Back to the Akron Zone

This has been such a great week. Time is really starting to pick up out here, and I am so grateful for everything I am learning. My mission has taught me a lot of things, but above all else it has taught me that blessings and miracles do happen when our hearts and our faith are centered on Jesus Christ and teaching His restored Gospel to the world. I will be forever grateful for being able to dedicate my life to Ohio and to know that this conviction I have received is an eternal conviction of sharing His gospel and my happiness to everyone I meet throughout my life.

Transfers are here and as the title states, I'm leaving Chillicothe! I will be going to the Akron Zone serving in the Akron area/ward. I have been to the Akron ward once or twice before and so I'm super excited! I will be serving as District Leader up there :) My new companion is Elder Foster. He was Elder Bennett's trainer, so that's cool. Elder Foster has been out for about 15-ish months and was actually originally in Brazil. It is crazy to think that this next area could very well be my last area of my mission, as I only have about 4 months left. I promised myself that I'm just going to finish this race I have started. This will be my 7th area with my 14th companion!

Some highlights of the week:

• Elder Bennett and I finished the transfer out strong. We taught 49 lessons last week, found 3 new people, and were able to have 4 service hours. Honestly this transfer taught me so much about not thinking about myself, but getting up and going to work every single day. Praying for blessings, praying for people to teach, and committing myself to be "All In" everyday. The joy I have after this transfer is beyond my comprehension, so grateful to know that hard work really does bring such amazing miracles and strength into our lives. We were able to hand out a Book of Mormon to a lady named Mary on Sunday afternoon! We both put our testimonies in it and then were able to give it to her. 
• We had exchanges with the zone leaders on Thursday down here in Chillicothe. I was with Elder Hinton that day. We had such a fun time. At one of the houses we stopped by, it was a nonmember house and one of the sons answered the door. He just stood there not knowing what to do and we told him who we were, and then he motioned for us to come inside. We opened the screen door and went inside. I began speaking and starting to share a scripture, and then the son kept telling us that his mom was in the bathroom. He said this 2 or 3 times, and finally he just walked out of the room so me and Elder Hinton were just standing there in their living room by ourselves. We just slowly walked out to their front porch. The mom came out a few seconds later, and we had a good laugh with them about that awkward experience, and then shared the scripture and message with them. They said we could come back later so that was super good!
• Wednesday I went to the Chillicothe courthouse to take care of my ticket I got from the car crash a few weeks ago. I showed up about 15 minutes early, and then waited for about another hour for the judge to come in. Overall, it was a good learning experience for me and it was cool to hear the other court cases that were being decided that day. We went to district council in Jackson later that day. It was such a good council. It has been so much fun to be district leader for the last 3 months, for the things I have learned and been able to do, and I am so glad for the strength and the knowledge God has given to me.
• It has been about 50 to 60 degrees everyday for the last week, with the sun shining everyday. Honestly such a tender mercy from the freezing temps that were here a few weeks ago. Brings such great energy and strength to keep going each and every day. 
• Great news from Ohio! Wards and Stakes have been opening up and approved from Area Presidency to start doing in person 2nd hour meetings on Sundays!! It isn't approved for the whole state of Ohio quite yet, but I think it is beginning to head in that direction. Makes me so happy :) I have missed the in person feel these last 12 months, and hopefully by April or May we can be more in person with things. Keep praying for that to happen everywhere, and that when we do go back in person, we will keep doing everything we have learned this last year of COVID.

Elder Hinton told me something when we were on exchanges that really hit strong with me. He goes home this week on Friday. He has been serving his mission since November 2017! He got sent home 2 different times for back surgery and then COVID last year, but still he kept deciding to serve. He told me that if we just forget ourselves and go to work everyday, that the Lord will take care of the rest. He said that we must be ALL IN and ENGAGED with every ounce of our work everyday, because that is when the Lord's will is ours but more importantly it is our will that is aligning itself with the Lord's and things start happening and falling into place. I know that is so true. God has a purpose and a plan for each of us (Moses 1:39). There is no need to worry, no need to fear, and no need to doubt. God is the coach, we are His players, and as long as we show up to practice to be prepared for the big game, we will be ready and we will be prepared for that final exam. 

I love you so much. I pray for you daily, and I am so inspired by your strength and your experiences you all are having every week :) Here is to the BEST week yet 😉

I love YOU Always and Forever .  .  .

Elder Dylan McEwan