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.

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2 Nephi 31:20