POST RETURN . . .

As you have left your mission and "family" in the Georgia Macon Mission and returned to your home and family in Salem, Utah, you have been released as a set apart full-time missionary. However, you are always a missionary in your words, deeds, and actions. You will have many experiences in your life to come as you keep progressing forward in this mortal journey.

We each have a unique set of pressures and challenges that we face each day. Sometimes it can be difficult to remember what matters most. It can be hard to think of the perfection of the Savior without thinking about how flawed and imperfect we are. But remember that no matter your circumstances, the Savior is ALWAYS mindful of you. He understands your needs and sees your efforts. He knows what it is like to have the cares of life press upon you. He knows that we are not perfect and are going to make mistakes. As you strive to REMEMBER and follow Him today, you will receive the confidence that, through Him, you can have a better tomorrow.

I love you, Parker! I know that you will have experiences that will be challenging and will seem overwhelming. The Savior can always reach us no matter where we are or where we've been but WE must reach out and take His hand. I hope that you will always REMEMBER that as you strive to follow the Savior, you will always have the pure joy that the gospel of Jesus Christ brings.

I Love YOU Forever and Always!
Mom

HE'S HOME . . .

Elder Parker McEwan has returned from the Georgia Macon Mission! Thank you to so many family members who met him at the airport to welcome him home. We were very thankful to see him coming down the escalator! I love that "momma hug" and will NEVER get tired of them :).

What an amazing day! He has grown so much in the time he has served and we are forever grateful to a loving Heavenly Father and the wonderful people of Valdosta, Georgia and the entire mission who took care of him and loved him!

Truly our BEST DAY SO FAR!

HE'S ON HIS WAY . . .

DINNER & THE MAFIA (MORMON MAFFIA THAT IS :)) . . .

WHAT IS YOUR DESIRE . . .

October 31, 2016,

Hey Ya'll,

So this week was very fun and exciting like all weeks are when you are a missionary:) I wish everyone the very best and hope that you all are having a great day as well as having fun this week.

I would like to pose for a question this week and it comes from my mission President. He says, "What is your desire?" He also asked us to pray about what we desire most, whether to have missionary experiences or to think about going home. President is a very smart guy and I know he is lead by the Lord to do what is right for the mission:).

SO this week in Valdosta . . .

Tuesday: Elder Mashburn and I were able to make contact with with a guy named William. This guy was a media referral that wanted a Bible and a Book of Mormon. He is a super nice guy that just wants to make it to heaven. We weren't able to meet with him for very long but we are going to keep trying to make it work with all our schedules. We were also able to meet with a younger couple named Jessica and Vinnie. They are a family that has some struggles right now. We met with both the husband and wife to help them see how good the gospel is and how it really does bless families:). We had a nice hour and a half talk with them and they said we could come back:). We also went to see another referral that we got that said we could come back but she ended up not being home so there was this other lady named Ashley that me and Elder Benesh had met. She lives right next to where we were at. Ashley was home and we had a nice talk with her about the gospel. We started out by saying that we had been by a ton of times to talk and check up on things but that she wasn't there or didn't answer. She came out and told us, "I have been running from the Lord and now I just want to stop and get back with the Lord." This was music to our ears. It was a great day:).

Wednesday, Thursday and Friday So this day was a great day because we were able to meet some new contacts and that was awesome:) Being able to see the change that people want to make in their lives for the better is so awesome:) Seeing their curiosity about the church or the Book of Mormon is so awesome that it just makes me see that one day these people will come to the fullness of the gospel. Most of these people that we meet don't have a solid background so it will take a few months but if we go in with the right attitude and bring faith then they can see the true meaning of the Gospel.

Saturday- Today we had a ward activity and that was honestly the funnest time we had:) Also we did some games for the primary kids and that was fun. They tried to shoot us with water guns and that was so fun for the kids to do. We then went to do service for a lady in the ward. She was needing big strong guys to come and help move stuff and we did that for the rest of the day:).

I hope ya'll are having a great time at home with the holidays upon us. Today we are going to be held captive in our apartments because of Halloween:).

