Basketball and Tennis

 42 days in quarantine = 6 weeks of no person contact = my brain has gone crazy a little = we made it . . . And we still have MORE to go . . .😯😅 President Stratford said on Friday last week that the Ohio governor is most likely going to lift the self isolation order this week on Friday, May 1. We aren't sure what that will mean, but we are thinking that we will still be quarantined for another 2-3 weeks, and we will have to wear masks everywhere we go when we are let out. I'll let you know updates as I get them.

I'm doing good, and I have now officially lost track of what day it is anymore. I woke up on Sunday and was going to get up and workout and then get ready for Pday thinking it was Monday, man oh man the brain messes with you sometimes 😉.

So I decided to make this email a little different this week, because not a whole ton happened this week, but I still wanted to be able to write a lot, and it's fun for me to write big emails because it helps my brain to think.

Tuesday: We had a training visit in Gahanna with the ZL's. We watched insitute, went and ate from Raisin' Canes, had interviews via zoom with President Stratford, and then we went and watched The Singles ward at the zone leaders apt, and played phase 10 card game, and finished the night off with having a district devotional! Overall, a super good day, kind of just trying to find anything and everything creative and spontaneous to do.

Wednesday: We had a couple lessons with Pusba, John, and Christian. All of them are from Cyprus and Nepal, and they are so much fun to talk with! They have such fun personalities and love to joke around and make people laugh. Super cool and nice people, We drove over to the Pickerington elders apt that night for a training visit. It's the DL and his comp. We ordered Dominos pizza for dinner, which was super good! Then we worked out and visited for a while. Super fun night!

Thursday: We had insitute, and we talked about how important it is to be staying close to our Savior Jesus Christ each and everyday! Super good, and helped me think a lot about how we can be coming close to Christ, with our experiences we are having. Then we had personal and comp study, had lunch (cold cereal, hah those elders hadn't shopped for a min or two, so they didn't have too much 😂). #missionfood

Then we all went to the church and we met the Zl's and a couple elders from another district, and the sisters came, and we all played basketball at the church and it was super fun! I've gotten pretty good, been working on my shot, so it's been pretty fun.

Friday: Is it bad if I can't remember what we did most of the day???🤔 I do know we went to the car place in Easton (about 30 min west of Reynoldsburg) to have the car be recalled, and then we drove back, and I think just studied most of the day. Honestly I can't remember though, I don't even know if we had a Friday, hopefully I didn't sleep through it 🤫.

Saturday: We had personal study, had an hour and a half phone call with Brother Hessler (group mission leader) about the zoom call for sunday school that we had on Sunday and prepping for it, then we went over to Gahanna and played tennis with the Zls and Dl's and visited at their place, and then they all came to Reynoldsburg to our place and gave Elder Smith a haircut, we had 2 lessons with Jagat and Dowa, and then a district devotional. I gave the devotional that night. I did it on Christlike attributes and why it is so important to have them in our life, as we strive to become more like our Savior and keep Him close to our hearts and focus everyday. We also watched the Other Side of Heaven 2, and it was so good (even though it was like my 8th time watching it ;)). 

Sunday was spectacular! It's always so nice to get to the end of the week and fill satisfied and accomplished for everything you have been able to do and help with. We had the zoom call with all the Nepali people in akron and columbus, and talked about this last weeks chapters on Come Follow Me, and focused on how we can be taking upon us the name of christ. Then, we got back to the apt and we did a Nature Walk to the woods (except thankfully we didnt get lost, but it was raining AGAIN! ;). We skipped rocks in the water and walked for a little while, and then went back, Elder Smith made brownies and I had an interesting dinner (brownies and chips/queso dip, and cold cereal -- Haha it was a "Cold cereal" type of week, haha ah man 😉😅) 

So it was very much an interesting week and I have truly learned why it is so important to have faith and trust in Christ, and always remember Him. On Saturday night, I was feeling down on myself and was just kind of having a hard day and everything in general about that day, and in Sunday morning too. And THEN, we took the sacrament and wow, the "Water works" started and as Lola K would say, I had "Water baby eyes". :) During our sacrament, I thought about the song, Come Come Ye Saints, and why it has always given me cold chills. Deep lasting conversion doesn't happen overnight, it takes time. And because He descended below us all, we are never ever alone, even when every other indication would say that hope is lost, hope is never lost. - Elder Holland. 

