Middlefield/Chardon Area in Kirtland

September 9, 2019

Hi family!! :)

Wow has this been an exciting last week! I got to the mission home on Wednesday night and we went in directly to interviews with President Stratford. I did find out that we are a Facebook mission, so that will be super super good to be able to further the work of the Lord. We got up on Thursday morning and went for a run with Elder Winn and Elder Bench (the AP's). Then went over to THE Ohio State University! And there we had an orientation about social media use and also were able to go street contacting on OSU campus where I placed my first Book of Mormon to someone :):)

Thursday afternoon we ate lunch (the last supper as President called it Haha:)) and then proceeded to find out our companions name and our first area. I am currently serving in the Chardon area, which takes in Middlefield, Burton, and Chardon. The area is about 1 hr south east of Kirtland. My companions name is Elder Henshaw, and he is from California, kind of by Fresno.

So, funny story that happened both on Thursday night and on Saturday morning in 2 of our lessons. I was teaching the two lessons and Elder Henshaw wasn't saying anything. We were going into some pretty deep discussion on polygamy as well as revelation and why prophets have it. In the Thursday lesson, the guy all of a sudden says, "You're going to be seeing a lot of me from now on," and I was so confused about what he said. He then proceeds to tell me that he is the branch missionary of the branch that we currently serve in. Him and his wife and Elder Henshaw had pranked me into thinking it was a real lesson . . .  :). In the Saturday lesson, it was a different guy and we were talking about prophets and revelation. He stands up and whispers in my ear, "I am actually a member. I got baptized 4 months ago. We are just pranking you." It was a funny situation because they recorded the whole 15 min lesson, but it really boosted my confidence to know that I could teach a lesson or two.

We went street contacting on Friday and Saturday where we went and knocked on doors for about 2 hrs both days. It was super cool but no one really wanted to listen to us. We have this 10 question survey that we use to be able to start talking to people. Questions like, "Do you believe a close family relationship is important?" "Do you pray and believe in God?" Stuff like that. But everyone out here is seriously hardcore Jehovah Witness, Catholic, or Baptist. So we had some pretty good discussions with them about what their religions believe in compared to ours. It strengthened my belief so much. I know without a shadow of a doubt that this Gospel of Jesus Christ is the only true church on the earth today and will be until the savior comes again.

I was asked to speak in church yesterday. We are part of a branch, so about 50-ish people come each week. I spoke on the restoration and why it is important. I spoke for about 10 minutes and everyone came up to me after and said that I did such a great job and that being student body president this last year probably really helped me know how to speak in big crowds. It was funny because the branch president (President Nelson . . . I want to know if he and THE President Nelson are related :)) stopped me after church when we were in our leadership meeting and said he was impressed that I could speak without having anything written down. I had just typed out bullet points on my phone and then spoke on them. He said he will be calling on me to speak more often :);).

Me and Elder Henshaw taught young men's as well yesterday. It was on seminary and why we need to go to seminary. It was so humbling to hear the boys' answers and why they feel it's important. Seminary and institute are so so so important to go to. I challenge everyone to start and to keep going to seminary and institute. It will change your life :).

I was also able to be part of 2 blessings yesterday after church. It was so cool and I'm so so grateful for the opportunity and blessing to be an instrument in the hands of the Lord.

Today the plan is to go shopping and go get a haircut. My hair is getting pretty long. Then we have a dinner tonight with the branch president and his family at 6 I believe. BTW, our mission doesn't do member dinners anymore unless we have a convert or investigator with us. So we usually just do member support visits and go check on everyone.

We are currently teaching a guy named Raphael, a girl named Sarah and her family, and a lady named Carol. They are all super cool people. The faith has to be there. Faith is such a strong word, but we must ACT on the faith or the faith won't work.

I challenge each of you to do something this week with family, whether it is going for a walk together, or out to dinner, or movie night, or a game night. I promise that when you do this, the love we have for each other will be stronger than ever.

We email and call from the Chardon church each week because it has wifi and our house does not. So we go there on Mondays. We go to the library (I got a library card so that I can use their wifi) during the week to do mission portal and OCM papers and assignments from President Stratford.

Funny story . . . We had a lunch yesterday from a member, and they gave us sparkling water. We didn't go home until the evening so we just put the 2 waters in the back seat while we drove to people's houses yesterday. On the way home, I had a really bad headache and needed something to drink but I had finished my spark so I started to open 1 sparkling water and . . . SPLASH! It squirted all over me, the car, and Elder Henshaws suit jacket. We sat there, and then started laughing and I cleaned it up. His suit is okay now, it dried up, but I was like, "yep, it has been a day" ;).

How are you all doing? How is work and school? How is the weather? It is chilly here, like 75 degrees with about 85 percent humidity. How did Salem football do against Payson? Tell Craig either way that Salem is the better team ;).

I love you all so so much and pray for you everyday :) I miss you all so so so much and am grateful you are sharing this adventure with me. I am so excited to talk to you all today!!

I love you forever and always!!
Elder Dylan McEwan

3 Nephi 5:13