Love you guys and hope this week you can see miracles in your everyday life:)

Love Elder Mac (they like this name better)

This is what we had for dinner! YUM! YUM!

BE HUMBLE . . .

October 24, 2016

Hi Momma,

How are you doing?

This week was very, very great in that I got on the right path again and it was a reality check because I had been thinking of other things for a while and missed out on some lessons and opportunities in two weeks.

I'm sorry that I was not being very nice to ya'll when I was asking and telling you about my plans to come home a transfer early. It had been a super hard 3 months because Elder Benesh was so worried about going home and getting back into school that it was making me so homesick. I feel like I was not able to help my own companion with his struggles, which was making me feel worse and worse every day. I have since talked to president about that and I am working to become the best missionary that I possibly can. President Grayson told me to pray about what I wanted most. So I did. I came to the understanding that this is the place the Lord wants me right now. For right now I am a missionary and I know that I am in Georgia for the next 2 years for a reason :).

I love you and am so thankful for your example mom!

Love,
Elder McEwan

2 Nephi 31:20

WHAT ARE WE REALLY GRATEFUL FOR . . .

October 24, 2016

Hi Ya'll,

So this week was a really great week out here in Valdosta. I have a new comp his name is Elder Mashburn and he is from Utah (Clintonville). He has been out 9 months and it has been a really great week:) We were able to meet with a ton of people to help them see the importance of going to church and the reason we have the Book of Mormon. It has been great getting out and doing the Lord's work and helping bring souls unto him. I hope all is well with ya'll at home and I know that with the Lord's hand in our lives we can accomplish anything in front of us :)'

So the week's run down goes like this:

Monday for the activity we went to a play at the high school and it was really good. They put on Footloose and that was something. I was like, "Wow I am in Georgia but they are doing a play that was filmed in my home state." :)

Tuesday I got my new comp and that was really awesome. We are working well together and I pray everyday that we can find at least one new person to teach.

Wednesday thru the end of the week was pretty awesome and I learned so much. Me and Elder Mashburn got to teach a lesson to a kid that wanted to know more about the Book of Mormon:). We met him at the church and he told us from the beginning that he wasn't looking to convert that he had just seen the Book of Mormon play and wanted to know more about it from actual missionaries. We talked for awhile and after two hours he had a Book of Mormon and was saying, "Well maybe I would like to learn more." It was so wonderful that this was able to happen and I couldn't have asked for a more joyous day.

This past week we spent a lot of time doing service and helping others and it was a blessing to have good health to be able to do this stuff. On Friday we were able to help move a member and her daughter and that was great cause they really love us and all of that. Saturday we had time to go help out two families that needed it. First in the morning we had the opportunity to help move and fellowship a less active person, which was fun because they ended up coming to church yesterday and that was awesome!!!!! That evening we went to help another family with some yard work. They are kind of elderly and needed the extra hands to help. We ate dinner at a members house (the Van Horns) and that was really good. We had hamburgers and fries plus Sister Van Horn had made some pumpkin pie for us and it was delicious. The members and even some nonmembers really look after us and make sure we are well kept:).

Well I love ya'll so much and I can't wait to talk to you on Christmas and tell you guys more:).

Hope everything is going well and everyone is being safe back at home.

Love,
Elder McEwan

PS I was hit while riding my bike with a caramel apple. I was just so glad that I had my helmet on.
--
2 Nephi 31:20

FULL WEEK & TRANSFER CALL . . .

October 17, 2016

Dear Ya'all,

So this week has been one to remember which is really just all the weeks on a mission :)

So Tuesday was a great day because we went to the church and did something called RMT which is just time where we can get on and check church news and how to better help our investigators:) We have been finding a lot of people that really just want to learn and grow closer to our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. We have been having really good success and it was a really great week.

Thursday was a really good day. We got a lot of referrals and that was awesome:) We then got a referral on Friday and it is this 16 yr old kid that wants to learn more about the Book of Mormon and about the LDS religion. We haven't met him yet but we are trying to set something up. We are thinking that he doesn't want his parents to know that he is interested because he has asked us to not come by his house. This is going to make it hard for us when we get to talking about baptism but we can cross that road later:)

Saturday was a packed day which was kind of weird  because we don't really have Saturdays packed:)
We started the day off by doing service at a lady's house in the ward. She is getting ready to move and we just offered to help:) I even got to pull weeds and mow the lawn so ya it's just like I haven't even left home ;) We then went home and got ready in our nice clothes cause we were having a double baptism and that was awesome. The baptism was one for the sisters and one for the other elders.

