'s they are an awesome family.  Brother and Sister R--- just got back from a senior mission to Russia at the beginning of the year! We go over and do service for them when we can get a chance, when we go over Sister R--- makes an amazing meal of some sorts and to be honest we had breakfast today and  it was sooooooo goood! Sourdough pancakes and overeasy eggs! Soooo gooood! 

Okay on to business!  The week was good. I am not going to lie, I am starting to not want to come home. not to not see you guys but...more since I just love the fact that the spirit is soooo much stronger then when I was home; its just hard to express I guess.  My heart is soooo full every single day, it is almost hard to express in words on a screen if that makes any sense. The hardest thing is to give into the fact that the life that I have and  am serving is so hard to give up. I just want to teach the gospel as a missionary a lot longer.  I will just have to do it through action not by doing it door to door; this will be a very different transition. Man I am going to be really weird when I get home....  hahahahahahaha.  

It was a slow week because of the Holiday, so that was interesting. On turkey day we were told to treat it like a P-day. we only had p-day until 1 on monday, and thursday we had they day "off" since it was not really effective use of the day to talk to people during a holiday that is not really want to talk to us. SO that to me was nice we visited R----- and family and the R---'s for dinner. It was an amazing day!

"All we are to do is to love no more and no less" 

Elder Christian James Delis

November nineTEEN--now until he's home...there's not much time in between!!

Subject: A week to give thanks!

We are moving the baptisms back for the holiday so that we can have more members there. so that is that plan, we will keep you in the loop.  I am being so welll taken care of this Thanksgiving. I know that it is because of the prayers that you have sending my way.  I truly and grateful for you!

Well, this is truly a week that I have so much to be thankful for. I am thankful for all the miracles that I have seen. I am grateful for the strength that the Savior and Redeemer has given me to tough through the things that are put in my path. I am grateful and truly indebted to a family who loves me. I am grateful for a loving Mission President and Wife. I am grateful for MY Savior who has truly freed me from the sins of this life.  I am soooo very grateful for the members who have served me and that I have served for the last two years. They have helped to shape me to be better. I am grateful for my companions that I have had for the last two year that have taught me so much.  I am thankful for the Spirit of the Lord for teaching me more about the gospel and for leading me to so many souls who have changed me.  I am grateful, so thankful, for the peace that I feel as I testify of Him that sent me here. I am so very grateful for the atoning sacrifice of my friend and brother The Lord Christ Jesus. I am grateful for the testimony that my Lord has shaped with me to be a greater and stronger disciple that would not have happened without leading me here.  The one thing I have put in my letter and I can't even touch the true gratitude that I have for .... That is truly my family. The power of the Lord rests upon my shoulders as I feel the Love that I have been blessed with in my service of my Lord! Thank you! I do truly love you!

"Never allow your soul to go a day without thanking the Lord"
-Elder Christian James Delis

November THIRTEEN: well this letter is rather LEAN (good thing he comes home in a month!!!)

Subject: Well I guess the election is over!

I am certain the election is over! I am sure that what happened was what the Lord wanted and was intended to go that way for a reason. I was praying that the Lord would do all that is best for us. This week was good R------'s daughters are thinking of getting baptized! Woooooooooooooooooo! That is pretty exciting!  The one thing that really cool is how they brought the subject up with us. Because of that the week was awesome! This Thanksgiving is really going to be good. We will be at the R---'s. That will be awesome!  I really am excited for the next few weeks!!

Sorry for the short letter we have to run!

Love 

Elder Christian James Delis

November FIVE: Into the work, lets take a DIVE!

Subject: Well, this week was not as eventful

Hey!

Well, I am working as hard as we can to stay focused. It is getting hard to stay focused, to be honest. Especially since the whole ward knows how long I have been out...So that is making it quite a bit more difficult then I had thought it would be. Do you know by chance when my Homecoming is going to be? So this week we did a lot of service for one of my favorite members, the R---'s. They are an awesome family. They got back from a mission to Russia about a year ago. They are a fun family and they really care about the missionaries. So do not worry I am being taken care of. :)  We are working really hard with R------ and his family. He is progressing really well after being baptized. We are praying that the family will come around shortly.  A-----, R-----'s wife, is going to be gone for two weeks we are going to pray that she will be prepared by the Lord.  D------, R-----'s oldest daughter, is being prepared. We have had some awesome discussions about the gospel with her so we are praying she will be baptized soon! The whole week was not hugely eventful, its getting very hard not to talk politics with people when they see missionaries. It's really quite the interesting thing when you are trying to talk about the Gospel how so many are trying to avoid that by talking about Romney. This will be interesting to see what will be happening tomorrow. Whatever does, it is in Heavenly Father's hands and truly I am sure it will all be for the best.  SO enough of that I am getting hit by a ton of bricks day by day...I have been really good this far to not notice what is going to happen...and I am feeling a that my mission is flying through me. It is one of the few things I am not to sure I want to end .... I know that it needs to and that the Lord has other things in store for me...I am just not really ready. I am sitting and praying a lot thanking my Lord for all that He has given me it is just been getting more difficult to focus day by day and I am trying the best I can.

Well, I love you and I am praying for your success!

Love,
Elder Christian James Delis

October twenty-NINE: The work is DIVINE!

Subject: A week of miracles!!

Howdy!

