I know this is true with all of my heart. This life is all about our spiritual progression and how we will live our life to the fullest. Always remember to keep your glass 100% full, even if your glass is feeling empty someday, the Savior and His teachings will be there for each of us.
Saturday, January 18, 2020
How Full is Your Glass?
One of the lessons I taught this week was on how full our glass is. I used the analogy of when we don't have the Savior and His teachings in our lives, then our glass is empty and we don't have enough to spiritually quench our thirst. But as we strive to listen to His teachings and as we do all that we can to help in this Great work of salvation, our glass begins to fill and we in turn, have joy and happiness beyond measure.
I know this is true with all of my heart. This life is all about our spiritual progression and how we will live our life to the fullest. Always remember to keep your glass 100% full, even if your glass is feeling empty someday, the Savior and His teachings will be there for each of us.
I know this is true with all of my heart. This life is all about our spiritual progression and how we will live our life to the fullest. Always remember to keep your glass 100% full, even if your glass is feeling empty someday, the Savior and His teachings will be there for each of us.
Tuesday, January 14, 2020
Your Personal Influence
I wanted to share with you a talk I read by President Monson titled, "Your personal Influence." In it, he talks about how a man wanted a calling/task to do during the day, and so the Savior gave him one to do. When the man saw that the calling was in a small place and he wouldn't be recognized highly of his service, he cried to the Savior and asked him to not send him there. The Savior then asked, "Are you working for them or for me?"
That question hit me really hard when I was reading this talk. It's important to always remember that it doesn't matter where we are, how many people we talk to, or how many people see us doing something good; all that matters to the Savior in the end, is that we are being good examples and a good influence on others around us.
It may not be the greatest calling or the best job to be doing, but at that specific moment in time, the Savior has prepared someone in our environment to be blessed by our sincere service. I encourage us to go about our days with happiness for what the Lord has called us to do, and to look forward with steadfast faith in Christ.
I wanted to share with you what I've been able to share this week and what I have felt as I've been able to walk up to people and tell them about this amazing message I have to share. It is this: Member Missionary Work is an act of the Lord's redeeming love, and we must all be striving to share the Gospel everyday. Just like in the youth theme song 'Go and Do' by David Archuleta, even though the world may shut him out, I will make Him room. It's so vitally important that we Go and Do, and that we stand for truth, never ever backing away from the principles and knowledge we have learned and gained. I'm grateful for this Gospel of Jesus Christ in my life, and that I have been able to change and become a dedicated disciple of Jesus Christ, and I want to be that person everyday, with faith unwavering.
I love you all so much, each and everyday. I pray for you all everyday and I'm forever grateful for you guys and for everything we have learned together as a family. Thank you for your amazing examples to me.
I love you forever and always!
Elder Dylan
That question hit me really hard when I was reading this talk. It's important to always remember that it doesn't matter where we are, how many people we talk to, or how many people see us doing something good; all that matters to the Savior in the end, is that we are being good examples and a good influence on others around us.
It may not be the greatest calling or the best job to be doing, but at that specific moment in time, the Savior has prepared someone in our environment to be blessed by our sincere service. I encourage us to go about our days with happiness for what the Lord has called us to do, and to look forward with steadfast faith in Christ.
I wanted to share with you what I've been able to share this week and what I have felt as I've been able to walk up to people and tell them about this amazing message I have to share. It is this: Member Missionary Work is an act of the Lord's redeeming love, and we must all be striving to share the Gospel everyday. Just like in the youth theme song 'Go and Do' by David Archuleta, even though the world may shut him out, I will make Him room. It's so vitally important that we Go and Do, and that we stand for truth, never ever backing away from the principles and knowledge we have learned and gained. I'm grateful for this Gospel of Jesus Christ in my life, and that I have been able to change and become a dedicated disciple of Jesus Christ, and I want to be that person everyday, with faith unwavering.
I love you all so much, each and everyday. I pray for you all everyday and I'm forever grateful for you guys and for everything we have learned together as a family. Thank you for your amazing examples to me.
I love you forever and always!