We have been trying really hard to find people to teach. Our area that we cover is ghetto and we have the opportunity to meet with awesome people:) We had transfer calls this week and that was cool:) I am staying in Valdosta but I will be getting a new comp so I will email that info next week. If you guys could send me a GPS, that'd help so much to be able to find people's houses. We don't use smart phones :).

I love ya'll so much and keep praying for ya'll everyday :) Be a strong people that I know all ya'll are. -- Being strong and remaining true to the covenants that we made at baptism and those same covenants that we continue to make during sacrament on Sundays:)

Love ya'll!

Love,
ELDER PARKER MAC

PS I am still up to date on BYU because everyone down here loves football and the members keep me informed about BYU :)


--
2 Nephi 31:20

THE WORK GOES ON . . .

October 10, 2016

Hi Y'all,

This week has been so great to be a missionary and to do the work of our Savior, Lord, and Redeemer. It has been so wonderful and the weather is changing here to be a little cooler and definitely not the same as when I came out in July. The humidity here is ridiculous and makes us super tired, but then when we talk about why we are out here doing this wonderful work then we somehow have that energy to finish the day and to push harder than ever before. We have felt the love of our Savior.

I have been doing some exchanges because Elder Benesh has been very sick so the other Elders have been so kind to go with me to go visit some of the people we have.

Tuesday: Me and Elder Downs went on exchanges and went to visit people me and Elder Benesh had found last week. We were only able to talk with one of those investigators but we were able to teach about the Book of Mormon and that was a great point for this guy to learn about our church. We even committed him to coming to church this Sunday and that was awesome, plus he even accepted that invitation.

Wednesday was a pretty good day because it was actually a little cooler which was a great time to go out :). Me and Elder Benesh have been finding a lot of people that we are going to go see. We have had a lot of Referrals this week that we have made contact with and that is awesome. Mostly we have been in the Hood or the Ghetto but we have been kept safe and it was a very humbling experience to have :).

Elder McEwan and Elder Benesh

Thursday was a pretty great day because we were able to go around and meet people :). Elder Benesh and I had a lunch appointment with one of our investigators but we decided to eat a little bit before we left. I'm glad we did because all this guy gave us was some chips and a banana plus a cold drink. This guy is actually pretty wealthy but we don't think he was sober at the time ;). We started teaching him and my companion drank the drink that he gave us and we kept teaching him. Well, he kind of kicked us out in the middle of the lesson because he "just had to go pick his sis up for work." As we were leaving Elder Benesh asked the guy what the drink was and the guy said, "Oh it's only sweet tea, hahahahaha." IT was funny because Elder Benesh had his first time drinking sweet tea, I didn't because I was told not to :).

Friday: So today was a pretty good day. We were able to plan for lessons to teach and areas to go knocking. It was one day after my three month and it feels like time is just flying by. We had a dinner appointment with a member and that was so fun. I had told them that it was a day after my 3 months on the mission. They bought a cake but the funny thing is is that they forgot who had told them about his 3 months and they gave the cake to one of the new guys who has only been out for 1 month :). Before we left I was able to give a blessing to the mom and the most amazing thing happened. It was not me who was talking. All I can remember is that I started the blessing and then that is all :). I can really feel the spirit and I love being able to use the Priesthood power that I am entrusted with.

Saturday and Sunday were the same and they were both great days :).

We were not evacuated from our area Hurricane Matthew. We only got the wind of the hurricane but people here were willing to let us borrow their phones to call home but we didn't need to :). There were some areas that were evacuated because they were right in the line of the hurricane and they are now going to be used to help clean up :).

Since we're seeing it get a bit colder, I could probably use my coat and some gloves but like not thick gloves:)

I LOVE ALL Y'ALL!