Well! This is really quite an awesome week! Dang!!! I meant to send you the pictures I have been at service all morning! Shoot!  I left the camera at the apartment!  Oh well sorry!  My next letters will have the pictures we are totally have them I promise!!! SOOOO back to week! we had a good baptism I preformed the baptism of R----- and really it was really cool! We are working with his family and that was really going to one thing that the family needs! We feel like they will come around shortly! just keep the C------ family in your prayers! We are really working hard and praying a hundred times harder to know what they need!  One uber cool thing we have been praying that A----- (R-----'s wife) would get the job at the bank and she did! It was an awesome thing! Friday we went and saw R-----  we were just going over really to see how he was doing and how it was coming along spiritually for him, and A----- got a call from the bank saying she got the job! The Lord is literally blessing them! Speaking of which yesteday we went by and it was just R-----. We asked about how he felt after receiving the Holy Ghost and I am not kidding he is absolutely learning A LOT more--I mean A LOT, no joke--just after one day! He was talking on the level of what missionaries do when we just sit and study and ponder the needs of our investigators and I was so impressed!! He is just solid. I am sure that the reason that I have been put in the area was to see the progression of his family and him. It is most likely one of many reasons, really! That was awesome!!!!  SO it was just a truly amazing experience.  I know that this is one reason I am here. I feel strongly about it! I am not going to lie I enjoy this area! I love being here (I am not leaving by the way!). It is comes close to Coquille, but I will say I really do love being here! I am sure that it is where I am to be for the last few weeks, so just pray that these last weeks are smooth and that all happens to be very much the way that the Lord intends for things to go!

So about the storm I am not worried! I have been praying about this and I am sure that you will be safe! I am sure of that! Soooo school I am looking forward too it! Keep me updated and I would love to be in math science English and History and I just need a schedule since otherwise I will go nuts!  Just sayin! ummm lets see ... oh yes! I should go Find Teach Baptze and just as important, Retain! Have a happy Hairgerwen I will try too!

Love,
Elder Christian James Delis

October twenty-TWO: There is so much to DO!

Subject: Well, this was a sick week!

Hey!

Well family I am excited to say that we have a baptism on the 27th of this month! yes!!!! So we are really really excited to be able to have that happen! We were able to have R----- and his whole family come to church this week! That was an adventure! We had an awesome family home evening with his family on Monday and it was a really really good experience. The family was more then willing to play and spend time together that was an amazing miracle! We had a really good week other then me being sick.  I had a sinus infection and that was not fun! That was a part of the week I didn't enjoy very much at all! We did lot of work though! I am not going to lie it was a busy week and I am sure tired this week!  We are really working hard to have the baptism happen this week on Saturday! That was a very fun adventure the ability to even see a miracle like that take place! Dad I am sorry you are sick I hate to say it but, I don't enjoy that at all! The transfer calls will most likely be during the baptism on Saturday we will see though I am not sure what will happen for the last few weeks I am going to be fine with where ever the Lord puts me. Lets just pray for the best!  We are working really hard to have this area boom its taking a lot leg work which is not a bad thing just takes patients!  Well, I am hoping school is good, that work goes great and that the week ahead will be a blast! I love you and will hope to hear from you soon!

Love,
Elder Christian James Delis

Week of October EIGHT--Conference is GREAT!

Subject: Conference What a joy!

Hey family!

Well it seems to me is that the conference was a blast for all! I know that it was for me! My favorite talk was hands down Elder Holland's. I really do love the story of John 21. John chapter 21 is one of my favorite stories way before this talk came out, and Elder Holland states this as well: that Peter was and is an example of a change of heart. I really did thoroughly enjoy the fact that the talk makes you think how much are you willing to serve the Lord.  The change of one heart makes it so that the people can truly build themselves up through the Saviors atoning sacrifice.  That is really really awesome. This whole conference's major themes, at least to me, were the need for a broken heart and a contrite spirit and to pray without ceasing. I was really praying to learn what I needed to hear at this time of my life, and I learned I need to work on those things.  I am also excited to see who will now serve a mission--we shall see!

Well this week hasn't been to eventful we are still in finding mode. This area is really a test of my limits. I am really having a trial to find new investigators. To me this is a test and truly I am not sure what to do...sooooo back to the basics! So we are really working on doing all that is nessicary to find the elect!

sorry for the short email! I did read them that is why it is so short!

love you loads! 

Elder Christian James Delis

Week of September Twenty-FOUR--he keeps giving MORE!

Subject: Howdy 

Hey!

Well, I'm glad all is well with the Delis fam as i said I am still in Madras and I am doing pretty well. I had a pretty bad asthma attack again this week. I now have what they call a neutralizer. What it does it that when I am in a bad situation, but not so bad that I have to go to the emergency room, I use it. That to me was really a blessing. 

We did have the date of the baptism moved to thursday this week so that is good! we also had an amazing lesson with D--- and L---- it felt so good! I really do love them and their commitment. I am excited for what the Lord has in store for them.

This will be a short email! I have been studying how to do all that we can as missionaries for the Lord. I feel strongly that with the help of our Heavenly Father we can accomplish all things--I am not going to let the advisory win!

I love you

I got to go! 

Elder Christian James Delis

Week of September sevenTEEN--New companion to be SEEN!

Subject: Well this is the end of a transfer! And the beginning of another...

Well this was a slow week. the baptism has been moved to next week.  So we are are going to be able have one next week.  The coolest thing is that we are going to be able to continue to help them progress. Elder H------ is no longer going to be my companion. I will be with Elder H-----, so that will be exciting! yeah!

