How are you doing this week? What all have you guys been able to be up to lately? Any fun 4th of July and also Father's Day plans coming up in the next 3 weeks?
On Wednesday morning, Elder Moorwood left to go to New Albany. Me and Elder Johnson are now here in Wadsworth and chugging a long, making lots of good improvement with this area and seeing many of blessings and miracles. We headed down to Canton on Wednesday night to do a split exchange with those elders. While me and Elder Vaughn were driving to the Canton apt, the skies opened up and we literally almost had to pull over at 9:30 at night on the freeway because there was so much water and the wind was blowing super fast! So crazy but we made it safely to the apt, just not before we were engulfed with drenched clothes and happy smiles on from laughing at the situation.
Friday we were able to help a non member couple out at their house all day. It was MY favorite thing to do because . . . We got to shovel rocks and put them over the black fabric in their flower beds around their house. They had ordered 8 tons of rocks, so me and Elder Johnson worked from 10 am to 3 pm that day, with a lunch break of course. They also had us dig out 4 strips of grass and then lay rocks there too as well. So basically like what you guys have been doing at the house lately. We were able to share a message with them, which was Mosiah 2:17 and they all loved it, and it was fun to know that we were the first missionaries to be allowed to their house in almost 9 yrs since their last experience with them. And they said they very much appreciated us.
Now we get to Friday night which was so eventful! So, we got back to the apt and finished weekly planning, and then we were going to go change and get ready for a lesson we had scheduled that night. The member who the lesson was with called us and said he had pizza for us. So we both went down to the lobby of the apt and got the pizza. It was then that we realized we didn't have the keys with us and the door is an automatic lock on our front door. So we then proceeded to call the housing spec, and then 8 locksmiths (4 of which were stationed in Columbus 2 hrs away). After 90 min of being locked outside the apt (we did have pizza and brownies so that was good 😉), we got a hold of a locksmith here in Wadsworth and he came and got us back into the apt. And then, to make things even more exciting!! Another member family called us and said they wanted to buy us both ice cream from a really good place called Biddingers down the street. So we got ready quick since we were still in service clothes and then we had our district devotional after we got back from ice cream. A super fun day and many blessings were sent our way, as well as we now double and triple check we have both the key and the spare key to the apt 😉.
On Saturday morning, we had our weekly zone call with President and Sister Stratford. We haven't heard anything yet on quarantine and being released and allowed to go back outside yet, so we will see in the coming days and weeks what happens with all of that. President said that for right now, as far as the new clothing goes for elders, it will be just the campus and university missionaries (OSU, Youngstown state, and Kent State universities). He said they will start letting all new missionaries coming here know to bring blue shirts from now on. He said it will be a gradual implementation of the whole mission using blue shirts and such, as the are presidency continues to approve everything.
We went back over to the non member house (the Kovacs) and finished up moving all 8 tons of rocks around their house. And oh man, it looks so so good! I was telling Elder Johnson they should just call us the landscaping crew haha! And the Jackson family (members) live right next door to the Kovacs. We were talking with them and Sister Jackson said they have family living in PAYSON UTAH and they will be traveling out to see them for a month, and leave to go to Utah on June 26th. I gave Sister Jackson mom's number so she can reach out to her and maybe meet up if it all works out and such. Super small world. Funny how things work out to where people meet and see they know similar things about others.
Sunday was just a regular day for me. We did the sacrament and listened to Hyrum Smith's talk called 'Why 1820' about the first vision and restoration. And then we had a lesson with the Zurrar family over facebook messenger. Then we decided to go on a walk to a park. It was so pretty and we walked by a train track which was cool. On the way back the apt, these 2 ginormous dogs started chasing us!! Me and Elder Johnson took off running down the street! The guy who lives there came and brought his dogs inside, but man oh man it gave us a run for our lives pretty much. I also gave the devotional again for the district devotional we have over messenger. It was fun and I did it on a vision of "The Belief window" and what small things we can see when our vision is pushed outward on the things that God gives us to be happy and keep motivated everyday.
It was such a great and very rewarding week. If someone would've asked me 91 days ago (that's how long quarantine has been now), if I would be happy in these conditions, I would have a different answer than I have now. I was listening to a talk by President Nelson on Saturday called "Spiritual Treasures" or something close to that. But in it, he talks about how we can make a "heaven, out of our own surroundings". So basically, we can take something that is not the best environment and location, and we can make it so beautiful and wonderful. That is my testimony now. Is that despite what may be going on around us, we have the unique priviledge and opportunity to be GREAT today and always! I remember that was my platform for Student Council, was that we can truly be changing the world, just by how we are acting and choosing to live our days, everyday. :) It's so beautiful what all we can do with a smile and a warm wave and happy and energetic HELLO 😁
P.s. We decided we are going to celebrate in 9 days because it will be 100 days since we got quarantined, so we may have to do something celebratory for the momentous occasion.
My invite for all of us this week is going to be so so fabulous I think.
It is to: Wake up every morning and look yourself in the mirror and say, 1.) Today will be my best day yet, 2.) I'm going to serve someone today, and 3.) I'm going to trust Heavenly Father today.
We will be blessed as we continue to look to the positive and optimistic mindset of everyday life. Even 91 days now in self isolation and quarantine in the apt and houses, we can all be making amazing impacts on peoples lives just by who we are choosing to be everyday.
Also, I wanted to let you guys know that transfers are next week on Thursday June 25th, so pday will be Wednesday June 24th. And then I will call for Father's Day as well on Sunday June 21. We have 17 new missionaries coming in next week. I'm not sure if that's re-assignments or new ones, so we will see what they say next week. We also have zone conference this week, and sadly 😥 it will be over zoom call which means we won't be able to see Stratfords again before they leave on June 30. But it's okay though 'cuz we will see them after the mission since they just live in Ogden Utah :)
Dad, Happy Fathers day to you (on the 21st 😁), Happy Fathers day to you, Happy Fathers day dear dad, Happy Fathers day to you! Thank you so much for your amazing and tremendous example and leadership to me and our family everyday, and to everyone you meet. You are incredible, and I love you lots.
How is Salem doing? I saw that Salem Hills baseball won some tournament this last week, which is super cool! Have you guys heard anything on Salem Days and if they're going to be having it this year and if so, what the regulations will be?? Church will be good to start back up on July 29 for you guys. I I'm hoping Ohio and the North America Northeast wards and stakes can get info on when we are going back??🤷♂️ But, all will be good though, just keep staying optimistic and hopeful.
Grandma ockler sent me a letter this last week so that was so fun to open! Tell her thank you for me please! 😁
I love and miss and pray for you guys everyday and am so so truly grateful for everything that you guys do for me! These last 10 months wouldn't have been possible without you guys all supporting me, thank you thank you! I'm so so excited to talk to everyone today!
I love YOU ALL Forever and Always!
Elder Dylan ❤💞💛
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