Elder Parker McEwan

PS That's so awesome that we finally have another state championship for sports in Salem instead of having the fine arts and drama taking over, hahaha :).

--
2 Nephi 31:20

HURRICANE MATTHEW . . .

It's hard to believe that Elder McEwan has only been on his mission in Georgia for just over two months and has already experienced TWO hurricanes. So thankful for prayers, faith, and inspired leaders . . .

October 5, 2016

Dear Parents,

After consulting with local authorities, President Grayson is starting the evacuation of the missionaries in the East Savannah, Hilton Head, Ridgeland and Beaufort areas effective this morning as a precautionary measure.  They are coming to the Macon area and the mission home.  We will keep you updated as things change.

Thank you for your continued love and prayers.

Sister Jensen

October 6, 2016

Good morning families, we continue to wait on Matthew. Due to voluntary evacuation orders, we are moving (West Savannah Zone) Richmond Hill, Georgetown, and Pooler missionaries, westwardly. This means further on the west side of I-95. They were in the borderline areas. We in GA expect deterioration of weather and Matthew, Friday night into Saturday. As usual, we will email those families not seeing this information.

October 7, 2016
We are looking good in this area. All missionaries are safe and dry. Prayerful that the damage in the east side of the mission will be small.

October 8, 2016
Ok, now we are in the post hurricane phase. There are some power outages, fallen trees, but SAFE missionaries. The ones in Savannah, aren't ready to return quite yet. They are locally placed and helping do the missionary work, they came out for. As we say in our motto, "We are disciples of Jesus Christ.." They are being fed, and cared for. No fears, families...no fears.

Sister Grayson

INVITE TO ACT . . .

October 3, 2016

Hello Ya'll!

The words " WE INVITE YOU TO ACT" are not words from us but from our Heavenly Father and our loving Savior. These words speak loud to all those that hear them and when they hear them they are free to choose whether to act or not but they cannot build up their testimony without first reading the Book of Mormon or by then praying about what we as missionaries or members teach about. In one of the lessons we have as missionaries in preparing us throughout our mission is we invite people to commit and we follow up. In this we find that the only way to have success in this struggle to strengthen testimonies is to commit people to things such as praying to know what we testify is true or by reading the scriptures and really pondering. These commitments bind that person to finding out for themselves what we teach is true.  We find it tough in our day to day lives to help people see that the commitments are to help them in strengthening their testimony. As missionaries we teach that when we read the Book of Mormon or we go to church that we feel closer to our Savior Jesus Christ but it goes deeper and we work to make sure members and nonmembers see that with keeping commitments they aren't promising the missionaries or the member friends but they are actually promising the Lord himself to go to church and to continue reading the BoM as well as reviewing the missionary lessons daily.

One of the MANY cotton fields in the South

Well this week has been one that I am excited to share was a very successful week :).

Thursday me and Elder Benesh went knocking in the hot sun and we wanted to die but we made it a goal to knock for one hr everyday so that's what we did. We were lead to three houses and these people were very open to learning more:). I knocked on a door and this guy answered. I said, "Hi, we are missionaries-" and the guy said ya sure come on in. We were so confused but we went in and we talked to them for a few minutes and we get to go back tomorrow to talk with them some more :).

Friday we had interviews and then went out to lunch with the new senior couple in our zone. We then came home and started working to get things ready for the rest of our day. We took a member with us and that was great because he had served a mission and also taught in the MTC so he was so much help.

Baby Gators

Saturday and Sunday were about the same as ya'll at home. We watched Conference at the church building and that was a blessing to be able to watch it. We also watched a session at the Flakes house (new couple missionaries). I enjoyed the talk about member missionaries, because we all need to remember that throughout our lives. We are working now to fill our teaching pool and we have some very good potential in these people out here:).

Sounds like y'all had a very busy week as well. Dylan stop getting tackled, just be like Forrest Gump and just keep running :). I know that we may get down on ourselves a lot because we want to be better than we were the day before but we sometimes bite off more than we can chew. In conference (by the way, I stayed awake) we learned that little by little we make a difference from either visiting or home teaching to actual missionaries. We all help each other to strengthen our testimony in Christ :).