Elder Dylan
Monday, January 13, 2020
Go Forth and Serve
Wow, so much has happened in such a short amount of time and I'm so grateful for that. It has been an adventurous and exciting last few days and I'm so excited to tell you all about it!
Thursday morning I got up at 6:15-ish and made sure all of my stuff was in my 3 suitcases and that my bike was ready to go. I packed it all in the car and we set off for Dublin church bldg at 10 o'clock sharp! I was driving, and had so much fun. We drove through Solon, then from Solon to Dublin it is 100 miles of open freeway (hah talk about a long stretch ;)). We pulled into Dublin church parking lot at 12:50, 10 minutes early. I found my companion, Elder Yukihiro, and I also saw and talked briefly to Elder Henshaw. We are both super excited to be in the same district this transfer! So me and Elder Yukihiro left Dublin and drove 25 min north to the city of Lewis Center where our apt is. He asked me if I wanted to stay there for a min and unpack or go start doing stuff. I chose the latter ;). So we got into the Malibu (we are a car area, mostly) and we went to 5 families, one of them being the ward mission leader and the other one being the bishop who we went out teaching with that night. Guess what the bishops name is . . . Bishop Nielsen! So I had a Branch President Nelson and now I have Bishop Nielsen.
Elder Yukihiro is from a city close by Anaheim, California, and he said his family is originally from Japan so that us where he got his last name from :). He has been on his mission for 9 months! He loves sports and so we get a long just great. He has been in the Lewis Center area for 4 transfers now, so it's been good to have him know the area a little and we can make a huge difference for these people. It's been fun as well, because this is his first time being District leader and so since I've been comps with the DL for 3 straight transfers I've been able to help him out and it's taught me a lot about the type of leader I am and how I can always be improving in some way.
Friday I got up and worked out. Elder Yukihiro said he was the #4 nose guard player for the state of California when he played football, so he loves to workout . . . Just not every morning when I do it haha :). I also had a pretty bad bloody nose that morning. I think it is coming from not being in such a cold environment anymore and more just a wet rainy, warm temperature. We went and stopped by members all morning, and talked with a few of them, Kelly Jo, Deborah Ann, and Gary. Elder Yukihiro said he loves doing member work so I'm super pumped! We have made a goal to see 20 members in their homes every week, and we are working so hard to do that.
Another amazing thing about this area! With Lewis Center being 15 min away from the Mission Home and the Mission office and the closest missionaries to those places, we get called by the senior couples a lot to help them move furniture in and out of the storage shed they have here, and also helping out directly in the mission office. Sometimes even going to the mission home and doing stuff with President and Sister Stratford.
On Friday afternoon we went and helped Elder Wheadman who is the housing specialist, move furniture to 3 different storage places in Powell. He is a 65-yr old man, and his wife told us to be sure he didn't lift a single thing while we were moving :). He didn't listen, but thankfully he did okay :). On Friday night, we did weekly planning at Elder Bowers apt. He is the car specialist for the mission and lives in Polaris, which is the next area over, but he allows us to do weekly planning and p-days at his house because he has Wifi :).
Saturday we went and saw the Gibson family, they're part Portuguese so they spoke a little to us and it was so cool to hear! We did member work all day, and went to a family called the Tucci family. They have a son who is deciding if he wants to go on a mission. He graduated high school last year and is just working now. We took him out with us that night and went to see 2 families. It was so good to have him there with us to help him see what missionary life is like! I challenge each of us to have the missionaries in our homes, and to also go out with the missionaries to lessons and appointments during the week. It will bless all of our lives so much.
We have church at 12 pm on Sundays. It's a little different not going to 7 am meetings with church at 9 like I was in Chardon. But it's good too because then we have study time in the mornings now before we head to church. We go to church at the Powell bldg, and we are in the Lewis Center Ward. District Councils will also most likely be held at the Powell bldg, which is about 10 to 15 min away. Church was so amazing and so incredible! The members were so welcoming to me and really made me feel right at home, which I appreciated very much. They are a ward of about 120 members, and a mix of families and older couples. I'm super stoked to work with them!