The week was very slow. We were doing all that we could to do find new investigators. I am really looking forward to this transfer. We have baptismal goals for October and November and December so hopefully Madras will pick up this year and into the next! All it takes is just a little faith! "Behold, I say unto you that whoso believeth in Christ, doubting nothing, whatsoever he shall ask the Father in the name of Christ it shall be granted him; and this bpromise is unto all, even unto the ends of the earth."  (Moroni) In the next few months that is what I will be truly putting to the test, and really, that is the main goal! That as we put or trust into the Lord, the rest will fall into place! To me that gives me so great a joy and really I am praying to end this with a bang!! Watch out, here I come!

Well, I am glad all is well, I am moved all safe and sound too. I am praying for you!

Love,
Elder Christian James Delis

Week of September ONE-OH--This missionary is gungHO!

Subject: Well, this will be a great week to come!

Hey!

That is really quite an exciting day that I am able to do all that the Lord has asked of us! We are still doing all that we can to do everything that the Lord asks of us. Also I did the package I got in on Saturday before Labor Day and I really do like the tie a lot thank you! 

The baptism is still on for the 15th we are really excited we are really working on the fact that we feel strongly that it will happen just the way that the Lord asks us to do it.  It is really exciting to have events take place the way that the Lord would have them go.  I have been thinking about somethings lately (I know me using my brain...bad idea!) I have been pondering the powerful influence of the atonement in the way that we help so many know that he is there.  The question I have been posing myself is this: has the atonement been into my life or am I just sitting and letting it work through others.  The most difficult thing that I am seeing is that--when so many are allowing the atonement to work around them, if you know what I mean.  I am really seeing that principle as I work to understand the Lord as He says, "take my yoke upon you and learn of me for I am meek and lowly at heart and I shall give rest unto your souls." That is really what being a missionary is. it means that you are willing to work hard and learn his doctrine. It then it just falls right in line.  No matter the struggle no matter the cost no matter the difficultly, the power of the spirit is there to help me to understand my purpose.  the best power comes from within when we allow our heart to be changed, when we allow our inabilities to be strengthened and then be so much more focused on becoming strengthened.  The Lord is not just building a small bunch of people who listen, but a powerful army of souls willing to do all the Father's Will.  

This week was not to eventful besides what I have said to you and we are going to be moving into a different duplex. SO yeah we will be moving this week, or so we are told we will see we are hoping to move and have it all go well.  We are still doing alot of finding we are trying to find as many as possible to listen are willing to come unto Christ in a way that is pleasing to Him. Well family I love you and I am glad to hear all is well!  We are really just doing as much as we can to help others come unto our Savior!

I love you

Elder Christian James Delis

Week of September FOUR---MIRACLES GALORE!!! (Yay missionaries!!)

Subject: Labors of the week!

Hey!

  Emailing a little late becasue of the libary was closed so I am going to be brief! I hope all is well in the Delis Family on Labor Day! OUr day started out slow but, it ended with a bang.  I will come back to that in a moment.  Our week was really quite slow even though we are trying to do that we can to find people to teach.  An investigator that we have ben working with for a while is now getting ready to be baptized on the 15th of September! So that was really the highlight of the week.  I will tell you what our Labor Day was like. We were trying to clean and make the apartment look good to be honest, it still looks bad.  We had an awesome evening to plan for the evening. Find and then we would be going to eat at a members house then have Family Home Evening.  That was really our plan.  The family home evening was canceled so we were bummed. we went back to the apartment eat as we sitting and eating we both thought .... "we need to go see D---" Then we were pretty excited to go even thought we were bummed though the rest of the night fell though.  We get to the W----- house and the coolest thing was that D--- says "I am ready to be baptized, I know that I have a loving Heavenly Father, I believe in Jesus Christ and In the Holy Ghost." It was really interesting thing that we were able to pray that we could even have something like this happen.  We were prayng for a baptism by the 15th in the Madras ward and really. It is a Miracle!
The rest of this week was really quite boring and the whole week coukd have been better but, we set a date!!

 

In regards to exciting events other then have the baptismal date shich really is the best part of the week! It was really just a bunch of finding and visiting less-actives it was really not the most fun but, we labored with our hands and we will saw success. WOW that was really a long sentence!  So I am well, I am glad that the Delis Family is laboring in their own vineyard. 

love you!
Elder Christian James Delis

Week of August Twenty-SEVEN--Elder Delis is healthy and happy...thank HEAVEN! :)

Subject: WOW! I am glad you are all well!

Howdy!

Soooooo can I first say that dad, you have lost a lot of weight and I am really impressed! keep up the awesome work!  Also a new car!!! "That's no fair I was dancin' there!!!!" (movie quote) The week sounded like it was a blast and that you were able to have a boat load of fun at Grandmas Party sorry I couldn't party as well.  We though did have a blast.  We saw some miracles and really we are working on trying to find the elect to be able to be baptized in the next few weeks.  We are really praying for that one we hope that we can be ready and willing to help them to progress in the future.  The week though had some exciting events to be able to be blessed with being apart of.

On Tuesday we were able to help with the local food bank we worked with eggs,  ummmm just going to say that I am done having eggs for a while I think.  We then went to the W-----, we helped pealed some it was soo good but, it is not fun to try and peal with your fingers they tend to make your fingers smell like garlic.  We tried and find and then visited some of the members I am starting to get the hang of the area and it seems to be easier now.  

Wednesday we spent a while finding, that is not the most fun thing to do but we are sure we will find some people ready to receive the gospel and it paid of later this week!

Thursday, I do have a bit of a shock I did have an asthma attack I was required to stay in doors and that is not the most fun.  The reason for the attack was that all the farmers were burning their fields that is no the one that that I was not really excited about.  We went to the Madras Medical Group and they were much more helpful then the ER Doctors would have been.  It was really an inspiration that Sister Y---- had so thank her for me if you can.  That is most likely the reason she called on Thursday.