"Why do things have to be so hard", "Why must I go through this", "Why can't I see the future/What's the answer"  . . . We have all probably asked ourselves these questions time and time again, I know I have. Something comforting I have learned lately, is how if we truly truly want to find out the answer and swim to the shallow water, we first must trudge through the murky, deep water, trusting that our Savior is there. While growing up, my mind ALWAYS always tried so so hard to have everything planned out and I always tried to have the answers to everything. Sometimes it's hard to not have those answers, and most of the time if not all the time, the planning part of things is the part we get most excited for. But, I promise you all today, as we turn to our Savior everyday, with faith unwavering, He will be our "life vest", because "Our lifeguard walks on water" and He does have all the answers and He does know the way; just like the primary song says 😉😁😁.

I wanted to do a little "talk" I guess you might call it. I wanted to talk about Christlike attributes and how they provide for us in our life. In Preach My Gospel page 121, it talks about "The Restored Gospel enables you to become like Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. The Savior has shown the way. He has set the perfect example, and He commands us to become as He is." This stood out to me, because as we go through this life, the things we learn and grow into, are things that ultimately in the long run, mold and shape us into who Christ is and what His nature is. I have been thinking about 'HUMILITY' this week. Christ was full of Humility everyday, inside and out, and He valued everything about being meek and lowly of heart. Humility is not easy, and its something I have always tried to work on, because at least for me, it's hard to be lowly of heart and still be confident and brave. But, I soon found how crucial and relevant Phillipians 4:13, Luke 1:37, and D&C 6:36 are to me in my life. As we turn to Christ, have faith in Him and dont fear, and then we strive everyday to become more like Him; then He has promised us that He will not leave us comfort less, He will not forsake us. D&C 121:1-9, "Thine afflictions shall be for but a small moment. And shall be for your good". I testify in the name of Christ, in the name of Him who truly truly suffered for me and for you, that that scripture is true and will be true as we "focus not on the circumstances of our lives, but that we focus on where our hearts and character and our mindsets are at" - President Nelson.

I hope you guys liked this little "different" email this week. It was quite fun for me to write and was definately cool to see everything that I did learn this week and can now put into my life and strive everyday to continue to become. Something I've also learned is this, "If there is preparation, there should be more finish"- Neal A Maxwell. 

The invite I would like to do this week is this: Turn our hearts to the Savior this week (and every week 😉), and pray for strength to get through each day, and pray daily to become like our Savior Jesus Christ! :) 

मलाई थाहा छ कि परमेश्वर बाँचिरहनु भएको छ, र म जान्दछु कि हामी उसका बालकहरू हौं।  उहाँ हामीलाई माया गर्नुहुन्छ, र उहाँ हामी जस्तो हुनुहुन्छ त्यो उहाँ वास्तवमै चाहनुहुन्छ।  कहिले पनि हार नमान्नुहोस्, कहिल्यै आशा नत्याग्नुहोस्, र येशू ख्रीष्टको नाम दिनहुँ, सबै ठाउँमा र सबै कुरामा सम्झनुहोस्, र मलाई थाहा छ कि हामी यो काम गर्‍यौं, हामी प्रेषितहरू र भविष्यवक्ताहरूले धेरै कुरा गरेका छौं।  बारेमा, "भेडाहरू जसलाई राम्रो गोठालाले फेला पार्दछ, र आफ्ना गोठालाहरूको घरमा घर ल्याउँदछ"।

Translation: I know God lives, and I know we are His children.  He loves us, and He truly wants us to become as He is.  Never give up, never lose hope, and remember to take upon yourself the name of Jesus Christ everyday, in all places and in all things, and I know that as we do this, we will be what the apostles and prophets have talked a lot  about, "The sheep whom the Good Shepherd finds, and brings home to His keepers house".

I want you guys to know how much I love you, how grateful I am for you all, and for your guys influences and examples to me in my life everyday. Heavenly Father blessed me immensely when He blessed me with a wonderful family and loved ones in my life who He knew would be my #1 support system and best friends in my life. Thank you all so much for everything that you do for me! 

Lola K, thank you so so much for the card princess, uncle Dylan loves you too! Mom and Dad, thank you for the 2 Nepali books you sent to me, I got the 2nd one on Saturday and it has been helping me so much, thank you thank you! Good luck this week and know I'm thinking about you guys daily and praying for you constantly.

I'm so so very excited to talk to you all today!

I love you forever and always 💛

Elder Dylan

English Teacher?!

Namaste, Tapai Kasto Hunuhuncha? (Hello, how are you?)

Thought I would throw some णएपलि at you guys today! It is quite the exciting language, and these Nepali people speak it so so so fast! I'm literally out of breath by the time I finish speaking ONE sentence and by that time the Nepali people have already told a WHOLE story 😉.

