Super exciting that school starts this week on Wednesday for the elementary and jr high and high schools in Nebo School district! You're going to do so awesome Momma, and I know you have been working hard :). I'm excited to hear about how all this first week back goes! How did church go yesterday? Dad did you end up needing to conduct one of the meetings? It's crazy to think about, but I realized a few days ago that I havent been to IN PERSON church in 6 months now❤ I miss it . . . A lot! Also, thank you guys for sending the package! I got it last week and it was everything I needed and wanted! I have been in heaven with the tens/stem unit, it's helped my back and neck a lot; the shirts were much needed, and I have loved the spark everyday and have loved reading the poems you guys sent. Also, thank Jen Wright for sending a package too! She sent one as well last week :).
I had a super good week, and I'm so excited to tell everyone about it. First off, being able to be at the Columbus temple on Tuesday and to go inside with Elder Moss was super super cool! I hadn't been able to go to the temple for a whole year, so it was so so very special to be back for a day. Me and him drove down to Riverside on Monday night to be closer to the temple on Tuesday morning. It was about 1 hr 45 min drive down, and we got there at about 9:45 pm. He fell asleep on the way down for about an hour, so I was just listening to music as I drove us down. We had to be up at 5:15 am the next morning to be at the Columbus temple by 7 am. The session lasted about 2 hrs, we did some amazing and incredible pictures, and then hit the road for Wadsworth. Elder Moss fell asleep again on the way back, so I just listened to music again and ate some honey almonds, and drove us for 1 hr 45 min to the apt.
Wednesday we had a super great lesson with Sister Zook who is a member of about 4-ish years, and we do 2 zoom calls a week with her (Come follow me on Sundays, and scripture reading on Thursdays). Super cool lady! We had district council at the Medina bldg, and we talked about how we can be finding success in our efforts everyday, but not necessarily in the numbers part of successful missionaries. It hit me hard that day, and taught me that we really don't need to focus about the numbers, but we do need to focus on the people and teaching to fit their needs, not ours. It taught me a lot about being humble, and selfless and thinking of others before I think of anything in return. God blesses us when we turn to Him and ask for His help. When we got back to the apt from district council, I decided that I wanted to make cookies and take them to people who live here at the Linvoln manor apt complex. So I made cookies (the mixes you guys sent me :)), and then we took them to 2 different families here at the complex, knocked, and ran so it would be a suprise of who left them 😉🤫 We had a mission wide call on Wednesday night, where President and Sister Horgesheimer told everyone that they want this mission to be focusing on the first 3 lessons of Preach My Gospel and to be studying them with scriptures attached to them so we can have them memorized and ready to teach and talk to people.
Thursday we had a super great meeting with a sweet older lady named Sister Baynes. She lost her job 2 weeks ago, and really wanted to talk to us. So we called her, and had a great lesson on the power of faith and why we must always be having faith, even amidst times of uncertainty and grief, we can find hope, happiness, and peace to our hearts when we turn our hearts over to Christ. COOL MIRACLE FOR SISTER BAYNES TOO!! She texted us later that night and said she had gone to Dunkin Donuts for a treat, and had gotten up to the drive thru and the cashier lady said the guy ahead of her had paid for her donuts already, so Sister Baynes was super happy about that. Me and Elder Moss went to the food pantry again on Thursday night and were able to help out there for 2 hrs. It was so so busy that night! About 30 or 40 cars of people came and needed food, so it was so so much fun to be able to work hard and help re stock all the shelves with food and everything. Service is the best! :) Mosiah 2:17.
Friday was my HUMP DAY (One year mark)! Crazy to think that I have been out longer on my mission than what I have left to finish out my mission here in Ohio! We went on a couple different walks that day, weren't able to see and talk with a whole ton of people, most of them are just driving and so it's sometimes "harder" to stop and talk with them, but that's okay -- We make do with what we have 😉👍 We had pizza that I put in the oven that night and was so good! Pizza fridays are the best! We also had a district devotional that night with the other 6 missionaries here in our district, so that was pretty fun.
Saturday was probably the best day this whole week (even though everyday is the best day). We went on about a 2 hr walk down in Rittman, and were able to talk with a few people, but mostly just say hi to them and wish them a good day :) We had a messenger call with Hannah Saylor. I realized I had forgotten to mention earlier in past emails, but, we have Hannah ON DATE TO BE BAPTIZED ON SEPTEMBER 5TH!! Super exciting! Her boyfriend is going to be baptizing her. He lives in New Mexico, but they dated in high school and he actually introduced her to the church and then he moved after high school but they're still dating, and so he is going to be baptizing her here in Wadsworth on September 5th.
Sunday was a fabulous day! We were able to do some walks, teach Sister Zook, the Teffteller family (in person), and a zoom call with the Zuro family! And then we had a sweet mission devotional that night with the Columbus North Stake President, President Welch. We also watched some of the Book of Mormon videos and did the sacrament, so overall it was a very great and needed day to recuperate and refresh and to keep working hard and finish this time here in ohio out strong with every last day I have left, to give it my all and finish this race out strong!😉👍
Overall, it was such a great week. I'm realizing more and more lately in the last few weeks, that every week can be a great one, even a good one, if we just do our best and we focus on continuous improvement everyday. That is something I have focused on a lot lately too, is committing myself to do a little better with each new day, and focusing on as well the importance of gaining Christlike attributes. Each day for the last 3 or 4 weeks, I have focused on one Christlike attribute a week. at the end of each week, I evaluate how I did on it and see if there is something I could do better, and can I just say: It is such a good feeling not necessarily at the end of each week to look at the results, but it is an amazing feeling to focus on each day during the week and strengthening our testimonies and foundation of Jesus Christ. I love it! I'd encourage each of us this coming week to pick one Christlike attribute, and to focus on it the rest of this week, and pray to ask Heavenly Father how you can attain and gain it in your life.
369 days ago, I was set apart as a full-time set apart missionary of Jesus Christ. 1 year and 4 days later, I understand my Savior Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father's plan for me more than I ever could've possibly imagined I would. I know Jesus Christ lives, because He suffered and atoned for all of the sins of the world. We are never alone, and Heavenly Father promises us that He will never leave us, but He also asks that we put forth constant effort everyday. Pray to Him, pray for guided help and strength to make it through each day. sometimes we think that because we changed our course from Plan A to Plan B, to Plan A to Plan C -- that Heavenly Father is sad with us and that it wasnt what He wanted. I promise you guys, that OUR "Plan C" was and always WILL BE, "Heavenly Fathers plan B". It's like a GPS, it reroutes our life, but just like a GPS, we ALWAYS end up at the same destination as originally planned. Dont give up, we got this :) 1 Nephi 3:7.
How is Salem doing? Hopefully Salem Hills will get to have a Fall sports season, hopefully 🤞How is work and school going? Mom and Garrett, you guys will start BYU IDAHO/PATHWAYS on September 14th right? And Khristin, I know you will do so so great and amazing at teaching at Northridge Elementary school this year! Good luck with school starting this week, you're going to crush it 🌞👊 How's MA course going for you Park? Good luck with everything this week! Exciting times, and I'll be thinking about you guys and am so excited to hear all about it next week!
I love, miss, and pray for you guys everyday! I'm grateful for the knowledge we have of eternal families and that we can be together forever :) Thank you guys for your constant love and support of me while I'm here in Ohio, you guys are the absolute very best ever!❤💛
I'm so excited to talk to you guys today!!
I love you forever and always!
Elder Dylan
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