A Cold and Awesome Week

This past week has been freezing!! Not literally, but pretty close. We were jogging over to a junior high that is just about a mile away the past few weeks and I run on the track when Elder Lythgoe does other workouts, but we didn't even go this week because it was too cold! Hahaha, we are a bunch of babies! Not used to this "humid cold." It is way different! Anyways we were still working out in the apartment so don't worry! 

     

We did some service at a food bank this past Tuesday and I was talking to a guy that was doing community service there and I was telling him why I decided to serve a mission and then I just told him that I know that what I am doing is right and that the gospel has been restored and he ended up asking the sister missionaries for a Book of Mormon! That was saaaweet!!!! 

     

We met with our investigator Jordan and her family this past Thursday and we taught them The Plan of Salvation and the lesson went really well. We are meeting with them again tonight and we are going to extend a baptismal date for December 13th! Ill let you know next week how it goes! 

     

We were doing service at a members house this past Friday and Brother Bravenic's chainsaw was not running and then I worked some magic and I got it to run, but I realized that the carburetor needed to be cleaned out. After I cleaned it out, then I couldn't get the old fuel line back in the gas tank because it was all corroded so you can imagine my frustration! hahaha. I ended up just going to the hardware store by our apartment and I bought him some new fuel line so now I just have to go put it on! Anyways, I just wanted to say that when you help people out, you feel so good. We have the opportunity to do a decent amount of service here and I know that Heavenly Father is well pleased with us as we serve others. Mosiah 2:17!

     

Another really neat experience we had on Saturday was when we were biking around in this neighborhood trying to visit some less-active members, Elder Lythgoe realized that he needed to put a little bit of air in his tires so we stopped and he has this little mini pump that takes like 20 minutes (not really, maybe like 5 min.) to pump up a tire and he ended up pinching his valve stem when he took the pump off, and out went all the air. Just as this happened a guy pulled up in a truck and was like are you guys alright? and we told him what had happened and where are car was and he drove us down to the end of the street where we left the car like 2 miles away. He ended up telling us where he lived and that we could come by whenever to talk to him about the restoration! Coincidence? No way, miracles er' day!!!! 

     

I have to go soon, but I wanted to just tell you all about a commitment I made to myself and that is to read from Preach My Gospel everyday. Whether it be one sentence or one chapter, I will read from it everyday. It has made my studies so much more effective and I just wanted to share that. Elder Lythgoe and I were talking and he was telling me that he feels that PMG has helped him a lot and that he is just now starting to feel like he is getting into the swing of things and he is really comfortable with his usage of the scriptures. My response was that is why you are going home! He goes home in one month and I am convinced that it really does take a couple of years to really start getting into the swing of things, and then it is more likely for us to not rely on the Lord for His help because we sometimes feel like we know everything, but we know so little! 

     

I am sorry for my past emails not being as detailed. I will try to be better with keeping you all up to date! I am doing well, and I love it out here in Mag Town. I love serving the Lord and I love all of you. I hope you all have a great week!

Love, 

Elder DeLuca

I haven't taken any selfies of late, so here ya go! Hahaha I love you all! 

Seeking the One

Okay so this week was AWESOME! 

We had a few minutes to visit someone before our dinner appointment on Tuesday after Zone Conference with Elder Corbridge. We decided to go visit a former investigator to see if there would be a time we could come back and start teaching her again. This lady was not home. However, we met her daughter Brook and we started to talk with her. She had explained to us that she didn't believe in God or Jesus Christ, so it was more of a discussion on Faith. We talked with her for a few minutes and ended up extending a baptismal commitment and she said yes, if she knew that what we were saying was true! We went back on Saturday to teach her and everything went really well, but it is so different to teach someone who does not have a Christian background. This took a lot of preparation in our studies before we went to teach her! 

We also had a great lesson with Kona this past week, and she came to church again! She made us these really good dark chocolate granola bars and I seriously ate too many. I had Elder Lythgoe eat so many so I wouldn't eat any more of them! 

We are also teaching a daughter of a less active member and her and her sister came to church this past Sunday! 

I know that people are being prepared and we just have to find them! We have been trying to work more with members in finding, but we also have been doing a lot of street contacting. We have been trying to invite people to be baptized in the first contact so they know our purpose. This has been something that President Mortensen has asked the mission to do and it is making a huge difference! 

I hope you all have a great week and know that I love you! 

Love, 

Elder DeLuca

Check out this sweet bike Elder Lythgoe got to barrow from another Elder!!!!

