On Tuesday, we went tracting in the morning to the west side of the area. It's been interesting doing tracting in this area because pretty much everyone works during the day, so we end up trying to go to the more "City" part of the area and catch people while they're walking on the street :). We helped Elder Weidman at the storage shed in the afternoon. I think everything is about finished with bringing everything down to Powell from up North. They're putting it all in the 3 storage sheds we have in Powell, so we have been organizing it and getting it looking nice. It's like an adult version of tetris ;). We also had a great lesson with the Ball family (members). We went over the ward mission plan and they also said they would love to have us and our investigators over for a Book of Mormon class at their house one night a week. I think that would be super cool and important to be able to do! We drove up to Delaware that night.
Wednesday we had training visits in Delaware with Elder Henshaw and Elder Davis. I went with Elder Davis that day and it was a ton of fun. We started off the day by helping at a food pantry in Delaware. It is put on by members from the Lutheran church as well as Delaware citizens. It is every Tuesday and Wednesday there. So we helped the people get their groceries and helped them load it in their cars. And oh my goodness, I thought I was going to start crying from seeing those people come into the building with NOTHING, and leave with groceries. I had never helped at a food pantry before and it was the coolest thing ever! We went over to a less actives house that night and taught him about prophets and why we need them. We also gave him a blessing. I was able to be the voice for the blessing, and it was such a tender moment. I had never met the guy, yet when I placed my hands on his head, my heart knew him from the pre-earth life. I then spoke the words the Spirit gave to me and realized in that moment, it doesn't matter if we know someone before we help them; we must always help people, even if we don't know them. We had a really great lesson with a member family in Delaware on the importance of dancing to the music of the Gospel. I shared that we all are on this journey called LIFE. But we all dance to the gospel differently and we must all help each other to hear the tune of the Gospel and what it means to us. Me and Elder Yukihiro drove 35 minutes south to the Polaris elders apt that night.
We had training visits with the Polaris Elders on Thursday. I went with Elder Jones and had a great day. We started the day off by going to the north east part of Polaris and walking for about 2 hrs to people's houses. We only were able to talk with one or two people at their houses, but those one or two people are the people our Heavenly Father needed us to talk to that morning. That afternoon, we walked for about 2 1/2 hrs (my leg muscles have gotten very VERY big from all the running and walking I do). We tried talking with one street of houses and also offering service, but all of their signs said, "If you are not selling Thin Mints, then Seriously Please Go away". So I turned to Elder Jones and said the next time they go back, to make sure they take thin mints to these amazing and good people of Polaris :):) We were able to set up an appointment with a member family for the future, so I was very grateful for that. Elder Jones and Elder Cox (his comp) went to the Columbus temple that night with some of their members, so me and Elder Yukihiro took their lesson with a recent convert for them. His name is Danny and was baptized a few months ago I believe. We taught the importance of daily scripture reading and why we must "feast upon the words of Christ". It was great and the spirit was felt. Me and Elder Yukihiro were quite tired when we got back to the apt that night after having back to back training visits.
Friday was an amazing and fun filled day! We helped Elder Weidman in the morning with unloading a trailer that had an apartment's worth full of furniture and washers and dryers (it was my 2nd workout of the day ;). Then we had district council and interviews in Powell at the mission home. One of the perks about interviews at the mission home is Sister Stratford made everyone chocolate chip cookies while we visited, and they were so good! Definitely made it a great day :). My interview with President was so good. He told me that he knows the Lord wants me in the Lewis Center area, and that He wants me to start preparing to be a trainer in the future :) I gave a training at district council on How to become a Preach My Gospel missionary and the importance of it. I taught that we must talk WITH people, and not TO/AT people when we have conversations. People see the way members of the Church teach and talk. We must feast upon the words of Christ and treasure up in our minds continually the words of Christ, so that it'll be given us in the very hour, yes in the very moment, that which should be meted unto every man. I think my training went good and hope everyone was able to learn something. It was cool to be back in the mission home after 6 months since my first night in Ohio. We did weekly planning that night at Elder Bowers house in Polaris, and about 45 minutes into it, we had both fallen asleep, it was like 7:05-ish ;).
Saturday was what I am calling, "Max overload" day haha :). We helped the Brogdon family move out of their old house at 10 am, and then at 11 am we went with the ward mission leader (Brother Walker) and helped the Igle family move out of their house and we did that til about 1 pm, and then we went to the Brogdon's new house and helped them unload everything and put everything from the cars to the house. Then, at 3 o clock we went over to Brother and Sister Gornichecs house (members), and we helped them sand all of their cabinets and drawers in their kitchen so they can paint them. We were there for about 3 hrs and then we went up to Sunbury to the Tucci house (members) and talked with them about some questions Brother Tucci had. He is a convert to the church, and so it's always been super fun to talk with him and hear his viewpoints on things and opinions on things. We got back to the apt at about 8:45 and I was asleep on the couch by about 9:20.
Sunday was super good and awesome. It was fast and testimony mtg, and I got up and bore my testimony on Sister Cravens talk titled, Careful versus Casual. I talked about how we must stay on the path, not because of the temporal happiness, but because of the long term lasting happiness that comes from being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. They redid the bishopric in the Lewis Center ward. Bishop Pease is the new bishop and I think he will do a great job! We went out with a boy named Ethan Cornelius to take the sacrament to John Russell after church. It was so much fun and reminded me of when I would go out with the missionaries, and brought back some good memories.
It was a very very great week! I learned the importance of doing my best everyday, and leaving the rest up to Heavenly Father. My testimony was strengthened as well this week. I know this church is true, I have felt it play a significant role in my life. And I think more than anything else, Heavenly Father taught me the importance of staying and being HUMBLE, and able, not being afraid to open my mouth to talk with someone. There is a time and a season for everything the Lord has for this world, and we can only trust in Him that He has that way provided for each of us, as we do our part.It's also super important not to get discouraged and get down on yourself. If anything else, a mission has taught me the ups and the downs of everyday life. The Lord hasn't forgotten His people, He is right beside us every day. We must stay positive, do our best, and have courage and confidence everyday of our lives.
The challenge and invitation for this week is something I have valued in my life as very important. It is this: To be YOU, and to stand tall and firm for who YOU ARE. Just like President Monson says in his talk, "Dare to be brave. Dare to make a difference. Dare to BE YOU." I want to second that. Heavenly Father created us in His image, and wants us to learn and grow to be who we need to be. I invite us to make a commitment to ourselves to stand tall and to stand brave everyday, and to not let our faith be shaken, and to BE YOU.
I've also been thinking a lot about the importance of growing and improving everyday. I want us to ask ourselves the question, "How am I becoming who I need to be everyday, and how am I being a little better than I was the day before?" We see that by small means, are great things brought to pass.
It is sunny and blue skies in Lewis Center, and about 34 degrees everyday with humidity.
I pray for you guys everyday, and I know Heavenly Father is blessing each of you in all of your efforts. I miss you guys so very much!
I love you all forever and always!
Elder Dylan
Alma 36:3
"My Sacred Grove" -- This is such a cool song to listen to :) Look it up on YouTube or Facebook. It has a great message of building our OWN sacred groves and waiting patiently in faith.
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