Love y'all and please write me letters:)

Love Elder MCEWAN

P.S. We saw some baby gators and even had gator tail one day (it tastes like chicken :)). We also see plenty of turtles.

--
2 Nephi 31:20

SEPTEMBER ZONE CONFERENCE . . .

Mission tour with Elder Uceda and Elder & Sister Meurs

Dinner at September Zone Conference

September Zone Conference

PHOTOS . . .

The other Elders slept at our apartment last night, so
Bear and I slept on the floor -- STILL my favorite place :)

Thanks for teaching me how to clean the toilet, Mom.
I'm putting those skills to use.

We love LUNCH TIME!

WE ARE STRONGER WITH THE LORD . . .

September 26, 2016

Hey Y'all,

Some things that I have been told and things that I have been through this past week have made me reflect on the things that I want to share with y'all. With being a missionary, Satan tries his hardest to make you feel very worthless and that no matter what you do you cannot make the day positive. I absolute love being in the South and I love the people, but sometimes it is a real struggle with cause everyone wants to believe but they all have different opinions on how the Savior looks and how he acts (don't know how they know the actions). The one lesson, out of many, that has stuck with me since being in Georgia is how much we need to trust in the Lord and seek His hands that are still extending! We need to stand in holy places and I am reminded of that everyday. The people we see don't see us as people with badges, they see us as representatives of Christ, even though sometimes not very nice things are said about us ;). We need not be afraid of what ifs. We need to think about the 'whens' and 'hows' we are going to rise up to those challenges with boldness and with bravery but with the Lords help in our everyday lives!!!!!!:) We need to stand tall and show people that no matter our size, shape, or color that we are representatives of the Lord!!!!!

SO this week has been really good. I told Elder Benesh that I felt we needed to go tracting (knocking on doors) and he said that we could. So we went on Wednesday to a neighborhood and most the people were open to learning about Jesus but they didn't want anything to do with "the Mormons". We decided that we just needed to keep trying and so that's what we did. We knocked on this house and a lady answered the door. We talked to her and she said that she had just gotten out of the hospital that day and that she was super tired. Elder Benesh started walking away and I said, "Ma'am, why were you in the hospital?" and she said, "cause I have breast cancer." I thought to myself wow everything does happen for a reason! She was pretty nervous about us and didn't really want anything to do with us. I said, "Well I had cancer twice when I was younger and she was like, "Wow you look really good for having cancer twice." She said give me two weeks to recover and then y'all can come back :). I felt so blessed to have had an opportunity to share my story (a little bit) and have someone feel more comfortable with us :). I was so pumped that night. I got down on my knees and prayed and thanked Heavenly father for the experiences that I have had in my life :).

The rest of the week was pretty good in that we were able to find some places to knock for this week and some people that we can go see as just individuals that could one day become members :) .

I love getting the letters from y'all and hearing about all the awesome things that y'all are doing back at home :). Garrett and Sean good luck in life and work this week and always remember that your Savior's love is ten fold. That goes for you too, Dylan. I know high school is tough and it doesn't get any easier cause Satan knows that you are trying your best but that just means you need to work so much harder :0. Mom, Dad keep being awesome parents! I know that we never had it easy growing up and that we were not always the easiest children to teach but we learned life long lessons from two of the best people in the world . I look at the lessons that we were taught about hard work and I see that in the mission life right now. It helps me know that where ever we are Satan will be there as well trying to make us take the easy way out but the Lord knows that we are much better than that and Satan wants to push us to test our faith.

Being positive has really helped me a lot this past week get through some hard things. I know that Satan tries and tries to pull missionaries down. I see that everyday and it is nice to know that the savior is always there for us, 24/7 -- everyday!

Love y'all so much!

The camel back is GREAT!!!

Love Elder McEwan

P.S. Thank you so much for the package! The camel back is working great when we ride our bikes.

--
2 Nephi 31:20

KNOCKING IS HARD BUT THE LORD SAYS 'KNOCK' . . .

September 19, 2016

Hi Y'all!

So this past week was super busy and we had lots of stuff to do, well, until we got dropped by two people :0.

