Crazy to think that I have now been out on my mission for ALL and every single holiday there is. Even more crazy to think that I will hit my 1 year mark on the mission in just 18 short days. Kind of surreal now, and amazing how fast time is flying! I hope you guys are having fun up in Millville too this week, tell everyone I say hi.
So, in correlation and regards to the title of this email, you probably guessed it . . . We received word late Tuesday night from President Horgesheimer that all 19 missions in the North America Northeast, have ALL been approved to come out of self isolation/quarantine, and to resume all missionary efforts outside. We have been asked to still social distance of 6 feet, and to wear our masks outside. We can only have lessons with people who we have a schedule appt for, and we can not go tracting at this time. We can do service projects that have been approved by President Horgesheimer, and the area presidency. So, it was definately a tender mercy and a miracle that after 127 days, we are now allowed outside to do stuff, and to be amongst people, and really just to kind of have more ability to be sociable with people (that's my favorite part 😁).
We had in person district council for the first time on Wednesday morning in over 4 1/2 months! It was so fun! We all wore our masks, and it was a party! I gave a training on: "The Atonement of Christ, and how we can apply it into our life." It went really well, and everyone said I did a good job at it. Dad, I used part of your talk that you gave last week and had sent to me. It was a great and big help for me to have and use. After district council, it was so much fun to be able to call you guys for Dad's birthday that day! We went out and talked to people for about an hour, and were able to give away 1 pamphlet on The Restoration to a guy we met. Then, we had 2 lessons with 2 member families (one of which brought us pizza), and that was a fun time!
Thursday was Elder Johnson's birthday, so it was a fun day! We also were very blessed to have the chance to do a zoom call with Elder D. Todd Christopherson of the quorum of the 12 apostles. It was so good! We talked about how we can best be using the resources we have been given to do missionary work, and how that relates to David and his 5 small stones to defeat Goliath. And how important it is for us to be bold and confident and genuine in every conversation we have with people to show them good examples of who Jesus Christ is. We then went over to the church for a little bit, and that was a ton of fun :) Afterwards, we came back to the apt and he called his family, and so I started cleaning the apt and I did my laundry. It was really satisfying, and now the apt is super clean. Then, that night we went up to Akron to Outback Steakhouse for Elder Johnson's birthday. We had a zoom lesson with Sister McCoy who was baptized 3 months ago, and it was so good! The dinner was so good, I had a bloomin burger and wow it was delicious.
Friday, we got up and did some calling and texting of people in the area and set some lessons up for the coming days. We went to the church and did some things over there, and then we went on a 2 hr walk and found a couple who had just moved here to Ohio 3 weeks ago because their previous house in Oregon burned down. We gave them a picture of Christ with our names and number on the back, so super positive experience from that. We had a zoom call that night with the zone leaders and sister training leaders, about service and how we are to go about doing planning sessions each day going forward.
Saturday, we left the apt at about 8:15 in the morning and drove over to Canton to the elders apt there. They have a baptism tomorrow and so we gave their person a baptismal interview (since E. Johnson is the DL). We did a mini training visit with them, went to arby's for lunch (their ward had given them some gift cards so we used those). Then, me and Elder Draper walked for about 2 1/2 hours in Canton and talked with people. I also got super sunburned on my face and my neck, and was very dehydrated afterwards. They have pretty much shut off all the drinking fountains in parks, and they have turned them off in all church bldgs here in Ohio, because of germs and not wanting to spread anything else. So I had no drink, so we made a quick stop at Rite Aid and I got a drink there, much needed. We got back to Wadsworth at about 7-ish that night, and we got changed into different clothes, and went over to the park where a few kids were waiting for us who had invited us to come play sand volleyball with them that night. So, we played volleyball with them for about an hour and a half. I was kind of rusty at sand volleyball, since I haven't really played since before senior year, but it was fun and I made some good dives and had a good time. Then, we went to an ice cream place and got some ice cream and went back to the apt. Overall, great day!
Sunday, we found out on Friday night from President and Sister Horgesheimer that one of the missionaries here (Elder Bosworth), his dad had a super scary head accident on Thursday this week. His family lives in Logan, and his dad is a stake President up there and owns a very big furniture store there. Apparently, something went wrong at work on Thursday and he had something happen to him. He is now currently sedated in the Ogden Hospital. Elder Bosworth has about 40-ish days left before he is scheduled to return home anyway. We held a mission wide fast for the Bosworth family, hoping his dad is able to recover quickly. Keep them in our prayers ❤ We did the sacrament and had a great day today!
It was a very good week! For many reasons, and on Tuesday during interviews I actually asked President Horgesheimer to give me a blessing, and so he did. I have a very strong belief on the power of the Priesthood and what it does to us as we call down the powers of Heaven. I have been thinking alot about what I have learned this last year now on my mission, and these are some things I thought of:
- To work hard no matter what, everyday
- Look to the past, to prepare for future
- Love and forgiveness is key to all happiness in life. A loving heart can mend and heal hearts any day of the week ❤
I know that the Atonement is real and that when we use it in our life, we can be helped and strengthened and healed in every part of our life. I have been stretched far beyond what I intended to be out here on the mission. I have learned things, met people, and done things that I know will bless me and impact me for the rest of my life. It is a huge incredible happiness that I feel everyday. Not because I am a missionary, not because I am in Ohio right now. But, I feel a huge happiness inside of me because of the person I have become (at least, the person I hope I have become 😉) on my mission this last year. I'm grateful for these experiences that I have had here, and to trust my Savior Jesus Christ. I'm grateful for the gift of love and hope, and for what those 2 things have helped me to do in my life and as I reach out to help other people around me.
I still haven't been to church in about 5 months now, it's been good to have it here at the apt each week. Exciting that school starts soon (even if its online ;)). I'm so grateful for all of you guys, for the letters and pictures and packages I get from you all. You all are truly examples to me of awesomeness, and I'm grateful to have you all in my life❤ That's something I have loved being able to do on my mission, is talk and teach about families and the importance of them. I always get so happy when I get asked the question of: "Do you really believe that families can be together forever?" And I respond with, "I believe with all of my heart that families can and will be together forever, through temple blessings and covenants made". I'm forever grateful for the promises and the covenants we have all made to be a forever and eternal family, and through righteous living and faithfulness to our promises made, we will all be together for eternity. And I love that more than everything and anything else ❤❤
Also, transfers are next week on Thursday August 6th, and so Pday will be next week on Wednesday August 5th.
I miss you guys, and I pray for you daily.
I love you forever and always,
Elder Dylan McEwan
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