Arrival in the "Field" . . .

Word from the Mission Secretary, Sister Schmidt. She has been awesome already! I found her blog a few weeks before Garrett left for the MTC but didn't know she and her husband were right in the mission office. So thankful for the news that he arrived at the mission home. Kind of made me get teary . . . I'm a "Hermana" now :).

What an incredible sight ~ 34 New Missionaries report to the
Santo Domingo West Mission
on Tuesday, September 10, 2013 ~ WOW!

 

Hermana McEwan,

     Elder McEwan arrived in the mission on Tuesday at 6 am.  We spoke with him.   He was interviewed by President Rodriguez, had his picture taken with he and his wife, got his new companion, was oriented, filled out paperwork, had lunch and was sent on his way.  We spoke with him.  He is doing very well.  You have a fine son!  (My husband says he does well with the language!)

 

Elder & Hna Schmidt

Secretario de Finanzas

Misión Santo Domingo Oeste

República Dominicana

Humbleness of First Area . . .

September 12, 2013

Dear Family,

Well, I am in the field! It has been so great. My companion's name is Elder Galindo. He is 19 years old and from Mexico. I live in an area call Los Girasoles. It is a very cool place. There is no carpet on the floors, but it has nice tile. There is a toilet, a washing machine, a shower, and electricity. However, the toilet doesn't flush well, the washing machine is broken, we can't take an actual shower, and the power is off from 8 am until midnight. Let me explain the shower situation. We have a limited use of the water every week, and when it's gone, it's gone. It is not much water at all, and it is our sink water, toilet, shower, and washing machine water. So when I shower, it is like a bucket shower; I use enough water to be wet, wash everything, then rinse off. The End. it's not bad here though. We have a small gas stove and fridge/freezer. I work out everyday at 6, and it is cool!

Anyway, we have some really good investigators!!! One guy name Dominguito is ready to be baptized, but he has to be married to his wife first. He wants to get married but his wife is unsure. People here just don't care about marriage much. We are hoping that they will be married, because then both of them will be baptized.

We also have a girl named Jordania. Her mother is a member. She is progressing well, and is reading the Book of Mormon. We are hoping that she will come to church, because then she will feel the Spirit and know that what she is learning is true.

I love you guys so much! Hope everything is well!

Love,
Elder Garrett McEwan

More CCM Experiences and Opportunities . . .

September 8, 2013

Dear Family,

I hope you have by now received my letters and postcards! I hope that you were able to translate the postcards! Sorry that it was probably hard, but I just wanted to give you postcards written in my Mission Language.

On Friday, the 6th, I had the opportunity to go on splits again with a real missionary. I was paired with one of the "Office Elders." These Elders are in charge of all the paperwork, money, mail, etc. for the mission. They only get to go out contacting once a week. It would be kind of a hard job, but they like it. Because they only go out once a week, we didn't have any appointments. Their main focus is to help less active members. We visited some members and did some contacting. The area we were in was called Bella Vista, or Beautiful View. It really was amazing. It was in the city, and the people were wealthy. They all gave us drinks, which were amazing! But the best part was being able to understand their words! I am understanding Dominican Spanish, which is not like regular Spanish. They do not anunciate words well here at all, and they speak very quietly, so it is very hard to understand. However, I am getting much better.

Another cool experience was Saturday. I have mentioned before that we have sometimes gone to the temple parking lot and talk tot he Gua-Gua (Bus) drivers. To this point we had obtained 3, which was pretty good. On Saturday, there was only one gua-gua there. The Sister missionaries were supposed to go contact him and the Elders were to speak with the temple patrons. After speaking to the patrons, we walked over to the gua-gua. The Sisters were standing there and neither them nor the driver were speaking. They didn't understand or know what to say. I started talking and my mouth was filled with words. It was amazing. We obtained his address and phone number after a brief lesson about how God is our loving Heavenly Father. I hope the missionaries were able to meet with him.

I just wanted to let you all know that I am doing great and that I cam excited to leave the CCM. I just want to begin helping people out and help bring the gospel into their lives.

I love you all so much! Let me know how life is going!

Love,
Elder Garrett McEwan

CCM (MTC) Splits with Field Missionaries . . .