So I literally forgot what day it was today, I thought it was Tuesday morning; this Quarantine life has my brain doing all sorts of crazy things and so I just make sure I make it to each Pday and then I know that I didn't miss any days that week . . . Hopefully 😁.

Alright, so on to the week full of blessings, miracles, and me being an English teacher (I now know that I for sure don't want to do this for my professional career).

Tuesday I slept in til 7 am, because I had taken Nyquil the night before and was completely out for what felt like forever. But, I felt so much better on Tuesday morning. We all watched The Best 2 Years while we were getting ready and eating breakfast, and laughed the whole movie. Glad I'm learning a language in my home country and not in a foreign one, like Elder Calhoun.

Elder  Sirrine posted on his facebook Nepali page, and we had over 200 Nepali people respond saying they wanted to learn English and some of them said they wanted us to teach them the Gospel too! Is this anything short of a miracle . . . Behold, I say unto you: Nay, it is not. And so we were able to have close to 15 english lessons this week with people from ALL OVER THE WORLD . . . Literally everywhere!

Rocky: He is from a small little town just north of Nepal. He is so cool and wants to read the bible while we call with him on messenger, and we met his whole family too. They are all awesome and so kind in every way! Rocky speaks a little English, so it was fun to talk to him. What me and Elder Sirrine have been doing is we ask questions in English and then have the people answer in English, and we ask them things like:

- How long have you lived in ____ for?
- How big is your family?
- What's your favorite food?
- What's the weather like? 

It's super fun to ask them all these questions, because they always get the biggest smile on their face when they don't know how to say it in English, and they say, "मलाई थाहा छैन/ malai raha chaina. Which means that they don't know. They are the most humble and sincere people ever! 

Pusba -- She is so cool! She lives in Cyprus (and I have no idea where it is, other than it is a small island in the ocean :)). She also loves to read the bible and she wants us to call her everyday, literally. She is super smart and loves to talk with us.

We met with about 12 to 13 other Nepali people from India, Nepal, and South Korea. All of them weren't too interested to continue learning English/the gospel. But, it was so so much fun to talk with them. It was good for me as well, because I would listen to what Elder Sirrine would say in Nepali and then he would translate into English, so then I would just cross translate it back into Nepali so I could understand it. The language is coming along, and a small miracle comes later on in this story of the week of my adventures.

Thursday was kind of just a regular average day in the life of a quarantined missionary, which means study, pray, workout, eat, study, workout, and then study again :). But it's so good and it has given me plenty of time to ponder and think and become a stronger ME. I'm so grateful for this time I've had to grow my talents, strengthen my testimony, and grow my relationship with our Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ.

Friday was awesome! We met with Rocky and Pusba in the morning and their lessons were amazing. They shared with us some of their beliefs on God and this life, and then we were able to teach them some new English words, and then also share both of our testimonies; ah so so cool! We had Zone Conference via zoom call on Friday afternoon. It started at 1:30, and at 1:28 the AP's texted us and said, "Can Elder McEwan give the opening prayer? and say it in Nepali?" Well, let's just say I learned a valuable lesson, that the scout motto, 'Be prepared' is VERY essential. I have a lot of my first prayer memorized in Nepali, but not the whole thing yet so Elder Sirrine quickly wrote down my prayer and added a few words onto a piece of paper. Then ZC started, and I looked down so no one could see the paper, and I proceeded to say the whole prayer in Nepali! While it wasn't memorized and was instead

written down, I truly felt the Spirit in me as I said it. I also learned something else too. "God doesn't call the qualified; He qualifies the called. And He makes weak things become strong unto them who believe." I felt this scripture touch my heart this week. Heavenly Father has humbled me with this new assignment of language, and He has taught me how important and crucial it is that we truly have our "eye single to the glory of God" at all times and in all places.

The 4 of us went on a walk through the woods by the apt that afternoon. We started at 3:45, thinking we were going to be back by 4:15 maybe 4:20 at the latest. Well, we just kept walking and walking, and we were all just enjoying the time and we skipped rocks over a river, we saw a coyote a few yards ahead of us, and we got super super REALLY super wet because it was pouring rain. We looked down at our watches and phones and it was 5:15!?! We made our way back to the apt and we figured we had walked a good 5 to 6 miles through the foresty woods. It was a ton of fun and much needed I think for all of us. Me, Sirrine, Pakwal, and Smith then went to Panda Express for dinner to finish off the night.

