Learning in the MTC and Loving It . . .

Elder McEwan received the postage stamps we sent and was finally able to mail the letters he had written about his MTC experiences. We got letters in English and postcards in Spanish :). What a great day!

August 13, 2013

Dear Family,

So I wanted to tell you about my MTC experience so far.

I wake up at 6:00 every morning. I workout from 6:00 until 6:45. Then I get in the shower, which is always cold! There is very little water pressure. Sometimes the water even shuts off! We get breakfast at 7:00 a.m. It is very similar every day: pancakes or French toast, sausage, eggs, and banana oatmeal. It is pretty good, and there are lots of bananas.

Then I go to personal study in my classroom. That is where I plan my lessons for my nightly investigator. After one hour of personal study, I have an hour of companion study. Sometimes if my companion is doing something else, I just attach myself to the companionship of the district leader and his companion.

After "companion" study, we have language study with Hermano Fernandez. He is a very nice teacher and his wife is having their first baby in October. Next, we have lunch. It is always bread, rice, chicken, and beans. It is very good. After lunch, we have more language study with Hermana Escorbores. She just returned home from her mission 4 months ago. She was born, raised, and served in the U.S., but moved here because her parents are Dominican.

Then we do what is called "TALL." It is a computer program to help us learn the language better. After TALL, we have physical time. I usually play either baseball or basketball. Then we have dinner, which is always beef, beans, and rice. After dinner, we have one hour to prepare and then we teach our investigator. His real name is Hermano Rodriguez, and he is also our grammar teacher. He is having his birthday in 6 days, so I am going to get him a present. So his pretend name is Secundinho Brito. We have taught him several times, and all of the lessons have been 100% in Spanish! It has been a great blessing learning Spanish already!

So I have already said the nightly MTC family prayer, shared my testimony, blessed the sacrament, memorized the Missionary Purpose, and given a talk on Faith, all in Spanish. I am loving it here!

I miss you all so much! It is hard to be so far away from all of you guys!

Love,
Elder Garrett McEwan

p.s. I'm sending some pesos home . . . They look like pirate money! 42 pesos equal $1 U.S. Dollar.

Love it Here . . .

Dear Family,

 

I am very worried about Sean.  I have been praying for him to have good health, but didn't know why. He told me that he is needing to have surgery on his neck, and that scares me. Please pray for him.

 

So Dylan, that is so sweet that you got to be in the parade!!  You are a champion!!  So proud of my little bro!! Making me proud every day!!  A lot of big things are happening for you right now!! Just do your best, play hard, and do whatever your coaches ask of you and you will be fine!! :)

Parker, that is amazing that you have gotten in to road and range so fast!! Your hard work has paid off and you will continue to be blessed for that!! I am so jealous of you, because you will have your license by your birthday!! You are a stud!! Keep working hard!!

 

Mom and Dad, I am glad that Salem Days was a success!! I know how stressful it was for you, but the Lord promises us that He will not try us above what we are able to endure!!  I know this to be true, and testify of the power of Prayer.  If we have faith, through the Lord we can do anything!! :)

So now I have taught ten lessons!! It is crazy!! The teacher, Hermano Rodriguez, told me and my companion that we have the best Spanish in the group and that he felt the spirit very strongly with us!!

 

Just wanted to share with you my testimony in Spanish!!

 

Hola hermanos y hermanas. Mi nomber es Elder McEwan. Yo soy de Utah, en los Estados Unidos. Quiero compartir mi testimonio con ustedes. Yo se que JesuCristo es mi Salvador, y tambien mi hermano meyor. Yo se que el libro de Mormones un libro verdadero. Yo se que Jose Smith es un propheta de Dios, y que Thomas S. Monson es un propheta tambien. Yo se que familias son eternas. Yo se que Dios es mi Padre Celestial, y que En el nombre de JesuCristo, Amen.

 

 

I love you guys!!

 

Love, Your Other Island Missionary,

 

Elder Garrett McEwan

First P-day in the DR . . .

On the Dominican Republic Temple Grounds

We were sooo excited to receive the first official letter from Elder McEwan! To top it off, there were pictures shared by President & Sister Freestone, the MTC Presidents of the Dominican Republic.