September 5, 2013

Dear Family,

I am so sorry that my email fue horrible esta semana . . . El laboratorio fue occupado por todo el tiempo. (Sorry that my email was so horrible this week, the lab was full the whole time.) It is a big issue here, because no one is obediente to the rules, especially email time and laundry time. Also, I'm sorry but I keep writing in Spanish! I don't even notice until after I have finished writing! Anyway, since we last talked, I was able to receive the package! The flashdrive has been lost in transfer and I never saw it. But oh well, the pictures are replaceable. I will be sending home a picture disk when I leave the MTC.

Last Friday, I was able to go on splits with the missionaries in the field! It was a great experience. I bore testimony, prayed, taught, and gave the baptismal invitacion, all from memory! It was an amazing experience! Also, the city is so cool! There is much to see and do, and many people to talk to! I have also purchased a tie for Dad, Sean, Parker, and Dylan from the DR. They are handmade! I bought Mom a shirt because she doesn't wear ties! When I figure out how to send a package, I will send one!

Back to splits . . . A man came to me while I was on the metro, and asked if I spoke English. I said yes, and he says to me, "Tell me everything you know about your church before I get off the Metro." The Metro is the subway by the way. In the 25 minutes we were on the train, I frantically tried to explain everything I knew, premortal life, creation, agency and the fall, earthly life, Christ's ministry, atonement, Christ's death and resurrection, apostasy, restoration, Joseph Smith, Book of Mormon, Sabbath Day, Word of Wisdom, etc. He wanted to know more, so I gave him the number to the Mission Home and him to call them to get other missionaries there. It was an AMAZING EXPERIENCE!

I am excited to be leaving to the field on September 10, 2013. I am nervous, but I feel prepared! I cannot wait to continue my service to the Lord!

Questions in Spanish! (Please respond in Spanish in emails):
-- Como esta futbol americano por, Dylan?
-- Cual es su clase favorita, Parker?
-- Tiene mucho asignaciones en su trabajo, Mom?
-- Ha ejercido cada dia, Dad?

Estas preguntas en mis cartas pueden ayudarles a aprender y entender espanol. Si ustedes aprenden espanol, lo bendicira sus vidas diariaments. Siento benolcido que tengo la oportunidad a aprendes espanol!

Love Your Son and Brother,
Elder Garrett McEwan

Rain . . . Rain . . . Rain . . .

Dear Family,

I am so happy to hear that all of you are doing so well!! What a big time in all of our lives!  I am also very greatful for the pictures that you sent, they made my whole day!!

The MTC has been a great experience!!  I am so glad that I have been immersed in the language, because I am being able to learn it much faster.  I would also like to apologize for any grammatical errors or spelling errors that I make in my emails...  everything is just starting to come out in the way Spanish is supposed to come out.

But anyway, the language learning is still progressing!!  I need to work on understanding "Dominican Spanish",  because it is not the same Spanish they are teaching us here in the MTC.  It is kind of funny how fast they speak.  They will be so tired and out of breath when they finish speaking that they can't even breathe!! So funny.

I have been out in the city twice now, just going to the store both times.  It is similar to Walmart, just on a smaller scale!!  The things here are pretty inexpensive in comparison to the U.S., so that is very nice.

As far as the teaching goes, I am doing very well.  Right now, I have 2 investigators, name Victor and Euladio.  I teach Victor in the morning and Euladio at night.  They are just role play activities with the teachers, but it feels so real!! The teachers are mostly converts to the gospel themselves, so they react how they would react while they were actually investigating the church.  Euladio has committed to be baptized on September 10, and Victor is not far behind.

It continues to rain pretty much every day... The problem is that it rains during our exercise time at 3:30!!  I have played basketball in the rain more in the last few days than I have in my whole life!  Multiple missionaries have gotten hurt from slipping, because they do not use asphalt here.... They only use concret with some kind of weird finish on it!! So when it rains, people get hurt... Not good.  Everyone also takes turns getting each other sick!!  All the food, close quarters, and new germs are messing with every one of us.

I have had the opportunity to email Sean every week.  I am so glad, because he has a lot of experiences that I need to here about.  It seems like a lot of the time, something he is going through is happening to me as well, so I am glad he can help me with it.

Back to the rain... It is a hot rain.  I feel like I am in a sauna, there is that much water in the air!!  You could probably drown from breathing this air, because there is so much water!!  It condences on your skin and it is misserable, but I am getting used to it!!

Dylan ~ Happy Birthday!!  The big 1-3!!!  SO excited for you right now!! You are no longer a baby... You are a man!!  Love you dude!!

So what are your favorite classes right now?  Do you have any of my old teachers?  I hope school, football, and work are all going well for you guys!!  GOOD LUCK!!

