This week was so awesome and I have learned so much. Also, it is freezing currently. The state of Ohio is currently under an emergency freeze order and temperatures are supposed to be tipping to Sub Zero to negative digits this week.
Some highlights from the week:
- We got a text from President H that me and Elder Bennett led the entire mission in lessons taught last week with the 41 that we had. We then basically repeated that and taught 38 lessons this week with 4 new people found. Some great things are happening here in south Ohio and I am so excited to see what the next few months hold in store.
- We drove to Athens on Tuesday morning and had a quick training visit with them. About an hour and a half drive to their apartment, and then an hour and a half back. In the 3 1/2 months I have been in Chillicothe with the car we have, I have driven 4700 miles. We average driving 350-400 miles every week with either driving to Columbus, or over to Athens and Jackson for mtgs or down to Waverly for service and people being taught. The Chillicothe ward covers 4 counties, and so to drive from north of the ward to south of the ward is about 2 1/2 hour drive time.
- We drove up to New Albany on Wednesday. That is like east columbus so it was a good road trip for us. We had to leave Chillicothe at 6:45 am and got to New Albany about 8:15. I saw Elder Johnson there. It was a combined conference with the South and East zones. Elder Johnson and I talked for about 45 minutes and he told me he is actually headed home in 4 weeks to start classes at Oregon and to be getting ready for basketball this fall. So that was kinda sad to hear because he and I got pretty close as we helped each other get through the summer of quarantine. Zone Conference was super good. We had lots of role plays and learned about how we can be allowing God to prevail in our lives. After it was over, me and bennett went with the Athens elders to Mod's pizza in New Albany. I had never been there before and it was really good. Definately one of the faves.
- Church was good on Sunday. We had fast and testimony meeting, and then hopped on the ward Sunday School and youth Sunday School zoom mtgs. Super fun day! Probably the coldest day yet. We went walking to a couple members houses in the afternoon and I walked out our front door and was like, "It's sunny out I won't need a jacket." We started walking to the houses about 15 minutes away and my whole body I think went into shock because of the cold. I think it was 16 degrees is what the car said when we were walking. But I made it through the walk and I actually think we got one of our lessons that day because the lady felt bad we were standing in the cold on her porch so she let us share a scripture. Hey! Whatever works right.
One story I do have from this week. We were going around to a few part member and non member families on Tuesday night. We stopped at this one lady's house and knocked on her front door. She opened it and immediately through her hands up and said (in a very southern accent), "Elders!! Where have y'all been? I have been wanting you to stop here for the last 6 years since I last saw you." We got to talking with her. She is currently going to one of the baptist churches here in town. We talked for about 10 minutes on her porch about the bible and how she was raised in a strict baptist family. I asked her if we could come back later and do a bible study with her. She smiled and said, "Yes, I would love that. And while you are here I will make sure you have a cooked meal while we dive deep into the holy scriptures". Her name is Susan Bowen. The south accents are strong in these parts of Ohio. Kinda fun though to hear them speak.
Things upcoming this next week:
- We are driving down to Jackson tomorrow night. I am giving baptismal interviews to the 6 people that the sisters have on date to be baptized. So that'll be fun, I am excited for that!
- Interviews and District Council are on Wednesday (Either in New Albany or Reynoldsburg, but either way it'll be about 2 hrs drive time to Columbus.)
- Training Visit with the Zone Leaders here in Chillicothe on Thursday.
Keep Kris Rothe in your prayers. He is not doing good currently. Jamie Krueger is sick right now but that isn't a big concern because we have taught him everything to this point and we are doing a live proxy baptism on April 6 for him so that will still happen. But keep him in prayers too.
This is my testimony for the week. It comes from what I took away from Sister Horgesheimer's talk on Wednesday at Zone Conference. I like how she shared Spencer Hadley's decision to either have a hard heart about the mistake he made in college while attending BYU, or he could have a soft heart and allow the Lord to take place in his heart.
"I know who I am. I know who you are. All of us in this room have made mistakes. I know that we can change and we can right the wrongs that we have done. "The first step on the road to redemption is to bless others." - Bronco Mendenhall. We have to merge with Jesus Christ. The only thing Christ asks of us is a soft heart, what you gain is everything. We have to measure our spiritual hearts. In your life, you're going to be presented with a challenge and there will be times in your life (child, spouse, etc.) and you will find yourself in the parking lot like Spencer Hadley was, and you will have the decision to make, "Will you get on the bus?"
Do we have a soft heart? Do we have a gentle heart? Or have we allowed the loud voices of the world to distract us. Check your spiritual heart before you make every decision in your life. Soft hearts earn everything."
I am super grateful for all of you guys and for the love you guys give to me on the mission. This week is a momentous one. 18 months ago I stepped into an environment that has proven to shape me, test me beyond my limits, shown me to embrace the awkward, and become the priesthood holder that Heavenly Father needs me to be. I can't even begin to explain the happiness I have in my heart. Through a worldwide pandemic, 127 days in strict isolation, and everything since, I am grateful that God took a chance on me and I am forever grateful that I chose to get on the bus.
I love you all forever and always!
Elder Dylan McEwan
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