It is incredible to see the difference in this awesome young man in just a week since we put him on the plane to begin his mission!

August 8, 2013

Dear family,

 

I am so glad to see your letter!! Sorry it has taken me so long to write, but P-Day is on Thursday here, so that is why!!

 

I am glad that Dylan got nice football pads, and that they fit him well.  Good equipment is a nice thing to have.  Just like in sports, the gospel too has equipment.  We must put on the full armor of God, and stand as a witness to Him and bear testimony of His greatness!!  I am sorry about your phone too dude!!  You can use mine but the touchscreen doesn't work, so the only thing you can do on it is text and call.

 

Parker, get on the range!! You need to have your licenser so that you can preactice more!! Practice practice practice,  sleep a litle, then practice some more!! You will get to drive more than me these next two years ;)

 

President & Sister Freestone

Mom and Dad, I hope that Salem days has gone well for you guys!~! I know  is a lot of stress, but the Lord will bless us in anything we do, as long as we perservere and endure to the end!!  I know you guys are very prepared, and that you are leaders in this community.  People look to you for guidance and reassurance, and trust you to get the job done!!.

 

To answer previous questions:

 

I am great!! The MTC Food is very good, and there is plenty!!  Surprisingly, I have neither gained nor lost weight!!  The weather is hot, humid, but also pleasant in a weird way!!  It rained last night, and that was a sight to be seen!!  So much water, spectacular lightning.. It was amazing!!

 

Today, as with every P-Day,  I will attend the temple. It is a great blessing to me!!

 

I have been learning the language pretty quickly.  I bore my testimony on Fast Sunday in Spanish, and only pray in Spanish now.  I haven't prayed in English since like last Saturday :)

My MTC District ~ Back Row: Elder Kirk, Elder Laws, Elder McEwan,
Elder Phillips; Front Row: Sister Verzello, Sister Layng, Sister Haramoto

 

I hope this letter finds you guys well!! I love all of you so much!!

 

Love,

 

Elder Garrett McEwan

Hello from the Dominican Republic . . .

Hey everyone, it's Elder McEwan.  Just wanted to let you know that I am in the DR.  I have had a few opportunities to speak with people about the book of mormon, why we serve missions, and keeping the sabbath day holy.  It is very hot here, and the people drive like lunatics! Thank you all for your letters.  I love you all so very much, and can't wait to see you again!!

 

Love,

 

Elder McEwan

Farewell at the Salt Lake International Airport . . .

We arrived at the Salt Lake International Airport at 5:15 a.m. on Thursday, August 1, 2013. Everyone was quite tired, as we had already been up since 3:00 a.m. We weren't able to check Elder McEwan in on the kiosk, but there weren't many travelers at this hour, so we walked right up to the counter. His checked bags weighed in at 51 pounds and 46 pounds. His carry on bag weighed 18 pounds. Hmmm . . a mere 115 pounds for two years!

Elder McEwan with his "Elder Garrett" bear we gave him after he was set apart as a missionary

There were six total missionaries traveling to the Dominican Republic, but they had either already gone through security or hadn't arrived yet. Garrett was so brave (much more than we were) as he made it through security and headed toward his gate for departure. We were kind of waiting for a last wave, but he never looked back (probably learned this from his big brother, Elder Sean McEwan, who also never looked back :).

We look forward to hearing from him and sharing his many adventures here with the many family and friends!

The Farewell in Salem . . .

Garrett spoke in the 3rd Ward Sacrament Meeting on Sunday, July 28, 2013. He gave an amazing talk about the Apostasy and the Restoration. Afterward, our home and yard were again overflowing with the love and support of his many family and friends. We are indeed blessed to have so many angels among us!

 

We made our missionary lunch trip to Chuck-A-Rama on July 31. We began this "tradition" in January 2013 when Elder Sean McEwan left on his mission, so we obviously needed to continue with such a tradition!

The LDS Temple Trip . . .

Elder McEwan did much preparation and was worthy to enter the Mt. Timpanogos Temple on Saturday, July 13, 2013. What great support he had with the many family members who were able to attend! What an awesome experience to be given so many blessings from our Heavenly Father.