Tuesday was Zone conference and Elder Uceda and Elder Muers (new) came and talked to us for a long time. They talked about the important role of us being a missionary and that we need to first convert ourselves to the Lord. We then talked about reading scriptures and helping others see the importance of reading as well.

On Wednesday we were working at the food bank that we do every Wednesday and that was so much fun. We were able to fill 230 boxes for a disaster relief aid. It was a ton and we were drenched in sweat! Afterwards, we went to visit a lady who seemed really interested in the BOOK OF MORMON and we even gave her one but then we went by and she said that she didn't want us there to teach her. She said she was going to learn on her own and that if she had any question she would find a way to contact us. This is the funniest thing that I have heard in a long time :). The next guy we went to visit was the same way. He said that we and his church taught the same thing and kept saying that he loved the King James version of the Bible but didn't understand why the Book of Mormon was so important. We were just about to leave and I said, "Whats the same about the two churches," and he said, "Well there is a God" and that's all he said. I was trying to teach him the restoration and he didn't want to talk about it so we left.

It has been slow because its been very hot here and sometimes the people just aren't very nice to us and don't see the importance of us being out here. Last night we did an exchange and I went with the zone leader. It was a great time because we were able to knock and find people who showed a little bit of interest. Knocking in the south is hard but we love the Lord and if he tells us to knock then we knock!

The work isn't easy and there are times on the mission where you just think, " . . . and I came out here for doors to be slammed in my face." But it goes deeper than that -- How much of your time and effort are you willing to put into being a missionary? How far are you willing to go to find that one person? The Lord doesn't ask too much of us but he asks just enough from us to make us push ourselves to the end!

The people here feed us like crazy! I feel like I'm getting a little chunky :/.

So that is great that ya'll have been having fun this past week and that there is so much going on. I'm glad that Ricky was able to get married in the temple. We have new member and he and his wife plus their two kids are being sealed on Saturday in the Orlando Temple and that is so awesome!

Keep being positive and working hard and everything will come fast but the way we handle it is through the Lord!

Love Elder McEwan

P.S. Momma -- We can listen to music, so if ya'll want to send me a flash drive with music, that'd be great! Maybe some meditation music, too. I could also use the Insanity work outs :).
--
2 Nephi 31:20

YOU CAN'T CONTROL EVERYTHING . . .

September 12, 2016

Sup Y'all,

So this week was a great week and was very eye opening for me. I realized what missionary I wanted to be when I get done and when I land in Salt Lake.

Elder Swank, Elder McEwan,
Member in Valdosta,
Elder Benesh -- Elder & Sister Swank's
Farewell Party

So You CAN'T CONTROL EVERYTHING! I didn't get this concept until this week and how it came to me was actually really fun to be honest:) I was sitting in our ward correlation and that's when it hit me but the back story was interesting. On Sunday we had Fast Sunday and we fasted of course. I usually break my fast after church because that's when I find my answer or the strength that I need, but this time I decided to fast two meals and this was such a good idea :0.

Tuesday we got two new elders in the district that Elder Downs is training and they are super cool. One is from Pocatello and he says he knows my great aunt that lives up there, even though I forget her name sometimes. The other one is from Vegas and he is super cool as well:)

This week was very good and I was super happy at the end because of all the positives that happened in our week. SO the week starts Monday and goes till Sunday so we had a pretty awesome week:) We went down south on Tuesday and tried to meet with a lady that seemed interested in learning the gospel but she hasn't been home lately and so we decided to go knock in a trailer park and we found a lady who is Methodist and she seemed very opened to knowing more. She is a young mom that has been through a lot in her life. She and her husband have 3 kids that are super sweet, the only problem with them is that both the husband and wife like to smoke and he seems content in the ways he was raised. We then made contact with a potential investigator that has been on the list to visit but my companion said he didn't think we should go. We got to her house and we didn't see any life in the house or around it. We started driving away and I said, "Elder Benesh wait, we need to go at least knock and see. We got to the front porch and she pulled up in her car and she told us that she was wanting to join our church and become a member but she hadn't met with the missionaries for a long time. So we went back on Wednesday and taught her the first lesson and she was really receptive. We think she could be baptized but we need teach her a little more :). We went to a guys house on Saturday to visit him and help him stop smoking. He has expressed that he wants to stop but doesn't know how. So we got him some LDS addiction recovery stuff and took it by and that was a great experience. As we were getting ready to leave he said, "I am going to give my smokes away to a friend that needs them." Elder Benesh said, "Well we will help two people out so you can give them to us." This guy is super funny and he said, "If I hear of my LDS missionaries smoking and they need to know where they got them I will deny everything to your leader person :). We laughed and told him we would never do that :).