Saturday was pretty regular and average again. We taught a few English lessons, did weekly planning, played some frisbee at the park, and made some food. I've gotten pretty good at cooking lately. With all the time we have, why not cook some food right?! :) 

Sunday was THE BEST 😁😁 We started the day off with personal study, and then we went to the church. We had decided the other day that we wanted to do a Zoom call with all the Nepali members and people in Reynoldsburg and Akron areas so that they can still be getting some sort of Gospel learning right now. So we had a Come Follow Me lesson with 7 or 8 Nepali people, the group leader for Reynoldsburg, and a few RM's from this mission over zoom. It was soooooo much fun! I haven't met any of the people IN PERSON and so it was fun to meet them over video call and hear their beautiful and powerful testimonies. It was so good! And then I read in the Nepali Book of Mormon and that was a blast! I am getting better at reading more fluently on the sounds of the characters and what they all look like.

So I heard that Utah is starting to lift the quarantine/stay at home order a little?? It sounds like we will be quarantined at least until May 1. At that point, Governor Dewine is doing an evaluation. IF, we are allowed to start going outside, President Stratford said it'll most likely be that we can only do service for a few weeks and that WE WOULD HAVE TO wear masks anytime we stepped outside. Thank you very very much for sending me masks! They will help me so much :).

It was a really great week, and besides my mind/brain thinking it's Tuesday (of the previous week) and my legs are getting anxious to be moving more, I'm doing pretty good. I do have to say though, this is going to be a great mission story to tell yrs from now, that I was quarantined for 2 months and did lessons, etc from the apt with my phone :). Just like Elder Utchdorf said recently, "missionaries are the pioneers for what's to come" 😁.

So for the invite for this week, I've been thinking of what to do for it. I decided that I wanted to switch it up a little for this week. I invite and challenge all of us to:

- Write in our journal 3 times this week
- Read a General Conference talk from a past conference
- Apply the talk to your life, and how you can be stronger and more like our Heavenly Father with it.

I promise we will be blessed as we do this. I know it's not always easy in this life, and that sometimes we may have hard"er" days. I know that sometimes we may want to give up, we may want to stop trying. But, I promise you in the name of Jesus Christ, that He atoned and suffered for YOU & for ME. He suffered so we didn't have to do it alone. He loves me, He loves you, and He loves everything we do in our life. The past 5 weeks, I have thought a lot about why Heavenly Father allows things to happen to people and why somethings just don't quite make sense in the moment. But, I also know He has a PERFECT plan for each of us. Just act in faith, continue to hope for great things to come, and be the light that somebody else needs everyday 💛.

स्वर्गीय पिताले हामीलाई प्रेम गर्नुहुन्छ, किनकि उहाँ हामी सबै उहाँ र उहाँको छोराको साथ उच्च राज्यमा बस्न सक्षम भएको चाहनुहुन्छ।  उहाँ हाम्रो ख्याल राख्नुहुन्छ, र हामीलाई सान्त्वना पनि कम गर्नुहुन्न।  उहाँ सँधै हाम्रो लागि र हाम्रो साथमा हुनुहुनेछ, जब हामी उहाँलाई दिनहुँ फर्कन्छौं, र उहाँको मार्गनिर्देशन र मायालु सहयोगको लागि उहाँलाई सोध्छौं।  उहाँ परमेश्वर हुनुहुन्छ, र उहाँ सबै कुरा जान्नुहुन्छ, सबै शक्तिशाली, र सबै मायालु।  म भन्छु कि येशू ख्रीष्टको नाममा, आमेन।

Heavenly Father loves us, because He wants all of us to be able to return to live with Him and His Son in His kingdom high.  He cares for us, and he doesn't leave us comfortably.  He will always be there for us and with us, as we turn to Him daily, and ask Him for His guidance and loving help.  He is God, and He is all knowing, all powerful, and all loving.  I say that in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

I heard that Utah schools will be closed the remainder of the school year! Mom, that's good because then you truly will get to be in your most favorite place . . . HOME 😁😉 #thebestplace

I pray for you guys everyday, and I miss all of you so so much ❤ I'm so grateful for all of you, and I'm even more grateful and happy that you guys are doing amazing and having so much fun with all the many wonderful/incredible adventures you have going on :) Continue to work hard and put forth your very best effort everyday :) Just like Coach Grant Taylor says in Facing the Giants, "Your very best, your very best! Don't give up on me Brock, you're not finished yet! You keep going, you keep going!" That's my motivational quote for everyone this week! 😉😉 

I love YOU Forever and Always!

Elder Dylan

Easter & Quarantine

It's such an exciting time of year, and is a perfect opportunity to truly remember the life and ministry of our Savior Jesus Christ.