Friday was a day we were cautious and we still are doing all that we could to find the Elect those truly ready and we went to help to see how we can build some of the less-active members.

I am really not going to lie Saturday Morning was awesome!! So we went finding on a street adjacent to one we went finding on, on Friday.  On the street we were trying to do all that we could to be excited to find really it isn't the most fun but, you can do the best you can to enjoy it.  We get to the top of the hill and we talk to a Hispanic lady she was almost in tears when we were talking to her. The spirit was very strong when she opened the door.  The conversation was so amazing!  She was so ready she talked on how she wanted to be be close to Heavenly Father again and that she really doesn't want to loose that feeling again.  That was really quite a cool event, then almost literally across the street. A woman answers the Door and she said that she would like to know more that was cool since she took a copy of The Book of Mormon.  The conversation was about us and being Christians so we are going to address that next time we see her.

Sunday we had investigators at church it was really awesome we have been doing all that we can to get those ready to come to church it was awesome!!!  It was a good day and really that was a great spiritual experiences! In the middle of the 3rd hour we gave a dying man a blessing. To be honest, it was not the easiest blessing to give.  The W------'s asked us to give a friend they take care of a blessing,  the room was very tense and the man didn't have any peace about him.  The blessing was about comfort and love he seemed to need that.  After that the whole atmosphere changed. The whole day those was really great!

Well family I have to go! I miss you and I love you!
Elder Christian James Delis

Week of August TWENTY--Elder Delis has blessings a-plenty!

Subject: Week of drivin'!

HI!!!

This week was an adventure a lot took place in a very short period of time.  Monday and Tuesday President Y---- gave specific orders that I wasn't to go out and to prosyelte too much so that I wouldn't have another Asthma attack.  I am glad that mom had a great birthday! Happy Belated Birthday to mom and Grandma! Sorry I have been late on that matter a lot is going and I am trying to keep up.  The best part of the work to me is just the fact that I am able to change and be made whole as we help others, the gospel fills the gap in my heart were we feel as if we are alone and we aren't!!! That to me is really what makes one a believer in the words of the Lord.  In the last week a lot has happened! on Wednesday Elder S--- of the seventy came too the OEM.  That was really cool! He spoke a lot about our ability to be made more and more changed through the atonement and how important the spirit is to the conversion of others and in ourselves.  one thing that he said that stood out to me was this and was then talked more about when Elder A-------- was there,

The spirit has four roles,

1 The Comforter, it is usually the first thing we come in contact with the spirit

2 The Testifier, it testifies to the words that are true and that the Lord know we need to hear

3 The Revelator, it reveals to us the truths about the kingdom of heaven so that we can be able to be more understanding our Father in Heaven

4 The Sanctifier, it is really what changes us, it purifies our hearts of all unworthiness so that we might one day be able to be in the presence of the Lord and not quake. 

There was so much other things that were said but, that was really the major things that I feel to talk about right now with the little time that I have to write.  On thursday it was my first full day in Madras with Elder H------.  It is a lot different then every where else I have served in my mission thus far.  It is very dry and the weather is much hotter the elevation is about 2000 feet higher then the Willamette Valley. It is really funny when you go outside and you are thinking there will be more humidity and it is dry, that has thrown me for a spin for the last few days.  Friday though was an incredible day, that was when Elder A------- of the quroum of the twelve apostles came we also had Elder H------,  Elder R------- and Bishop S---------.  They did it a lot differently then the appointment that we had with Elder S---.  Elder A------- had each and every single one of men that came with him to take turns to speak on something Elder S--- spoke of that to me was an awesome enlightening experience.  The one thing we were asked was on repentance and we were there I thought of something that I shared at the Mission Conference.  I feel strongly that repentance is like putting our lives to a piece of Marble, white marble is absolutely beautiful! The one thing that makes it so differnet then every peice has very decent flaws there are these black streaks going through it, we think that we are not forgiven of our faults but they are there so that we can say that we hae been changed.  That to me is the fact that we are truly changed, that marble is beautiful just like our lives are to the lord we fel bad for our past transgressions but we are made and shaped to be a disciple of the Lord.  In summary that is the way that Lord helped me learn while in Eugene for the Mission Conference.

We are going to do all we can with the ward so that we can help people come unto Christ.

Love,
Elder Christian James Delis

Week of August one-THREE--and now more changes, as you will SEE

Subject: Well, this will be an eventful week!!

Hi!
I know that you have heard of the events that have taken place since I have been out in Albany to be honest that was no really what I was hoping would happen but, two trips to the ER in one week are really not fun. The trials are tailored to me so  I will be ready for whatever, I mean whatever is in my path to come.  I can truly say that I am as sure as the sunshines that the Lord is there for me. I truly love Him and I Love you for the feelings and support that I receive from being here on my mission.  My prayers for the last month may seem weird since I was finding out I have asthma and that it is really just a huge change in my life was "How can I help benefit someone else through the struggles I am going through?"  I am also praying to grow and be made a better whole being one that is close to the Savior that I might be able to find a way to grow to be a new creature unto Christ.  I know that he is my Savior he suffered greater then I can image or even want to imagine yet, I know that it was so personal that no matter how far I look to Him the more vast His Love becomes.  When I was talking on the phone to you dad I can say that I am so thankful for that short opportunity, it was a good thing to do I can tell that President Young put a lot of thought into letting us talk since He understood that it was going to be good for both of us.  I was talking to President Young this morning and on Wednesday when we are in Eugene, President Young will be giving me a blessing.  I feel strongly this was one reason I am being stopped in Albany is I am not suppose to be here and that Madris is where I am suppose to be.  I am at the point where I know that what faith is, when I was talking to President Young yesterday he said to me "Elder Delis you know what faith is, I can see that as you work in the field you understand what faith is and don't question it. Work to build others faith!" I am not going to be in a leadership position in Madris but, I am going to be able to help my others feel the joy I feel. I am sure that no matter what happens then the Lord is able to be there for each of us I am just grateful to be in the Lords service.  