So I also found out that on some Monday mornings for part of our p-day, we go to the Olsen house and Sister Olsen is the seminary teacher here. They have 6 am early morning seminary, and we go every couple of p=days! :) I think we are going to try and go this week.
And today we are also going to help Elder Wheadman at 11 or 1130 with unloading furniture that came down from the northern zones, and putting them into the storage shed in Powell. I'm so glad I became a lover of moving furniture and lifting before my mission, because it looks like we will be pretty set on those things here, and I cant wait! Elder Wheadman (housing specialist) and Sister Wheadman (mission nurse) live in Provo Utah! :) They'll go home in March of next year.
Lewis Center is so cool! As I'm sitting here writing this email, I'm realizing I could go on and on and on about how cool this place is. It is a suburban city area, and some of the houses here are literally mansions! Like, 3 story houses with pools and 4 car garages, 6 bedrooms, etc etc. I love that we can just be walking on the street and see people out and about and go up to talk to them. We usually drive everywhere, and then we park on one street and walk around 2 to 3 miles to houses for about 1 1/2 hours. I'm definitely getting my steps in and my feet are telling me they hurt every night.
It has rained everyday I've been in this area. It rains for 7 or 8 min, then is wet and sticky humidity for about 30 seconds, and then rains for another 10 min. I was telling Yukihiro on Saturday when we were walking around to places, that these people probably get so confused when they live here, because they're mowing their lawn in the middle of December and January!! Its winter, but green grass and blue skies and I absolutely LOVE it!
There is quite a few malls and stores here, and so that'll be nice to be able to talk to people that way too and have more of a link to groups of people. The people of Ohio are so cool to get to know. I've realized and come to learn that they just need friends in their lives. A lot of them are lonely and live by themselves, and so to have the missionaries and other members stop by to visit them, is a huge thing for them and I'm grateful to be a part of it.
How is the Book of Mormon come follow me going for everyone? I have been reading the Book of Mormon everyday and I have loved getting immersed in the stories of the prophets of the old days and learning how they came closer to Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father. I cant wait for April General Conference and to see what it'll be like!
I wanted to extend a very important and special challenge this week, and it'll be a challenge and invitation that I will refer back to often. The challenge is this: Everyday, memorize someone's name that you see on a regular basis, and go up to them in the hallways, streets, or wherever you see them and call them by their name and say hi and smile at them. Be the leader and the example to everyone, and when people see you memorizing their names and doing this, they'll want to follow in your footsteps. It is a ripple effect and I think it is the coolest thing we could ever do for someone.
I know this will bless their lives. I saw it when I was SBP at SHHS and saw the happiness it brought people when they realized someone knew them by name and cared enough for them to say hi and smile. It is the small and simple things that matter most.
I pray for you all everyday, and I know Heavenly Father is blessing you. Time is speeding up, as President Nelson has said: "Time is running out and we are living in unprecedented days." I invite all of us to be ministers as Christ was, and go to THE ONE, and invite them back into the fold and be their friend.
A definition I've been thinking of for the word FRIEND: "Someone who goes out of their way to be there for someone, not because they were told to, but because of the burning fire and feeling they had in them to make sure God's children were and are taken care of."
I care about you all so so much and I miss you guys everyday. Keep doing your best and never give up. The Lord is on OUR side.
I love YOU Forever and Always!
Elder Dylan
"Be your best when it matters most" - Make it a great day everyday, and be a friend to ALL.
"I can only Imagine" - MercyMe. Go and watch this movie this week. The power behind its words is incredible.
"Don't let a problem to be solved, become more than a person to be loved"- One of the talks given in sacrament meeting.