So to get things started for this week, I thought I would tell you guys of the current physical state I am in. So on Thursday I think it was, I started to not feel too good, and I hadn't been sleeping hardly at all for about 4 or 5 nights. I was only able to sleep for about 4 hours and then I would wake up in pain. By Friday, I had a sore throat and a throbbing headache and was in even more pain. Saturday, I felt a little better and was able to make it through the day. And then Sunday came . . . And by 2 o clock, I had a sore throat, 2 bloody noses, a cough, a throbbing headache, and a fever that was making me freeze to death. I couldn't even focus on anything really, and I had bags under my eyes from not sleeping well all week. The fever lasted for about 3-ish hours, and when it broke, it sent me into a lot of hot and cold chills. I'm feeling a little better now, but still in pain, mostly in my legs and a little in my neck and by those lymph nodes. I was trying to teach the three other elders the basics of medical 101 and how to treat a sick patient.

Okay, so onto the rest of the week 😁 Tuesday was a great day! We had a lesson with Jagat and a lesson with Suuk (Suuk is the one that gave me my Nepali name 2 weeks ago). We also watched the pink moon that night and it was so so cool to watch! It was a pretty basic day that day, been trying to find lots of new ideas to do with being quarantine to the apt now. We have at least 3 weeks left of being quarantined, and all 4 of us have gone stir crazy and our brains have melted  . . . 😁😉

Wednesday was a very fabulous day! To start, me and Elder Sirrine went on a run . . . well, I went on a run and Elder Sirrine rode his bike along side me, so that was fun :). It felt good to get outside running again. We had district council that morning, and it was fantastic! We talked about General Conference and talked about how we each individually are able to get through hard times in our lives from past experiences that we have had. I was able to share Parker's story and everyone loved it and was so glad I shared it. We also had a lesson with the Kidds. Brother and Sister Kidd live in Oregon. They were the Nepali senior couple here about a month ago before all the senior couples got released and were told to go home. So they are home in Oregon now. But it was super fun to video call them and speak a little Nepali with them. They're in the "Learning phase" too 😉. We took the Talmadge elders car into the car place to have the battery and brakes changed. It was fun to be there . . . when you only have 3 options of places to go while you're in quarantine and you're going on week 5 you make the most of even the smallest places (like a car place 😉😁).

Thursday was a pretty regular day. We studied and called up some members in the Reynoldsburg ward. We went over to the church and played a little basketball to let some energy out, and then we went to Stake n Shake for Elder Sirrine's 1 year mark. (it was actually on Friday but we wanted to make sure we didn't put anything in front of us to get us to not fast.) It was good! I got an Ultimate Banana shake, and wow, D-E-L-I-C-I-O-S-O! It was amazing! We also watched The Other Side of Heaven movie, its one of my favorites.

Friday we went to the church for the zone zoom calls with President and Sister Stratford. They went great! We found out that our mission is going to be starting Facebook pages for every ward in our mission. So about 56 to 60 ish facebook pages are being created. They're going to upload videos of us teaching lessons "virtually" and other cool Gospel videos so that members in each ward can then get on their pages and share the videos with the friends and families. #membermissionaries

Saturday was a good day. Honestly, by the time it got to today, I forgot what day of the week it was (quarantine does that to you :)). We went to New Albany and picked up our commissary, and then went to the Columbus sisters apt and dropped off a copy of Complete Nepali for the new Nepali sister that's here this transfer. It was a fun little road trip and was cool to see more parts of Columbus! I can't remember if I said earlier, but me and Elder Sirrine cover all 4 stakes in Columbus and so we get to drive all over here. Columbus is such a cool place! On Saturday night, I said my first FULL prayer in Nepali! I was so excited :). The language is coming, slowly but surely. We were also able to help get the Bicentennial Proclamation translated into Nepali this week for all of the Nepali members here. The work is pressing forward!

Sunday was Easter! It was so so awesome. We took the sacrament and then studied and thought about the resurrection of Jesus Christ and what it means to have faith in Him. Something I was able to reflect on was this, 'Because Jesus Christ overcame the grave and rose again the 3rd day: How can He bless me in my life to overcome trials and challenges?' And as I thought about this, I was reminded of when Peter walked on water with Christ, and He started to sink, but Christ took his hand and told Him it would be alright. We went on a walk to a creek and really cool rock wall that I climbed up (it was only 7 or 8-ish feet tall). We did Come Follow Me study at the park we were at. And then, Elder Birch (the newly called area seventy) came and brought us dinner at the apt from him and his wife. It was fun to talk with him. That's like my 6th or 7th general authority I've been able to meet, so that was way cool. He is so kind and nice and humble.

