Hard Work

This week flew by super quick. They are beginning to do that more and more I think. This week has been a very fulfilling and satisfying week. We worked so hard, and truly saw the tender mercies come from Heavenly Father as we put forth our effort. I'm so grateful for that knowledge that when we do our part, the Lord adds His power to our efforts. 

This week we:

• Had 8 hours of service over at Brother and Sister Temples house. They're moving soon and needed help painting and also cleaning out their yard. I even got to spray some good weed killer that is kind of the same we use at home. It was so much fun and I'm so happy we could help them on Tuesday and Wednesday.
• We had training visits with the Zone Leaders on Wednesday. I was with Elder Wallentine all day. We had a great time working together. We taught 2 lessons, and were able to talk to Beverly and Tom on the phone for a little bit. So that was good. We then had the Zone Devotional that night over zoom. Overall, super great Wednesday.
• Thursday we had Zone Conference up at the Talmadge bldg. It was super good. The whole conference was centered around how we can be finding true joy in studying The Book of Mormon, and teaching others the importance of it. I really like Zone Conferences always. Such a fun time to see all my past mission comps and friends I haven't seen in a while. We were also able to have exchanges with the Spanish elders on Saturday and that was a ton of fun and got to listen in on a couple different Spanish conversations they had that day :) 
• So I don't know if I really talked last week about who Beverly and Tom are. They had gone to church up in Kirtland and the sisters up there gave us their name and number to contact them. They had requested a Book of Mormon, and so we were able to take them that 2 weeks ago, and now have been able to teach them 2 times on their front porch (they sit outside each night ;) and teach them about Joseph Smith and why we have the Book of Mormon. We are hoping to put them on date to be baptized by about June, just need to make sure we have most of the lessons taught by then. Super good elderly couple though.
• Yesterday was probably my favorite day of the whole week, and here is why. Me and Elder Sanchez had gone on a walk for about an hour and a half after church. We stopped and talked with and taught 2 lessons to 2 people while on that walk, then we got lunch from Sister Eskelson in the ward, and then we went over to a lesson appt with New Portage. We ended up being there longer than anticipated, and by the time we left it was already 6:30. So we did as much as we could when we came back and ended up having 2 lessons with Beverly and Tom, as well as with a guy named Matthew that we have been trying to work with for a while now. It was a huge testimony builder to me last night when we got back to the apt, about the principle of hard work and dedication, and that we really should not ever be content with staying where we are at with what we have accomplished, we have to always be trying and striving to do our best.
• We taught 25 lessons this week, you could just feel that same love I just talked about and feel it in each of those lessons. I'm so grateful that the work is continuing to move forward despite what is always going on in the world around us. Never before have I just been so happy to share what I believe in. I attribute that to Heavenly Father showing me that importance of daily study and prayer, filling up my lamp with oil, and letting it burn in the lives of many other people.
• We have been getting many referrals from the Akron Zone Facebook page every week. We average around 7 to 8 referrals a week to our area, and 9 times out of 10 those people want to keep talking to us. Just goes to show even more so that God does have a place  and a direct purpose for what He is needing each of us to do and how to do it in sharing the restored Gospel.

This upcoming week we:

• Have interviews and district council on Thursday in Talmadge with President Horgesheimer. Crazy to think this will be my 2nd to last one!
• Then will just be here the rest of the week working hard and experiencing miracles :) 
• Elder Sanchez is doing well. I have been helping him everyday to be more and more confident in leading out in different parts of the day, and helping him adjust fully to being a missionary. He is doing super great with everything and it's been really fun to help train him and work with him.

My testimony this week is that of the topic of this email: Hard Work. I'm so grateful for the blessing of knowing that as we keep a mindset of going to work everyday to build our ships as Nephi built his, then the Lord continues to give us added revelation and tools needed to cross the seas to the promised land or our promised land of life (school, work, hobbies, etc.). He really is at the helm of this work because this is His work. He is the master builder and we are the instruments. So glad to be able to serve everyday to help bring others that same perfect and everlasting joy that I too feel in my own life. 

I'm very grateful for all you guys do for me and the love and support you give to me. I'm excited to talk to everyone today!

I love you always and forever!

Elder Dylan McEwan