Thursday morning I got up at 6:15-ish and made sure all of my stuff was in my 3 suitcases and that my bike was ready to go. I packed it all in the car and we set off for Dublin church bldg at 10 o'clock sharp! I was driving, and had so much fun. We drove through Solon, then from Solon to Dublin it is 100 miles of open freeway (hah talk about a long stretch ;)). We pulled into Dublin church parking lot at 12:50, 10 minutes early. I found my companion, Elder Yukihiro, and I also saw and talked briefly to Elder Henshaw. We are both super excited to be in the same district this transfer! So me and Elder Yukihiro left Dublin and drove 25 min north to the city of Lewis Center where our apt is. He asked me if I wanted to stay there for a min and unpack or go start doing stuff. I chose the latter ;). So we got into the Malibu (we are a car area, mostly) and we went to 5 families, one of them being the ward mission leader and the other one being the bishop who we went out teaching with that night. Guess what the bishops name is . . . Bishop Nielsen! So I had a Branch President Nelson and now I have Bishop Nielsen.
Elder Yukihiro is from a city close by Anaheim, California, and he said his family is originally from Japan so that us where he got his last name from :). He has been on his mission for 9 months! He loves sports and so we get a long just great. He has been in the Lewis Center area for 4 transfers now, so it's been good to have him know the area a little and we can make a huge difference for these people. It's been fun as well, because this is his first time being District leader and so since I've been comps with the DL for 3 straight transfers I've been able to help him out and it's taught me a lot about the type of leader I am and how I can always be improving in some way.
Friday I got up and worked out. Elder Yukihiro said he was the #4 nose guard player for the state of California when he played football, so he loves to workout . . . Just not every morning when I do it haha :). I also had a pretty bad bloody nose that morning. I think it is coming from not being in such a cold environment anymore and more just a wet rainy, warm temperature. We went and stopped by members all morning, and talked with a few of them, Kelly Jo, Deborah Ann, and Gary. Elder Yukihiro said he loves doing member work so I'm super pumped! We have made a goal to see 20 members in their homes every week, and we are working so hard to do that.
Another amazing thing about this area! With Lewis Center being 15 min away from the Mission Home and the Mission office and the closest missionaries to those places, we get called by the senior couples a lot to help them move furniture in and out of the storage shed they have here, and also helping out directly in the mission office. Sometimes even going to the mission home and doing stuff with President and Sister Stratford.
On Friday afternoon we went and helped Elder Wheadman who is the housing specialist, move furniture to 3 different storage places in Powell. He is a 65-yr old man, and his wife told us to be sure he didn't lift a single thing while we were moving :). He didn't listen, but thankfully he did okay :). On Friday night, we did weekly planning at Elder Bowers apt. He is the car specialist for the mission and lives in Polaris, which is the next area over, but he allows us to do weekly planning and p-days at his house because he has Wifi :).
Saturday we went and saw the Gibson family, they're part Portuguese so they spoke a little to us and it was so cool to hear! We did member work all day, and went to a family called the Tucci family. They have a son who is deciding if he wants to go on a mission. He graduated high school last year and is just working now. We took him out with us that night and went to see 2 families. It was so good to have him there with us to help him see what missionary life is like! I challenge each of us to have the missionaries in our homes, and to also go out with the missionaries to lessons and appointments during the week. It will bless all of our lives so much.
We have church at 12 pm on Sundays. It's a little different not going to 7 am meetings with church at 9 like I was in Chardon. But it's good too because then we have study time in the mornings now before we head to church. We go to church at the Powell bldg, and we are in the Lewis Center Ward. District Councils will also most likely be held at the Powell bldg, which is about 10 to 15 min away. Church was so amazing and so incredible! The members were so welcoming to me and really made me feel right at home, which I appreciated very much. They are a ward of about 120 members, and a mix of families and older couples. I'm super stoked to work with them!
So I also found out that on some Monday mornings for part of our p-day, we go to the Olsen house and Sister Olsen is the seminary teacher here. They have 6 am early morning seminary, and we go every couple of p=days! :) I think we are going to try and go this week.
And today we are also going to help Elder Wheadman at 11 or 1130 with unloading furniture that came down from the northern zones, and putting them into the storage shed in Powell. I'm so glad I became a lover of moving furniture and lifting before my mission, because it looks like we will be pretty set on those things here, and I cant wait! Elder Wheadman (housing specialist) and Sister Wheadman (mission nurse) live in Provo Utah! :) They'll go home in March of next year.