Something I have learned a lot about this week, is how incapable I am of being able to succeed alone in my life. And I know how that looks, but, because of that I can then rely solely upon Jesus Christ and build my firm foundation on Him whose arms are indeed extended towards me.

I have been able to work on one of my talents this week: Singing. I decided I needed to be improving my ability to sing. And I'm so glad I took advantage of it this week. I know Heavenly Father gives us talents to grow and develop, "even those that lay dormant". The singing videos were fun to make.

We also have zone conference this week on Friday, via zoom call. It'll be interesting to have a zone conference over video instead of in person. #thenewway :) 

I thought I would tell you guys some facts about Ohio and some stuff about what I have been able to learn as a missionary. Two Amish families were converted to the church about a year or year and a half ago. Two of the sons went on a mission and they both served in the same mission -- Salt Lake City Utah mission. One of them was the trainer of the other one! Such a small world. They also make wooden name tags at the Amish stores in Mt. Vernon (the other Amish area besides Chardon). I've only seen 1 of the name tags, but they looked super cool! Ohio is famous for tornadoes this time of year. There was a tornado in Medina Ohio on Tuesday this last week. I'm actually not quite sure where the city of Medina is in relation to where I am, but it would've been cool to have seen the tornado, a cool mission story to tell later ;).

Some things I have been able to learn on the mission have taught me a lot about the type of person I want to be for the rest of my life. I love that I have been able to learn so much about the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and truly come to the love of the Savior and His atonement and how He can help me every day. He doesn't tell you to fix EVERYTHING, at the same time. Instead, He takes you by the hand, and He helps you repair your boat "One step at a time, and one hole at a time". He truly is the carpenter for us all. I have also been able to recognize how Heavenly Father and the Savior give us strength everyday. I remember when I started the mission, and I told myself the first 3 or 4 days in the MTC that "it wasn't too bad and I got this." And then I got to Ohio and then I got called to Nepali and the last 3 weeks I have felt my brain and my ability to learn and have 12 different things going at once, grow immensely in being able to learn to manage and handle all of that. So awesome how our Heavenly Father gives us strength when we rely on Him.

-Luke 1:37
- Proverbs 3:5-6
-Philippians 4:13

The invitation I thought I would challenge us all to do this week is going to be a fantastic and amazing one . . . I hope.

It is:

- Think back to your baptism day; and ponder about what that day meant to you.
- Think about how being able to have the sacrament at home has blessed us
- Study Come Follow Me this week, and share with someone something you learned from it. 

It is so awesome to think about being able to think back to the everlasting covenant we made with Heavenly Father when we were baptized, and being able to continually be learning and loving in the church. 

येशू ख्रीष्टको सुसमाचार सत्य छ।  मलाई थाहा छ कि बप्तिस्मा साँच्चिकै हो र हामीले स्वर्गीय पितासँग गरेको करार स्थायी र अनन्त छ।  मन्दिर भित्र हुन र ती पवित्र अध्यादेशहरू गर्नु मेरो लागि कत्ति राम्रो कुरा हो।  मलाई मन पर्छ कि हामीसँग घुमाउरो दुबै तिर काम छिटो गर्ने अवसर छ।  भगवानले हाम्रो क्षमताहरू जान्नुहुन्छ, र हामी उहाँसँग उहाँको सहयोग र प्रेमको लागि अनुरोध गर्दछौं, हामी वास्तवमै mtns सार्न सक्षम हुनेछौं र हाम्रो जीवनमा चमत्कार र आशिष्हरू देख्न सक्नेछौं।  म मेरो परिवारको लागि, परिवारको घोषणाको लागि, र निरन्तर प्रकाश को लागि आभारी छु जुन आज चर्च चलाउन सहयोग गर्दछ।

Translation: The Gospel of Jesus Christ is true.  I know that baptism is real and that the covenant we make with Heavenly Father is lasting and eternal.  Being able to be inside the temple and performing those sacred ordinances is so awesome for me.  I love that we have the opportunity to accelerate the work, on both sides of the veil.  God knows our abilities, and as we ask Him for His help and love, we will surely be able to move mtns and see miracles and blessings in our lives.  I am so grateful for my family, for the family proclamation, and for the continual revelation that helps govern the church today.

How is everyone doing in this time of self isolation and stay at home orders?

I thought I would do a Positive in the Present quote today, to kind of spice things up a little: "When we have joy in our lives, we not only have a great day, but our light and joyfulness shines forth to other people around us."