In the upcoming week we will be doing a ton! So on Wednesday Elder Snow of the first quorum of the will be there and I will be going to go to Madris and go to be with Elder Hawkins, and that will be really exciting to see why I am needed there.   Then on Friday I will be going back to Eugene to have a meeting with Elder Neil L Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles that is really interesting to me the fact that you just saw him and that he will be talking to us as a mission on Friday makes me wonder what it will be like.  Well, that is really thoughts about what is about to happen and I am just thankful to be in the service to my Lord and know that my service is well, loved!

Love,
Elder Christian James Delis

Week of August SIX--Elder Delis has a new MIX! (...good rhyme?) :)

Subject: Family! Sad news!

I have sad news!

I have been transfered to Albany.  I was moved from Coquille back to Albany.  I hope that the package was sent to the mission office.  This was really the hardest " 'til we meet again's" I have had to say truly I am not sure why it was but, really it was gut wrenching.  I am starting to really feel that I am coming to a different point in myMission.  My thoughts are much more of how I can make the truth simple and as simple as can be. I am praying that I as I am doing all that can that the Lord will bless me in a way that will help Him more effectively in the work.  I feel weird being in Albany though, a little out of place really to be honest it seems to me really surreal.  The thing that is really weird is that I am only 3 blocks from the Three Lakes Ward in Albany.  I was thinking that I must be needed here for a reason.  My new companion is Elder Bagley he came out with Elder Hamblin. He seems to be a good missionary and so I will need you continued help through your prayer that we will see success! 

Something that I am starting to feel more and more the longer I am out is the power of each and every single soul.  The spirit of each person is so distinct that as I sit and talk to people you begin to feel more and more the power that each and every single soul begins to the table.  You can see what it means in Doctrine and Covenants 19 when the lord says "every soul is great in the eyes of God." I am really wondering more how we can be more like the Savior in all things that as we strive to do all that he asks of us we begin to feel the manifestation that he loves every single one of His children.  The reason that I say that is when I was leaving to get in the car to go to Albany the member that was taking me from Coquille to Eugene looked me in the eyes and said "Elder, I love you and please come back."  He then starred into my eyes for a moment and the spirit was so strong and as I was there I said "I will be back, I promise .... I promise."  I said that and tears filled my eyes and so great was my joy that I am truly moved to have the greatest opportunity that I have had to be truly changed and to grow in such a short period of time.  I am sure that I am here to be refined in a way that Lord would like me to be refined so that I can be more like Him.

Sorry my email today seems so over the place.

So that is the reason that this email is late I have been running around all day! Well, I am sure that Duck is blast! I am in need of an Email address from Katie Delis, I would love to keep in contact.  To me that would be awesome! I would also like to hear from Nicholas that would be a huge help I miss being able to hear for him. 

--
Elder Christian James Delis

Week of July Twenty-NINE: missions are DIVINE!

ELDER DELIS

Subject: Well this feels weird...

Well this is not feeling normal,

Well family it feels weird to me to starting thinking about all of these things, school and everything in between. Weirdest of all is that my sister is not going to be on a mission much longer.  It to me is hard to think that I am that close to the end and that she is really close to a new beginning.  OH and if she finds some prince charming while I am in Oregon she is not allowed I repeat NOT ALLOWED to get married while I am gone.  That is against the rules!  Enough of that, moving on,  that is good to hear that she is going to be home it is sad to hear that I will be the only missionary in the home for the next 5 or so months so, the blessings maybe a little less then with two sorry :/ My health is better I am hoping that it will all come to be one hundred percent soon.

Well, this week was good we were doing some service we helped a lady who had a death and it asking the members that live above us questions so we helped her with her yard and we were able to get a good lesson we have another one tomorrow we are excited about that.  We have been finding a lot and really it is getting hard when you have been through the town a lot, but we are finding people.  The Less-active work is coming along and really cool thing is that we are having the ward to expand and that the Lord is blessing this ward for there willingness. I pray that this all will continue that is really all that we need to do to be successful.  We are spending time doing service as well and it was really quite nice the weather is perfect to do it and I am not even kidding I really enjoy splitting logs. We helped Y-- he is an older man in the ward he is awesome! We are splitting some myrtle wood for him, myrtle wood is really hard to split but, it is well worth the spiritual rewards.  

Well, not a whole lot has happened this week but, I am still well.

Love!
Elder Christian James Delis



HERMANA DELIS

Subject: HEY!!
Hey, you guys! 

Happy today! 

Thank you so so much for your emails. I feel like Heavenly Father is so proud of me, and it means the WORLD to hear it from you guys. Haha, I can't believe I'm coming home. I barely even think about it actually happening. But hearing you guys say that you have been so proud of me just let me read what my Heavenly Father has been telling me for almost 6 weeks straight. Man, I am so thankful. Thank you for being proud of me.

Okay, let me tell you about some rockin awesome miracles that happened this last week. 