Lewis Center is so cool! As I'm sitting here writing this email, I'm realizing I could go on and on and on about how cool this place is. It is a suburban city area, and some of the houses here are literally mansions! Like, 3 story houses with pools and 4 car garages, 6 bedrooms, etc etc. I love that we can just be walking on the street and see people out and about and go up to talk to them. We usually drive everywhere, and then we park on one street and walk around 2 to 3 miles to houses for about 1 1/2 hours. I'm definitely getting my steps in and my feet are telling me they hurt every night.
It has rained everyday I've been in this area. It rains for 7 or 8 min, then is wet and sticky humidity for about 30 seconds, and then rains for another 10 min. I was telling Yukihiro on Saturday when we were walking around to places, that these people probably get so confused when they live here, because they're mowing their lawn in the middle of December and January!! Its winter, but green grass and blue skies and I absolutely LOVE it!
There is quite a few malls and stores here, and so that'll be nice to be able to talk to people that way too and have more of a link to groups of people. The people of Ohio are so cool to get to know. I've realized and come to learn that they just need friends in their lives. A lot of them are lonely and live by themselves, and so to have the missionaries and other members stop by to visit them, is a huge thing for them and I'm grateful to be a part of it.
How is the Book of Mormon come follow me going for everyone? I have been reading the Book of Mormon everyday and I have loved getting immersed in the stories of the prophets of the old days and learning how they came closer to Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father. I cant wait for April General Conference and to see what it'll be like!
I wanted to extend a very important and special challenge this week, and it'll be a challenge and invitation that I will refer back to often. The challenge is this: Everyday, memorize someone's name that you see on a regular basis, and go up to them in the hallways, streets, or wherever you see them and call them by their name and say hi and smile at them. Be the leader and the example to everyone, and when people see you memorizing their names and doing this, they'll want to follow in your footsteps. It is a ripple effect and I think it is the coolest thing we could ever do for someone.
I know this will bless their lives. I saw it when I was SBP at SHHS and saw the happiness it brought people when they realized someone knew them by name and cared enough for them to say hi and smile. It is the small and simple things that matter most.
I pray for you all everyday, and I know Heavenly Father is blessing you. Time is speeding up, as President Nelson has said: "Time is running out and we are living in unprecedented days." I invite all of us to be ministers as Christ was, and go to THE ONE, and invite them back into the fold and be their friend.
A definition I've been thinking of for the word FRIEND: "Someone who goes out of their way to be there for someone, not because they were told to, but because of the burning fire and feeling they had in them to make sure God's children were and are taken care of."
I care about you all so so much and I miss you guys everyday. Keep doing your best and never give up. The Lord is on OUR side.
I love YOU Forever and Always!
Elder Dylan
"Be your best when it matters most" - Make it a great day everyday, and be a friend to ALL.
"I can only Imagine" - MercyMe. Go and watch this movie this week. The power behind its words is incredible.
"Don't let a problem to be solved, become more than a person to be loved"- One of the talks given in sacrament meeting.
I Love You, Momma!
Pay day is always worth the work and effort.
"Behold thy mother"- Elder Holland, October 2015.
Thank you mom for everything you do for me and for our family. You are truly amazing and I care about you so much. Thank you for your countless hours of helping me, Sean, Garrett, and Parker to be who we are today. I know we have not always made it easy, but thank you for your Christlike love and care and patience to always be beside us.
I love you forever and always!
Elder dylan
"Behold thy mother"- Elder Holland, October 2015.
Thank you mom for everything you do for me and for our family. You are truly amazing and I care about you so much. Thank you for your countless hours of helping me, Sean, Garrett, and Parker to be who we are today. I know we have not always made it easy, but thank you for your Christlike love and care and patience to always be beside us.
I love you forever and always!