I miss you guys so very much, and it makes me so happy to know that you all are doing so great! Is everyone staying healthy? I've been taking the NSP stuff everyday, and hoping it keeps helping me :) Thank you ALL so much for the Easter package! I opened it on Saturday morning and everyone has loved the treats. I have loved MY Cadbury eggs and peeps 😉😉. I put all of the candy and peeps in a big white bowl for everyone to snack out of throughout the day. They have loved being able to have the bowl full of good stuff ;). Thanks for sending Lola Ks birthday card too, I'm glad she had a great and happy day :).

Khristin, Happy Birthday to You, Happy birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear Khristin (on Wednesday 😁), Happy Birthday to you! :) I hope you have such a great day :) 

I pray for you guys everyday! Thank you for your great and amazing examples to me and for your guys light and influence and support to me ❤

I love YOU Forever and Always :)

Elder Dylan

My Nepali Name and General Conference

What was your favorite part about General Conference this last weekend? I hope you guys have a lot of fun and have a great and fantastic Easter Sunday in 6 days!!

First off, I got my Nepali name this week from a member here. My Nepali name is: Sucdi ("Suck-Dee"). It means, "Power"! It is a cool name, and the Nepalis have a hard time saying, "McEwan", they can't pronounce the "Quwan" sound, so I guess I'm Elder Sucdi now ;)

Tuesday was a really great day. We were able to have a video lesson with a little 7 yr old boy named Eric. He lives up in Talmadge, near Akron. He is super funny! I met him back in November and he remembered this week that my name is Dylan, so he always calls me Dylan now. He is going to be baptized here in a few weeks. We also went outside and played frisbee in the afternoon, and took some good pictures with a Nepali Book of Mormon. It was fun and super nice weather too. 

We ended up doing the grocery shopping on Wednesday morning at Walmart. So we did that, and got stocked up on food. A guy came up and started talking to us about religion. It was super interesting and I'm pretty sure he used to be a member of the church but isn't anymore. It just assured me that when we all are actively praying for missionary experiences, we WILL receive them, so we MUST be READY. We also had district council over zoom again this week. We learned how we can use family history in our missionary lives, and also talked about the first vision. It was super good. A member couple brought us some lasagna and salad and breadsticks on Wednesday night, and they were so so good! 

My testimony of the first vision is this: I know Joseph Smith read in James 1:5. He lacked wisdom, for he didn't even have a schooling education. But because Heavenly Father is a just and loving God, He appeared to Joseph in the springtime of 1820, and said unto him, "This is my beloved Son, Hear Him!" We all can come to a knowledge of the Gospel as we talk with Heavenly Father and believe He can give us the answers we need in our life. 

Tuesday and Thursday we were able to have a mission wide Institute class with one of the OSU teachers (Brother Spencer Knowles (who Marissa said is technically related to her.) and Bishop Ardema from Akron. We talked about the importance of prophets and why we have them on the earth. We then also talked about the importance of temples, and why we must be inside of them. What stood out to me was how much I miss being inside of the temple. I'm so grateful we get to be in temples and experience that joy not just for now, but for eternity.

We have been doing lots of language study everyday, about 2-ish hrs worth of it. It's been stretching my mind beyond what it thought it could do. "Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve." I know that is true. I have seen Heavenly Father magnify me far beyond my ability to comprehend, but "He doesn't call the qualified; He qualifies the called."

Friday we had a zone call with President and Sister Stratford. He said we will be doing Friday calls until this quarantine is done. And we were told that Gov Dewine said we will have a stay at home order at least til April 30th. Continue to pray for relief in this world, and I'd invite all of us to participate in the worldwide fast this week on Friday, April 10th. We then went over to a lady and her families house and got her phone number (through the screen door so we were still 6 ft apart ;)) so we can have phone lessons with her and her family, because they are wanting to be baptized soon.

Saturday, wow this was such a fantastic day! General Conference was so much fun to listen to! I loved that they focused in these 3 sessions on The Book of Mormon, Restoration, and how we as men and women can be magnifying our Priesthood callings. The Priesthood is so cool and at the heart of the Gospel of Jesus Christ because it is God's power. What also stood out to me was the importance they put on how The Book of Mormon is the keystone of our religion, and how without it, "there would be no religion". I know this is true and I know as we come and prayerfully study the Book of Mormon, we will know of its truthfulness, "the Holy Ghost will manifest the truth of it unto you"- Moroni 10:3-5. Super cool that Brad Wilcox is now in the General Young Mens Presidency! And that Matthew Holland (Elder Hollands son, UVU's former President, and the North Carolina Raleigh current mission president) is now in the Seventy!! Such cool times! 