We taught SO MANY PEOPLE this week--I kid you not, we were teaching in a Baskin Robins, on front porches, with investigators who invited their friends over, with investigators who just happened to have friends over....(haha), in shops, in basements, members homes...just everywhere. I felt like everywhere we walked there were miracles to be found. Obvious miracles. It was so awesome. 

V----- M----- is getting baptized on the 11th of august, and this kid ROCKS!!! My favorite lesson of the mission was last night in his home about the Plan of Salvation. MAN--it was the perfect teaching experience. It was such an awesome discussion. He has learned SO much since we started teaching him, and he is just SO READY to be baptized. My favorite comment that he made was about death. He said "Me gusta que la muerte sea parejo" which basically means that he likes that death happens to anyone and everyone--it doesn't matter who you are: big, tall, rich, poor, funny, a goober, WHATEVER--it happens. So we asked him why he liked that, and he said because he knew that his Heavenly Father was like that, too. His plan happens to all of us--we live as crucial parts to His plan whether we believe in Him or not. So we when we start to believe, that is when we change. AHH!!! It was the BOMB. So we talked about how when we live like Christ, we come to love our Heavenly Father like He loves us. MAN IT WAS THE BEST. I have LOVED teaching V----- and watching him change and open up to us. The gospel was an answer to his prayers. And I cannot tell you how incredible it feels to have been someone who got to speak the answers he was searching for. Alma 26!

He gave me a little going away present that I will forever cherish. It's this little bandera with a poem on it. The poem talks about little prayers being answered in huge ways. That is exactly how I feel on a daily basis--it just kind of defines the mission for me. I would ask for something, and the Lord would not only give me what I had asked for, but He would move mountains for the work and for me. I had no idea what I would receive for being here. I can't even tell you how awesome it feels to know that I served Him well. He feels so close. I want that to stay. I know life is not the mission. It will end, ha. But I want the relationship with my Father in Heaven to just get better. And I trust His promise: Ask and ye shall receive! So I am praying big time that He just stays with me. I PROMISE I will do my part, I just want this peace.

And that has been probably the coolest thing I learned this week: WE CHOOSE THE PEACE WE WANT IN OUR LIFE. If we want peace, choose to have faith. Believe in His promise in Matt 11:28-30, give up your worries and troubles to Him. He will take them! That helped a lot this week. But He will never leave us alone if we just want, ask, and live worthily. Ah, we are so blessed. 

This week I spoke in church, too, about diligence in our discipleship. I was so nervous to speak, and I have no idea why--I love this ward. But I was prayig so hard that it would be okay. And then it was. :) I am positive my companions were praying so hard, too. I am graetful for them. They are awesome. In the talk I talekd a lot about putting our trust in the Savior and diong our part consistently and faithfully. We can't do everything all at once, but we can ALWAYS do our part TODAY. Mosiah 4:26-27. I love those scriptures.

Also, EVERYONE wanted to have us over for dinner, lunch, brunch, snacks, dessert...haha, in like 3 days we had almost 8 dinner appointments planned. We asked a few to let us just come by and share a message, ha. Hahaaa oh man, it was kind of gross. But they were so kind. EVERYONE was so so so nice, anytime anyone talked to me, that were giving me advice for the future, thanking me for the service I'd given, it was just incredible. I felt like a queen. 

My favorite "thank you" was from S------. She was a less-active that moved into the area when Hna Riddle, Williams and I got together as a companionship, and in this one appointment we just helped her through some tough struggles. Man, I can't even tell you how cool it was to hear her talk to me like she did this Sunday, she was just so grateful. I hope so bad I told her well enough how grateful I was for her. 

My favorite guy in the ward is hno E------- --I want you guys to meet him so bad. He said so many great things about you guys this sunday--he wanted me to make sure I gave you a big hug. DOYYY I was gunna anyway...haha. So many people this week talked about how much they were grateful for MY PARENTS--you were prayed for by our investigators and members all week long, especially Sunday. They just thanked you for sending me. It was so tender. I hope you felt those prayers. I did big time.

And Spanish. It felt like everyone this week kept complimenting me on how well I'd learned Spanish in the past months. I was grateful to hear that. Mostly I was grateful ALL week long for the Spanish that I have learned. Man, I love that language so much. I just learned so much from Spanish and I am excited to keep studying it. 

You guys, this week was great. I cannot believe how blessed we've been. Hoy and the whole 18 months. Man. I love my calling. :) DyC 123:16-17 defines how I've felt these 18 months and this week, too. I have cherished the time I have had to serve the Lord and just watch His work unfold here, and funnily enough, in me, too. MAN.

What a ride. 

I just couldn't be more grateful. This work is true. I love The Savior. I love that He has let me be His hands and His mouth. I love that He has trusted me. I'm excited to see what's coming up next--I trust He'll keep guiding me. :)  Alma 26:12

I love you, and I will see you in TWO DAYS!!!! :) 

Hna Delis

Week of July Twenty-TWO: Elder D is HEALING and Katie has one week of service to DO!

Elder D!

Subject: Hey, I am well and I am starting to feel like myself!!

Howdy,

Well, I am starting to feel normal.  The steriods the doctor put me on made it hard for me to think anything through.  I was not fun to deal with for such a long period of time.  I am just glad that I can think without loosing my train of thought!  I am down to the last few days and I am grateful it is coming to a close.  I am so grateful for doctors that know what they are doing so I can breathe. 