Elder dylan
Sunday, January 12, 2020
We are All Enlisted
I wanted to share something that I have learned while serving and thought impressed to share with you. It is this:
Always be who you were meant to be, who Heavenly Father created you to be. I listened to a talk by Elder Holland on Saturday and it was called, We are all Enlisted. He talked about how we cant expect to play for the adversary all our life, and then come mission and temple time, expect for God to be open to us entering His house and serving His people. The spirit will not be there with us and we will not succeed. Have the courage to do good, to be good, and to say good things :) The Lord needs us, ALL of us; today, now, and forever :) we must always be who we are in public, behind the scenes; make good choices, and we will be in the Lord's house for eternity.
I love you all!
Elder Dylan
Always be who you were meant to be, who Heavenly Father created you to be. I listened to a talk by Elder Holland on Saturday and it was called, We are all Enlisted. He talked about how we cant expect to play for the adversary all our life, and then come mission and temple time, expect for God to be open to us entering His house and serving His people. The spirit will not be there with us and we will not succeed. Have the courage to do good, to be good, and to say good things :) The Lord needs us, ALL of us; today, now, and forever :) we must always be who we are in public, behind the scenes; make good choices, and we will be in the Lord's house for eternity.
I love you all!
Elder Dylan
Wednesday, January 8, 2020
The Transfer Call
Happy Happy New Year!! I can't believe it is 2020 already, and that I have been on my mission for 5 months now.
First things first though . . . . We were waiting for the news about transfers and it felt like waiting for Christmas morning! ;) But anyway, I am getting transferred down to Lewis Center and my companion will be Elder Yukihiro, and he is the district leader. Elder Henshaw is in my district so that will be fun. Lewis Center is a ward and is in the Columbus North zone, and the area is right next to the mission home and Dublin. I'm so excited for this new experience and to meet new people and to do all I can to help the people in the Lewis Center ward. So me and Elder Stephens will be driving to Dublin on Thursday this week for transfers, which means about a 3 hr drive that morning. I will be driving so I'll make sure I will drink some spark and take D3 :);).
On Monday night last week, we went out and called the Chabot family and asked them if they wanted to go to Historic Kirtland with us on Saturday and they said yes! So then we called Elder and Sister Barney who were assigned to Chardon branch and who served on the sites, and they said they would be happy to give us a tour.
Tuesday we went out and contacted less active after less active after class active with no success of anyone answering the door or being interested, but what do we do, we keep going strong. I took Elder Stephen's to the End of the Commons Amish store in Mesopotamia, which is the most east part of our area you can get. We looked around and he was super excited to be able to be inside of an Amish store. We then went over to Brother Hartman's and helped him with his talk. He is speaking on Jan 26th and so he wanted to have us there to help him last week with preparing his talk. After his house, we went to Sister Johnson's trailer park in Chardon (the one we got kicked out of a few weeks ago ;)). But thankfully we didn't this time and were able to go to 2 potentials there, but neither of them answered the door For New years eve, we went over to Bob White's house and ate pizza and visited for a while, and then we sang karaoke until 9. Let me just say, singing karaoke was so much fun and reminded me that we always do that as a family and how much fun we have. I may have to try out for American Idol when I get home ;). We got to the apt at 9 that night and Elder Stephen's and I were going to stay awake til 12, but about 10:45 I was conked out . . . Literally. But I woke up at 11:50 and we blew the poppers and confetti that you guys sent me and we had a ton of fun :) We loved the cookies and oreos and I have ABSOLUTELY loved the spark that you guys sent me :) Thank you for sending that!
Thursday was a super fun day! It was Josh Famm's baptism day that night and they had asked us to fill the font up at the church, so we got there at about 4:40 and cleaned the font out (there was spiders and cobwebs in the font . . . :) and then had the baptism. We stood in on his confirmation and I felt the Spirit so much and am so grateful that we as members of the church get the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost. We also took the car to get an oil change that day and we waited for about an hour to do it, but we got it in and it is good to go.