Brittany, Chili Cook-off & Zone Conference

This week was great! Wednesday, after studies we had planned to go street contacting in order to try to talk to at least 15 people and we were not quite sure where to go, so we both prayed as individuals to see where the Lord would have us go and then each chose 3 streets on our map without telling each other. We ended up both choosing 2 of the same streets so we went to the closer one first, and just started knocking doors. We didn't have much success and then at the end of the street there were two more houses, so we went to them and a lady answered the door and started talking to us. We explained who we were and briefly touched on the restoration and she was interested in learning more. We asked for her number and we set a return appointment for Saturday morning and we taught here the restoration lesson! It went really well and we both knew that the Lord was guiding us to this girl named Brittany. She was not able to come to church, but I will keep you posted! 

Oh my goodness! So we had a chili cook-off at our ward this past week for the trunk or treat, and guess who the judges were? US! I was so sad because I was planning on just eating a little bit of salad because I ate some fish and broccoli before we went so I wouldn't eat any chili! I endured well, and it wasn't too bad! Some of them were so yummy! 

Anyways, we have such a great ward here in Magnolia and the members seriously trust us so much, it is awesome. This is the time for member and missionaries to come together to hasten the Lord's work. We have been working with members and their missionary efforts so much lately. Always remember that the success is in the invitation! Do not ever feel discouraged if someone does not accept your invite, but know that the Lord was cheering you on! 

We have Elder Corbridge of the Seventy coming to teach us tomorrow at a Zone Conference so we are pumped! I will let you know how it goes! 

Have a great week everyone and please let me know if there is anything I can do for you! 

Love, Elder DeLuca

Editor's note -  Elder DeLuca's new mailing address is---

811 Cloyd Drive #719

Magnolia, TX 77355

Yes, I always look this goofy when I bike! You can't tell from the picture but that was a steep hill!

This little guy stayed next to me the entire time we taught Brittany the Restoration lesson. He definitely wanted to hear what we had to say!

​This is my companion and this is why we have to wear helmets! Have a great week everyone! 

A New Area & A New Companion!

Well hello everyone!! I am now serving in Magnolia, TX! It is actually about 20 or so miles from my first area, but now we are out in the more rural area. Yee-Haw! I love it. I was called to serve as a Zone Leader and President Mortensen put all Zone Leaders back in companion-ships so my new companion is Elder Lythgoe and he is from Heber! We have Zone Meeting this Friday so I will let you know how it goes. I am so excited! 

So we have so many more investigators in this area as opposed to my last, so we are teaching so much more. We had one investigator Kona come to church yesterday. We were actually asked to speak in Sacrament Meeting too! That was a good way for the ward to get to know a little bit about Elder DeLuca! Elder Lythgoe has been here for like 4 in a half months so they all know him pretty well. We both were asked to speak on gratitude and it was actually somewhat easy for me to talk about because I have been given so much. Heavenly Father has blessed me so much throughout my life, and He continues to do so on my journey out here in Texas! I spoke about my family, friends, the restored gospel, the opportunity to be a missionary, and the Savior's infinite Atonement. These were the items of discussion that I chose to express my thanks for, so thank you all for being so great. 

     

I know my emails have been a lot shorter lately and I really am sorry for that, but I type super slow and we have so much to do! We have a car but we have been biking a lot because we do not have very many miles left for this month. My new area is about 3 or 4 times as big as my last area so when we bike, we bike. We ride quite a bit here and it is so great! 

   

I hope you all have a great week and my new address is:

811 Cloyd Drive #719

Magnolia, TX 77355

Now Bailley can start sending those letters again((: I love you all so much and I hope you all have the best week ever! 

Love, 

Elder DeLuca

So we rode all the way to where  you see those cars in the distance! We were crusin' down this road! 

It is so nice to have some trees in the area again like the Woodlands! 

This is Elder Lythgoe goofing around. Have a great week you guys!! Sending some love from Texas!!!! 

My Transfer & Mounda's Baptism!

Hello everyone! Elder DeLuca is being transfered!! No more sending
letters here, Buddah!!  ( :

This week was great! We had interviews with President Mortensen this
past Tuesday and he hinted that I was going to be transferred, so I
wasn't surprised when I got the news last night. Copperfield has been
great. We have a great ward with solid members that are always there
to help us. I am going to miss everyone and our clean apartment.....and
the super nice gym.  But I am ready for wherever the Lord wants me to
be!

I had the chance to go on exchanges with the Elders in the district
and that was really nice too. I am going to miss my district so much!
We have the best senior missionaries here too.

So Mounda was baptized!!!! This was such an incredible experience. I
was the one that baptized him and then Elder Bergman confirmed him a
member on Sunday. I feel like Mounda was a large part of the reason I
was sent here to Copperfield. Elder Bergman and I worked really hard
with him and it was such a good learning experience for all of us.
Missionary work is so real. I love my calling so much you guys! You
have no idea!!

I am sorry I do not have time to write more, but know that I had a
great week and I will let you know next week where I landed.

I want my family to know that you are all in my thoughts and prayers.
I love you all so much, and I want you to know that we will see Papi
again. He is in a better place right now and his spirit is still with
us. He lived a great life and we have so many wonderful memories to
look back on with him!