This was a good week, we were able to have another baptism!  J---, is now a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints!  YES!  That was an awesome and a long time coming!  It is such a blessing that he recieved the Gift of the Holy Ghost.  That to me is truly the greatest thing.  I am glad that people will always have the gift if they are willing to do all that the Lord asks of them.  The power of the message that we have is able to help give all souls true joy.  The greatest joy I feel is when we are able to help people find true joy.  We were able to do a lot this week.  The many people that we see are able to see the whole outlook on life, that is truly amazing.  I am so glad though that Savior loves each of us so much that he is able to bring us back to His presence.  I am so thankful for all that I HAVE!  I wish I could be able to express in words all that I feel but time doesn't allow.

Sorry today I am uber short on time.  I was reading everyone's email and I am still going to write President. :)

Love,

Elder Christian James Delis

--------------------------------------

Hermana Kate Delis

Subject: D&C 123: 16-17

Hello, hello!

Happy today, mi familia!  I am so excited to be writing you today.  It's been a great week. 

Elder Delis, I am so happy to hear that you are doing well.  I'm praying for you big time. :)

Welp, the work is so great over here.  Every time we set a goal, we've been given a way to accomplish it.  It's been incredible to see our prayers fulfilled.  I know that all our success in the work this week was provided by our Father in Heaven.  He loves us.  He loves these people.  He loves this work.

J---- is our new friend with a baptismal date, and him and his mom came to church this week!  They are soaking everything up, and I LOVE being in their presence.  V----- too!!  He is the BOMB.  He is such a pure, pure guy.  He reminds me of when we got to teach J--- C----- in Carpentersville--remember him?  They are both just so open to truth and recognize it easily.  It's so fun to help him learn it all.  He is a light in our week!!

The comps are rockin' it as always.  Hna W-------- is such a little fireball--she's so fun to have around because everytime she opens her mouth she just testifies, testifies, testifies.  I LOVE IT.  It gives me strength all day long.  Hna R----- is great because she LOVES EVERYONE.  She's good at recognizing other people's worth and helping them see it, too.  She is a very loving missionary.  Them put together have been this crazy blessing this last grand transfer.  They have taught me so much about the gospel, about how missionaries work and think, about helping others reach their potential, about love.  They are good girls, and I will forever be grateful for them.

We had our zone meeting for the transfer this past week and it was great.  I am so grateful for our mission President.  I have prayed so much for him and his family, and I just heard the voice of the Lord through him this past week in such personal ways.  I am so thankful for the process that I went through to see him as a servant of our Heavenly Father.  It taught me SO MUCH about leadership in the church and the power of supporting Christ's chosen leaders.  Ah, I will forever pray for the leaders of the church now.  I see their role in our Heavenly Father's plan SO much clearer.  It was such a special experience for me.

Also, I was asked to give my departing testimony this week at the meeting.  All the missionaries that go home give a small testimony before they leave about what they've learned/loved/how they've changed.  The only l thing I could think or say was how grateful I was.  That's actually the emotion of the transfer.  I thought it would be SO different coming home--I thought there would be more sadness for some reason.  But I LOVE this calling, I love and appreciate the role I've played in this great work, and I am SO grateful for the role my Father in Heaven has played in my life and the lives of the people I've grown to love.  I am so grateful for the blessings I've recieved and, in fact, I actually feel a little bit selfish.  I can't believe how much I've been given.  I see how much I lack, all the weaknesses I have, all the ways I've failed, but that doesn't make me sad because I have seen the strength of the Savior.  He lives, and He works in our lives if we just let Him.

You guys, I am so happy.  This work is true.  Thanks for always helping me live it.

Love you loads, give you big hugs soon :)

Hna Delis

Week of July One-FIVE: Kate is almost home & Christian is THANKFULLY still ALIVE!!

Elder D!

Subject: I am fine and I can feel your prayers.

Hey,

As you have already heard from Sister Y----, I have asthma.  It sounds like I am going to be in need of an inhaler for the rest of my life, in case something happens.  I know you are worried and this is not what you want to hear, but I am healthy, I just have to be careful.  I am grateful for your concern.  I am on a steriod called Prednisone, it is used to help build up the immune system.  I have been really energic for the last few days and that has not been really fun to deal with when you are trying to relax, my brain and my body is going t fast to slow down.  I am more energizes than normal. :)  Oh well, it happens I guess.

This week is all about doing all I can to make sure that I am healthy.   I feel an overwhelming calm and I can testify that it has been from prayers from home and from those that I love.  I am certain of it!  I am thankful for every single day.  As I read my scriptures I begin to realize more of the true principles that pertain to the happiness that comes to the freeing souls to know that the gospel is true.  I say, "free" since it isn't truly saving unless they think they are bringing them to a better place.  The one thing I fee that we are freeing souls from the sadness that comes from the adversary.  The best thing about the conclusion of this week was we did have a baptism.  E---- was baptized and confirmed a member of the church.  I am certain that we are blessed through our willingness to serve the Lord and put our whole might, mind and strength.  The power of the spirit is able to testify the change and we are able to spark that fire, what we feel is joy, the joy is truly eternal!  The happiness is eternal.  The way to be happy is through all that we do and knowing when we do the Lord is going to bless us immediately.  I may not be 100% yet, I am more than able to say that every single moment that we are doing what we can to bring or help change one soul, freeing them from the bonds of mortality.  That truly comes from the powerful saving strength of the Savior Jesus Christ and that is my greatest happiness and greatest joy.

Love,

Elder Christian James Delis

------------------------

Hermana Kate Delis

Subject:  ASTHMA?????