Love,

Elder Garrett McEwan

Language is Coming Great . . .

The MTC has been a great learning experience for Elder McEwan! He has been there for three and a half weeks already! Another Elder from our stake will be leaving for the Dominican Republic MTC this week, so he is taking a package to Garrett ~ with stamps for him to mail letters. Hopefully we'll get them in a couple of weeks and can post more of his MTC experiences. When we tried to buy stamps at the Post Office before he left, they told us postage had to be purchased in the country they were mailed from. Hmmm . . . sounds like US Forever stamps work everywhere :).

I know some of the spelling and grammar in this letter are not what we're used to from Garrett. However, I decided to leave it the way he sent it because it shows how much he is integrating and grasping the Spanish language :).

Dear Family,

I am so glad to hear that you guys are doing well!! I helps me to know that you guys are ok and that the Lord is taking care of you!!

I have heard from sean, which is a relief!!  My companion is named elder phillips...  he is from wisconsin. The MTC is good, but so busy!! I don't even have time to use the bathroom!!  the rooms are smaller than my room back home, and there are four people in there... not good!! I sleep on the top bunk, and wake up at 5:45 every day and work out! :)

So Dylan, good luck with your first game!! I know that you will do so well, and that you are a great player.  Keep working hard, and keep working out!! That is the part of the game that makes all the difference, is the strength part.  I know it's hard, but it will benefit you in the long run!!

Parker, congrats on finishing driver’s ed!!  It is so sweet!! YOu are one lucky dude, and I know you will be a great DRIVER.  Just drive exactly how I taught you to drive, and you will be fine ;)

To both of you, good luck with school!! The best advice I can give you is to not try to be so cool,  or be too cool.. The kids who do that mis out on a lot!! I look forward to the time when I get to see you guys!! Learn the school songs too!!!

Mom and Dad, I hope that the work situation is ok, and that you are both happy with your jobs!! Keep working hard, and you will continue to be blessed for your diligence.

Things here have been going well.  I can write in my journal in only spanish, and carry on a conversation.  I have twaught 4 investigators, a.k.a teachers,  and we are only allowed to speak spanish!!  It is crazy, but I am happy with the situation here.

That is awesome that you guys saw Jake's family!! I am i glad to hear that he got his visa!!  I have yet to recieve thae hand written letters, but it is being said that letters take roughly ten days?  and that is good that daniel will be coming here!!!

Can you please send me some stamps and flash drive?  I need stamps because i guess they don't exist in the DR... We haven't ever had stamps here!!  I have many letters with details of my time in the MTC to send, but no way to do it!!  The flashdrive is because i tried to email pictures, and they all were downloaded to the computer, and erased from the memory card....  about 100 pictures.  That would be very much appreciated!!

I love all of you so much!!

Elder Garrett McEwan

University Contacting . . .

August 24, 2013

This has been such a stressful week! I'm glad we got to email back and forth a little bit. I hope you are all doing well and staying out of trouble. I hope school is going well for everyone. I want to hear who your teachers are and how you are doing in school.

Things in the MTC have been a little hectic . . . The schedule always seems to be wrong and we never know what is going on. Like I said in my email, there are no stamps, and they don't pick up the mail for us very often. It is frustrating because people are waiting for things that aren't coming. Good think I love it here!

So yesterday, I was able to go contacting at the University that is 10 minutes away from the MTC. We were handed two Books of Mormon, 16 pamphlets, and left with the instructions that we had one hour to talk to people. So we set off. It was strange because everyone was so willing to listen and to test their knowledge of Christ. They have a lot of faith in Jesus Christ and were very receptive. The second person we contacted was very receptive of us. She was a little apprehensive at first, but really began to open up when we started talking to her about her life and what she thought her plan was for life. It was awesome!

I don't know if I mentioned this before, but my companion is half-black. His name is Elder Phillips. He looks like a native Dominican. People always try to talk to him and he never knows what they are saying! While at the University, the people we were talking to were asking him all the questions and he just kept saying, "Si, Si," because he didn't understand! Therefore, he agreed that his mother moved back to Africa after having him, his parents were doctors in the U.S. Military, and that he was going to go live in Africa with Monkeys . . . SO FUNNY! It wasn't until after I taught the lesson that I was able to explain what had been said! He was so embarrassed, but he laughed about it, too. I love him.

I love you guys so much! I miss being home, but I know that I am where I am supposed to be! I will be waiting to hear all about your week!

Love,
Elder Garrett McEwan