Valdosta Ward Missionaries had dinner with
Bishop David & Sister Maren Hyer and their family

Sorry that BYU lost. I was well informed about the game, even in Georgia they too love the blue and white :).

So what's happening in school and with the home life? I recommend and invite y'all to keep a positive journal that you write down all the positives in the day. I know that when we are positive that nothing will break us and no one will make us give our lives away but that we, and that's a WE, can be happier with the positives in our lives.

Love y'all so much and y'all are in my prayers everyday :0

LOVE ELDER M
--
2 Nephi 31:20

HELPING AT THE FOOD BANK . . .

Elder McEwan gets to provide service to those affected by the flooding in Louisiana . . 

VALDOSTA, Ga. (WCTV) -- Many organizations stepped in to help during the recent devastating flooding in Louisiana.

The non-profit Feeding America continues to feed hunger by providing disaster relief boxes.

Second Harvest of South Georgia is responsible for packing all 2,400 boxes.

They started Wednesday morning with volunteers from local churches and schools.

They says they'll be distributed nationwide to those in need, but some will stay locally.

"Given the disasters we've seen in Louisiana and here locally lately, disaster relief boxes are running low in the network and that's why we are replenishing those, so we know that we are ready when the next storm hits," says Eliza McCall, Chief Marketing Officer for Second Harvest.

She says the boxes are bigger than normal and have added paper products, like toilet tissue.

http://www.wctv.tv/content/news/South-Georgia-food-bank-helps-disaster-relief-nationwide--392657271.html

TWO MONTHS, ONE TRANSFER, AND LESSONS LEARNED . . .

September 5, 2016

Hi Again,

So this past week was kind of very different from the rest. We had an exchange on Tuesday and it was going pretty well until we went to this guys house and he asked me a question but didn't specify what he meant so I gave my answer and it didn't sit very well with this other person in this house and she was mad about what I said. I felt really bad about it because I had said that I was never going to mess up and that I was going to always speak what The Lord wanted me to say. I texted President about the situation and he told me, "Elder McEwan, you need to remember that mistakes are to be learned from and if we don't learn from our mistakes then we just are going to keep making mistakes." This really helped me cause I was feeling bad about the whole situation.

On Thursday we were informed that there was a tropical storm that was going to hit us and that we were in the way of the entire thing once it hit the border of Georgia so that was really fun. President texted us and said that we needed to stay inside from 8 pm on Thursday night to about 3 pm Friday afternoon. We were kind of scared because we were watching the storm trackers and it was suppose to be a big huge thing. The storm came and brought heavy rains. It wasn't like Louisiana so that was a big positive. Then we woke up expecting it to be super bad but we saw that it wasn't too bad. The power lines were down in part of the city and the street lights (because they are on wire not poles like at home) SO that was really cool. We went out and saw the people and we were told the storm which was potentially a huge storm had broken up and that we had only gotten part of it:) SO there is a lesson for us all and it explains why we need our mothers in our lives. When you're a missionary you get a ton of moms from the President's wife all the way to the senior couples and the bishop's wife but you can never forget the one that gave you life and I firmly believe that it was the faith of our mom(s) that the storm was not as strong.

Saturday was my first transfer call and I am still in Valdosta for at least another 6 weeks. We will be getting two new greenies down here in Valdosta and we are losing one to be transferred elsewhere in the mission so that means LOOK OUT VALDOSTA, WE HAVE 7 MISSIONARIES!

Glad everything has been going great for y'all back at home.

Love Y'all So much!

Love ELDER M
--
2 Nephi 31:20