Go and Do Thou Likewise

Hey guys!

How was your week?! What adventures did you all have? How is the weather back home? It rained a lot last week and was very spectacular lightning :) Chardon is right in the middle of the snow belt, so come wintertime . . . . :)

This week was so very wonderful! We had 2 days of service where we went and helped Brother Hartman (branch missionary) with his yard. It made me think of working in the yard back home :). He was like, "Elder McEwan, you sure are a hard worker. Keep it up. It was pretty fun because he has flower beds that we weeded and we mowed his lawn :).

On Tuesday night we had a lesson with a guy named Joey Pitts. It was super spiritual because he is really seeking for the truth of the gospel, and wants to know for himself that the Savior is there for him. I can testify that the Savior is there for all of us when we humbly seek him.

After the lesson we helped the young men in the ward make flower ties. Elder Henshaw has 25 flower ties, and that's all he wears Haha:). He said he is going to make a companionship tie for me, so that'll be cool!

We had district council this last week on Thursday. Each week it will be on Thursday up in Kirtland. It was so cool to be able to see a little bit of Kirtland again. I got asked by the district leader to lead and be in charge of the training for the mtg last week. I taught on How to be a Successful Missionary. It was super good! And made me really think of my purpose as a missionary and that we can all be successful when our "line is in the water" all day and we put forth our best effort, our very best.

We have been talking with a guy named Rick this week. He lives in a trailer park and is super super cool! His mom just got diagnosed with cancer and so I was able to talk with him about the experience of Parker having cancer twice, and it was such a cool moment. God puts us in places He knows we need to be, and we must do all we can in those places to leave a little bit of heaven in their lives.

On Sunday night we went over to a members house and watched the YSA Face2Face devotional. It was cool to hear the testimonies of Elder Soares and Elder Christensen. We took a recent convert named Mitch, and then also Joey to the members house. They loved it!

We went to the Johnson farm in Hiram and to Historic Kirtland today!! It was so so cool to be back there again after 2 yrs, and to see the temple and visitors center. Ahhh, it is so wonderful.

Me and Elder Henshaw got asked to be in charge of the training for district council this week. We are teaching on the "How to Begin Teaching Points" and why it is so important to use them in our teaching efforts.

A little cool story that happened this week: We were out knocking doors on Saturday afternoon and we were in this trailer park. We talked with Rick and then proceeded to knock about 25 doors. We came to this guys house, and he came out and asked what we were doing on his front porch, and why we were dressed like we were. He said he didn't want us there. We asked him if he was religious at all, and he said no and then proceeded to tell us that we were wasting our time on our missions and that we should just give up. We said have a good day and walked away.

With all of the energy of my heart, DO NOT give up guys. The mission is no easy thing, and believe me, there are times when I wonder why I'm doing this, because I could be going to school and working right now. But I know, and the Lord knows, we all know. The Lord needs us on His team. It's harder and harder in today's world to buckle up our chin strap and step over the line, but we need not walk this journey and play this game alone. He is there for us, He loves us, and I love all of you. Pray to him everyday and continually stand worthy to have the spirit with you.

I hope the temple challenge I gave out is going great. Something I've learned is that the Lord is always there to help us as we stretch our arm out to him.

I invite all of you and myself this week to find one way we can make someone's day a little bit better. Serve each day and smile and say hi.

I love, miss, and pray for you all everyday. It's crazy I have been out for over a month now on the mission. This gospel is true and God is real.

I'm so so excited to talk to you all today!! :)
I love you forever and always!
Elder Dylan

Alma 17:11