Saturday we went to Brother Walter's house and went through the list of ideas we had gone through to get activities going in this branch. (Hubb family group night, Preach my Gospel night, and branch activity night). After that, we went to Historic Kirtland with the Chabots and it was such a magnificent and wonderful time. It was their first time going on the tour, and we definitely had the spirit there with us. It was Elder and Sister Barney's last tour on the mission (I was so happy it could be with us. They leave today to head home to Cedar City, I'm going to miss them a lot! They were the best and so welcoming to us and always tried their best to help us in anyway possible. We helped Brother and Sister Arnold with painting their kitchen that night. It was quite the workout. Sister Arnold was like, "Elder McEwan, you sure look like you know what you're doing". And I just smiled and said that I had a lot of practice with painting my basement at home.
Sunday was a great day because it was the sabbath and we got to take the sacrament. It truly is a blessing to be able to renew our baptismal covenants with Heavenly Father every week. We went over to the Juker house after church for a visit and Sister Juker made cookies for us (chocolate chip) and wow they were good! Then we went to the Shepherd house and had a very good lesson on 1 Nephi 4 and why God takes the wicked things away to establish His righteousness on the earth. We then proceeded to watch Sister Shepherd clean out her fridge and give us most if not all of her food, I told her I liked buffets, so I guess she followed through on that comment :);).
Monday was a great day! I know I say that about everyday, but everyday is so amazing because when you're in the service of your fellow beings, you're only in the service of your God -- Mosiah 2:17. We went and talked to Brother Walter about the less active list. They're wanting to get letters sent out to these people to get them removed from the church records. A lot of them are no longer interested. One lady has a court order out for any LDS members that try to contact her. Super sad and I wish those people could see the true joy the Gospel brings, maybe in the future. We talked to Carol Bradshaw and she is doing great! We played a puzzle with her and I read her 1 Nephi 1 from the Book of Mormon and we had a really good lesson with her. We also were able to have a great lesson with Joey that night in Come Follow Me for this week and talked about the importance it is to have a humble heart and submissive spirit in order to hear what the Lord wants to teach us. I had us listen to Go and Do by David Archuleta and wow! I was in tears by the end of the song. I have never before felt the love of Christ in my life so strong as I did that night being able to testify to Joey about the importance of not giving up, and doing all we can, and letting the Lord do the rest. We played basketball for a while afterwards, and I won! Looks like I still got the moves in me :):).
Tuesday we went to Brother Hartman's and visited and took pictures with him. And then went over to the 1st counselor in the branch, Brother Lavin, and visited with him. We went to JC's restaurant with Bob White and it was so much fun! JC's is like a Denny's and Olive Garden mixed. It has lots of good fancy foods as well as your traditional burger. My favorite thing there is the Chicken Alfredo.
The challenge I want to give to all of us this week is going to be a little different than the ones I have given in the past. Instead of inviting us to do something for just one week, I am wanting to do it for this 2020 Bicentennial year of the first vision.
I invite each of us to reflect on our lives and where we are currently, and then write out a list of ideas we could do to strengthen our testimonies this year. (Book of Mormon videos, come follow me, etc). Be willing to submit to the Lord, commit ourselves to doing these things we come up with, and challenging ourselves to be devoted and dedicated to the Savior Jesus Christ by Dec 31, 2020. I know we will receive Heavens promised blessings as we do this.
I also encourage and invite us to become the leaders our Heavenly Father needs us to be. I have been thinking a lot about the word leadership and what it means to me. What it means to me is this: It's not about the title or the recognition; it is solely about when we are in that position of leadership, we work hard to help those around us and encourage everyone to be on the same team, and work towards a common goal. Leadership is amazing and I'm grateful for the experiences I've had in leadership in my life. Always strive to have the Spirit with you so you can always be able to accomplish those things He needs us to.
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| Departing companionship with Elder Stephens & Elder McEwan |
I love you all so very much! We are in this together, and I'm so forever grateful for my eternal family that I love with all of my heart and that I miss so much. Thank you for everything that you guys do for me! Keep working hard and do your very best, because the Lord is on our side.
I love you forever and always!
Elder Dylan :)
We started the Book of Mormon challenge as a mission and have been challenged by President Stratford to finish before April General Conference. I would like to invite all of us to start reading the Book of Mormon and finish by April General Conference :).
Thursday, January 2, 2020
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