What the heck?  Christian, we are praying for you.  I cannot believe that.  I think you might be a version of Job with all these illnesses, my friend.  I cannot believe that.  Thank heavens they know what's up, that is so crazy.  We're praying hard NOTHING ELSE HAPPENS.  As if there was something else that could happen--honestly, what more is there?  Haha.

So today. We are goiong to the city city real soon as a little "Goodbye hermana delis" adventure...haha. Details to come about that later. But my fav girl Hna D-- is going to be there, and I am so excited to see her. But that also means that this little email is going to be a bit brief. But alas, I will see you SOON. :) (Side note: so weird, huh?) TOTALLY WEIRD.

Great news: V----- M----- set a date to be baptized!! I can't tell you how excited I am about that. It's been so awesome to see him progress. He does literally eveything we ask him to, and always gets awesome answers to prayers--so simple, but awesome because he knows from where the answers came. AWESOME. Pray that he keeps going strong!

A--- F-----, my favorite guy that got baptized recently said something cool last night. Background: We had his FIRST NEW MEMBER LESSON (WOO!!) yesterday, and he asked awesome questions about the priesthood. It was so great. At the end we asked if there was anyhting we could do to help them before we left, and him and his mom (another recent convert) just said "KEEP COMING!!!" like at the same time and way excited--such a good feeling as a missionary. And then Abel said something that I was just so grateful to hear: "And hermana Delis, when you go home, just get on a plane and come back Saturday and sunday nights to come teach us more! I am almost positive that is your personal commandment from the Lord. You gotta do it." I laughed and we all teased about it for a minute, it was cute. But man, I left so grateful to know that he appreciated the message I had the priviledge to bring to him. I am so grateful to serve these people, and I realized last night that some of them are grateful for me, too, and it was so so sweet for me. I love being a servant of the Lord. I love His message of hope and redemption. I love His children.

Life is too cool. :)

Okay, to Chicago we go! I love you lots and will see you soon!!

(for real!)

Hna Delis

Week of July EIGHT: Another email from Elder D & Hermana KATE

Elder D!

Subject:  Hey!!...That's not fair I was dancin' there!

Hey family!

Well, from all your emails I can tell you are wondering how I am doing.  I am fine.  I am not 100%, but I am doing better than I have been.  Sorry for the email delay, I was at the beach all day yesterday (Monday) and that's why you are hearing from me today.  Yes, don't worry I have pictures for you guys, a member took them for us and they will be in 3D, it will be really cool. 

Here's a quick run through on the week and then I will tell you what happened on Saturday.  To begin with, it was a funky week.
Monday: we did not have a P-day...that threw me for a loop...it was moved to Wednesday because of the 4th of July.  We did spend time meeting with our less-actives, we can never get a hold of them, so that was pretty awesome.
Tuesday: tracting was hard because most people were out of town for the holiday.
Thursday: was meeting day and we went to Coos Bay and had District meeting, tracted and then did splits.
Friday: did some finding, but we are not seeing new people right now, a lot of old investigators are appearing out of nowhere.
Saturday: was a interesting day.  In the morning we helped a newly wed couple in our ward with their yard.  We helped them mow their yard with a weedeater (that was my job).  After running back to our apartment to change, we left for Myrtle Point.  We had planned to see K-------, but she wasn't home, so we left and visited people with Brother O'C------.  We got to his house for dinner and while we were there I had a hard time breathing.  Throughout the day I was struggling, it just felt hard to breathe.  I had just finished eating dinner and I was having a hard time talking.  I started to cough uncontrollably and as I sat there it got worse, so went outside and tried to see if that would make a difference.  It didn't.  So we went to the ambulance and they looked at me and gave me, what is called an updraft, it is like a shot of adrenaline, just to my lungs.  We then drove to the ER and I didn't have pneumonia or mono so they were unsure.  The doctor was told I had an updraft and then he assumed it was allergies since I don't have asthma.  So we got back and we talked to Brother W----- in our ward, he is a doctor, and he said it was my allergies to grass that caused my lungs to close.  And he said it doesn't help since it is hay season either.  I am fine.  I just have to be careful!

I love you and you are always in my prayers!

Love,

Elder Christian James Delis

----------------------

Hermana Kate Delis

Subject:  WHAT A CRAZY WEEK!!

Hey family, HAPPY TODAY!

Okay, super short on time once again over here, but I will try to give you a wrap of our cool week.

1. A--- is a member!!!! His baptism was beautiful. Absolutely crazy behind the scenes, but great. Absolutely wonderful. I am so thankful for his conversion. It was an absolute privilege to have been a part of. He is going to be such a strong priesthood holder. One of the members came up to me and told me that after the baptism, and I just swelled with pride (as if he were my son or something, haha)--but it is so so so true. He will be a faithful, strong priesthood holder. :) I am so thankful for that man.

2. We found so so so many people to teach this week!! I am so grateful for that. I feel like we just walk in all the right places these days, and it's been such a blessing to meet so many people who are so interested in learning more. We recently started teaching Lupe, and she is just the sweetest little blessings for me. I feel like every time we go in to teach her, she is just open and ready to learn. She's fun. We would totally be friends outside the mission. So grateful to be teaching her.

3. The best thing I learned this week: We must RUN back to the Lord to thank Him for ALL we have been given. Our trials are just that--JUST trials. Don't focus on them! Focus on ALL that He has given you. You will be happy. :)

4. The trio is rockin' it as always. I can't wait to tell you about some of the miracles we've seen in each other this transfer. IT's been pretty cool. :)

Okay, love you loads and talk to you all soon! Hey! I'll even give you a hug in a few days! WEIRD!!

Keep smiling,
Hna Delis