Thank you all for everything you do for Elder DeLuca and all of the
other missionaries throughout the world. Missionary work is great, but
when your family anf friends support you, it is even greater! I love
you all!!

Love,

Elder DeLuca

This is us at the baptism this past Saturday! Sorry there is only one
picture. I will have more for you guys next week!

One Brief Week!

I was busy with all of our spare time today looking for new suits so sorry this is going to be so short. This week was

really sweet though. 

     We were able to meet with Mounda and Charly this week and Mounda is being baptized this Saturday!!!! I will make sure to take a picture with him to post on here. 

     We met with a less-active member this past Saturday and after we shared a message we committed him to come to church and he ended up coming Sunday! This was a miracle. It was so good to see him come to church and he was very engaged in the discussion in gospel principles. 

     One of the my most favorite things to do is sing hymns with investigators during Sacrament Meeting. Yesterday as I sat with Charly and we sang together I felt the Spirit so strong. I love it!! Hymns are really just prayers. D&C 25:12. 

     I am sorry this email is so short but I look forward to sending a more detailed email next week. We have transfers coming up next Tuesday. So, just to be safe, if anyone is going to send anything, please send it no later than tomorrow because I wouldn't want it to come after I was transferred (if I am). Who knows?!

Love, 

Elder DeLuca

Gotta love those selfies! 

Yes I made it to 150! It wasn't easy, but I was seriously thinking of all of you because I said I would do it, and I am a man of my word! I have now lost just over 50lbs. Yes I was fast without the s! I feel so much better now! 

Today we cleaned behind our washer and dryer because that was the only place we haven't cleaned behind. Elder Bergman and I work well together and when we clean! 

I don't know why I love the color purple so much, but I do! Have a great week everyone! 

A Clean Apartment & A Great Week!

Alright, I have to admit right off the bat that I did not make the weight I wanted to. I was shooting to be at 150 today and I was 153. I will get there by next Monday, I promise. However, I did treat myself to some ice cream this week ONLY because we got a free coupon for having a very clean apartment. We have apartment inspections each month and Elder Bergman and I scored a perfect score. No joke you guys, we literally have the cleanest apartment in our entire mission. This is not blasphemy; I have proof! The point system is set up to score you on everything from a 0-4 basis, so the lower your score, the better. We scored a zero on everything! The next apartment that was the cleanest scored a 3 and it was a brand new apartment. Ours is seven years old. So because of this, I ate not the pint, but 3 or 4 bites of the Bluebell ice-cream. I love to be clean, but it is not mine nor Elder Bergman's apartment. It is not even the missions apartment. It is the Lord's apartment and we treat it that way. Some missionaries go and play games and stuff but we seriously clean every P-day and then we shop and email. Ain't nobody got time for playin' games! 

     So, we had Zone Meeting this past Friday and the Zone Leaders asked Elder Bergman and I to speak to the zone on member commitments because we had the most commitments in our whole zone for the month of September. We focused on four things that we need to remember when we leave anyone a commitment:

1. Ask a direct question.

2. Promise people blessings.

3. Bear testimony frequently.

4. FOLLOW UP!!!!

These were the four things that we shared. They are found in Preach My Gospel, Chapter 11 around page 197. I don't have a PMG with me but I am pretty sure it is around that page! We have been being a lot more serious with our members when we leave commitments with them because we want them to know that we mean business! Whenever we commit them to anything, we ask them when an appropriate time would be to follow up and then we right it down in our planners right in front of them. We have really great members here in the Copperfield ward and we are so blessed to serve with them! 

     GENERAL CONFERENCE!!!! Wow. I loved conference SO much. I literally took notes from every single person that spoke throughout all of the 5 sessions that I watched. I am not going to tell you a favorite because I really do not have one. There is a reason that the ones who spoke, spoke. I took something from everyone and I know I have so much to work on. I will say that the requirements to be an Apostle found in the book of Acts 1:21-22 are being fulfilled. There is no question in my mind about this. I heard the Lord speaking to me personally through the voice of our beloved Prophet Thomas S. Monson and his apostles. I cannot deny the things I know to be true. If any of you did not have the opportunity to watch all of the sessions, it would be wise of you to plan for some time to watch them. You will not regret doing that! 

     We also had a great lesson with Mounda this past week and we are helping him prepare for baptism on the 18th of this month! 

    I love you all so so much and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all of the love and support you all show me. I love being a missionary so much. One of the highlights of my day is when I get dressed and kiss my name-tag before I put it on. It is such a privileged to be out here serving the people of Houston! I love it and I love you!!!!

Love, 

Elder DeLuca

​Going to General Conference!!!!

This is our apartment score! I had to cover our phone number so Bailley wasn't tempted to call me(: