Springing Forward to New Heights

This week has been so eventful and so much happened, I honestly don't even know where to begin. I truly feel the work picking up more and more. I'm reminded this last week about how the sons of Mosiah and Alma taught for so many years, and yet just when they were able to turn back because they thought nothing was working, the Lord truly provided a way for them to accomplish what He needed them too. 1 Nephi 3:7.

Highlights of this week:

- We had a lesson with Eva on Saturday. Guess what!!!!??? She said she wants to get baptized! April 10th is the day for her. Please keep her in your prayers. She is such a kind lady, and really desires that change and growth in her life. I know she can do it, and we are going to keep meeting with her every Saturday morning until April 10th.

- We were able to go and help at the Open M food pantry in downtown Akron on Tuesday morning which was so much fun. We boxed and packaged over 60 store orders for families who were coming to pick up food that day. Such a fun time working and helping there. On Thursday we were able to go to the Akron Spanish elders apartment, and did an exchange that day. I was with Elder Bird. We were able to go and be around Kent State University for a little (they cover that campus) and we had 3 lessons which were amazing. Then, him and I went on a 2 1/2 hour walk that night and walked to the University of Akron, and then we decided we were going to find where Lebron James school he helped build was. So we walked and found it, and man it was exciting. I will post pictures! All in all, I figure we walked closed to 6 or 7 miles on that walk!

- Saturday we had that amazing lesson with Eva! Then we had a Stake Coordination with all the missionaries in Akron stake as well as the Stake President. Then, we drove up to Talmadge and had an exchange with the zone leaders. We helped move a lady out of her house, then went to Taco Bell for lunch (we didn't have time to make anything else 😁). Then, me and Elder Jones had 2 awesome bible studies with 2 people over the phone. Me and Elder Foster then had our district devotional when we got home at 9 pm.

- Sunday was awesome! Ward council virtual at 7:30 am. Then me and Elder Foster both had been asked to speak in sacrament meeting! We spoke on the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Such a fun topic! We met with a guy named Brother Labate in the ward. We are helping him to prepare to enter the temple soon. So reading the Preparing to enter the Temple pamphlet. We have been meeting with a lot of members this week both virtual and in person to try and get a general feel and idea for what ways we can be helping the ward.

A very weird thing happened at one of our member lessons on Sunday night. We were about finished with the lesson and the parents asked us both what we were going to do in our future lives. I told them a doctor and to be engaged in helping people and serving. All of a sudden they started interrogating me on government and asking for all my beliefs, parties, etc. Finally I just stood up after like 5 min and turned to Elder Foster, and said, "We are leaving". I just could not feel the Spirit at all, and was not having it with the dad doing that to me. But it definitely taught me the importance of having the Spirit with me always, and being in tune to know when to leave a situation or group of people.

Things to look for this next week:

- Zone Conference is on Thursday. I was asked by the assistants to give 2 trainings for Zone Conference. My topics for my trainings are Working with Members, & Having the Holy Ghost in our life. I'm super excited to give them and to learn as I prepare for them.

- Exchanges with New Portage elders on Friday. Super excited for them! I don't know if I said this or not, but being district leader is so rewarding. I get to work so closely with the other missionaries in my district and get to know each of them individually. I love it! :) 

I have a strong testimony this week on being in tune with the Spirit. I had so many experiences this week where I needed to say just the right thing to the person we were teaching or talking with. The Spirit is there in our life to help us grow and to help us be in tune with our Heavenly Father. He cares about us, which is why He has provided a way that we can see His light in our life. Sometimes we lose that light or lose sight of where we may be going. But I know and I promise that as long as our sights and focus are pointed forward, we will see Jesus Christ every. single. time. I have begun to see the importance of helping here in the mission. The average age of our mission right now is 6 to 7 months. With my time as a missionary winding down, I have felt it important to be helping these younger missionaries to know and learn correct principles and to just be doing their absolute best everyday. Grateful for what I'm learning and doing everyday.

How is everything going at home? How is the Spring daylight Savings going for everyone? Literally time just sped up yesterday haha! 

I love you all so very much and so very grateful for everything you do for me and also teach me :)💙

I love you all forever and always!

Elder Dylan McEwan