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