Sunday was sooo amazing! Palm Sunday and Conference Sunday at the same time, what could be better?! I loved being able to participate in the Hosanna shout. It was so cool that a majority of the talks focused on temple worship and how we can be preparing RIGHT NOW, for when temples open back up. The talk about revelation and prophets and apostles from Elder Cook was so cool! How are we receiving revelation in out own lives! Also, how cool was the Bicentennial proclamation read by President Nelson IN the Sacred Grove! I love this church and I'm so glad it's all about serving and ministering to the one, because it's so cool when just as President Thomas S. Monson always said, "An act on a prompting from the Spirit, is an answer to someone's prayer". I have truly felt that this week. I commit all of us to always act immediately on a prompting from the Spirit, because it will bless someone else's life.

8 new temples! Pittsburg is like 6 or 7 hrs from Columbus, so that'll be cool to have a temple there and in Syracuse Utah, and in China, and EVERYWHERE! The truth of God is going forth to all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people. I'm so grateful for continuing revelation and for the chance we have to always be learning and progressing.

Also, quick fact update about the area of Reynoldsburg! So they have been trying to make it a Nepali branch here for a while. Right now, the Nepali people are just a group and I think just meet at a house. President Stratford has submitted paperwork to Salt Lake and now we just have to wait to get it approved for the Nepali people to become a branch here. SO, when Keith Birch was called as a General Authority Seventy on Saturday, we were so so excited! Keith Birch lives here in Columbus Ohio. He used to be the Columbus South Stake President. He has had a huge huge part to play in helping these Nepali people and now that he is a seventy, we are hoping so much that the branch becoming a branch will happen soon now that there is "an in" 😉.

The invitation I want to have all of us do this week is going to be a fun one I think. It is: "Pick your favorite scripture from The Book of Mormon, and prayerfully read and ponder it, and then apply the scripture to your life and see how Heavenly Father uses it in your life." I know it'll bless all of our lives. My scripture is the one that is on my mission plaque at home in the Stake Center. 

D&C 4:3-4, "Therefore, if ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work;

4 For behold the field is white already to harvest; and lo, he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in store that he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to his soul;" 

येशू ख्रीष्टको यो सुसमाचार साँचो हो।  मर्मनको पुस्तक यसको केन्द्रमा छ र यो बिना नै, चर्च खस्नेछ।  तर, स्वर्गीय बुबा र हामी सबैको लागि उहाँको मायालु योजनाको कारण, हामी सबै मोर्मनको बुकले आशिष्‌ पाएका छौं।  हामीसँग एमटीएनएस सार्न र चमत्कारहरू देखाउन विश्वास हुनु आवश्यक छ।  हामी सधैं हाम्रो अगाडि के देख्न सक्दैनौं, तर म तपाईंलाई प्रतिज्ञा गर्दछु कि जो माथि रहन्छ उसले शुरूबाट अन्त्य देख्दछ र उहाँ हामीसँग हुनुहुन्छ जब हामी उत्कटतापूर्वक र ईच्छाले उहाँलाई खोज्दछौं।  त्यसैले म हामी सबैलाई त्यसो गर्न आमन्त्रित गर्दछु, र हाम्रो दैनिक जीवनमा उहाँलाई सुन्नुहोस्।  हामी mtns मा सर्छौं र हामी यो कार्य गर्दछौं।  म मेरो मुक्तिदाता येशू ख्रीष्टलाई प्रेम गर्दछु र म जान्दछु कि उहाँ मेरो लागि मर्नुभयो र उहाँ मेरो र तपाईंहरूको लागि योजना हुनुहुन्छ।.

This Gospel of Jesus Christ is true.  The Book of Mormon is at the heart of it and without it, the church would fall.  But, because of Heavenly Father and His loving plan for all of us, we are all blessed by The Book of Mormon.  We also need to move the faith to mtns and see miracles.  We can always see what is in front of us, but I promise you that He who lives high, does see the end from the beginning and He is there with us as we earnestly and intently seek Him.  So I invite all of us to do that, and Hear Him in our lives everyday.  We will move mtns and see miracles as we do this.  I love my Savior Jesus Christ and I know He died for me and that He has a plan for me and for each of you.

Lola K, Happy Birthday to YOU, Happy Birthday to you, Happy 3rd birthday (already!😉) dear Lola K, Happy Birthday to you! I hope this week on Wednesday is the best day for you my little monkey. Uncle Dylan loves you lots :):) 🎂

I pray for you all everyday and I love and miss you guys so much everyday ❤ Heavenly Father has a plan for all of us and just like David Archuleta says in one of his songs, "I'm beginning to understand, that for me, you have a plan." I ditto that because I know He truly does have a plan for each and every one of us.

I love YOU forever and always! :) 

Elder Dylan