Pictures from Graduation . . .

My Extended Family . . .

Dear Family!!

 

Elder McEwan with Elder & Sister Eakins

How wonderful it is to hear all the good things that are going on with everyone. Things are going well for me as well, in fact I had another baptism this last weekend in Mechitiw, a 20 year old guy named Reklude Ludwig. It has been really satisfying knowing that he is now a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, since he was one of the first investigators that me and Elder Obray taught. Not only that, but he also got up in sacrament meeting yesterday and said his testimony, and it brought everyone in the chapel to tears!! This one I will remember forever!!

 

I'm glad that you all like those pictures!! It's been super fun to take them and have those memories to remember everyone and everything in Chuuk. Training is going great, and transfers are coming up in like a week I think. Meaning, there is a possibility that I will be moving to somewhere else. It makes me a little nervous but I know that my Father in Heaven will put me where I need to be, when I need to be there. Also, we have another companionship staying with us in our house. This is because of a new area that opened up this transfer, the island of Udot. So the two missionaries that are supposed to stay out there are staying with us because they have no house in Udot. But it's helped Mechitiw to see some pretty sweet miracles and to have a ton of success right now!! I'm loving every minute of it.

So Dad...I promise I have not forgotten your Birthday, it's just with all the dates and everything I am trying to remember out here, everything sort of runs together. But at any rate, Happy Birthday!! Funny story, the kids in Mechitiw really like you and think you're super smart just from looking at the pictures of everyone. They also think you are at ech (that means "handsome" in Chuukese). 

 

Hopefully you guys also liked the pictures of youth conference!! That was definitely a new experience that I loved to be a part of!! You know, I find myself getting more and more attached to these people every day that I am here, and I hate thinking about the day that I have to go home. Even though I'm in Mechitiw, members from the other branches here in Weno all know me, and every time they see me, they come up and talk to me. It breaks my heart to think that right now, and this is just metaphorically speaking, but right now, I feel like a little kid playing outside with his friends and having a great time. But of course, we all know that that time comes when Mom or Dad says it's time to come inside. I don't get excited every time I think about that day, but I guess that's just because of all the great experiences I'm having with my extended family out here. 

 

I love you all so much!!

 

Elder McEwan

Pictures . . .

What a day!

Elder Schroath

Pounding breadfruit

The missionaries get a go at it

Happy Bump Day . . .

It's so hard to believe that Elder Sean McEwan has been on his mission for 6 MONTHS (Bump Day), since entering the MTC on January 9, 2013!

Dear Family--

Hey Hey Hey!! I'm so sorry that I haven't written you guys in a long time, things have just been really really crazy here. But I'm so glad that you are all doing well and keeping busy. Since my last email, I have had two baptisms, a 14 year old boy named David and a 10 year old girl named Bianna. Also, I don't know if I've told you guys about Rimanni, another of my recent converts. He comes teaching with us every day and comes to church every week, only missing one Sunday last month. Everyone is doing well here, and it's so satisfying to see all of my hard work and see everyone doing great.

Dad, Happy Birthday to you!! Don't know how they say it in Chuukese, but just wanted you to know that I was still thinking about you even though I didn't send a letter. Garrett, pwan en. Happy Birthday, pwipwi!!! Man, my sixth month mark in Chuuk falls right on the day that you start your mission. Any advice I have, I say remember to love the heck out of the people in the Dominican Republic. You love them, get to know them, let them get to know you, and that's what is going to make your mission worthwhile. Don't be afraid, even though that sounds pretty lame coming from me right now. I've been praying for you everyday, because trust me, I know the pressure that Satan is going to put you under in the next few days and weeks leading up to August 1. Never forget that you are not only my brother, you are my best friend and soon to be my brother in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Study from Preach My Gospel and the scriptures (in Spanish) and practice teaching to people. They say not to leave your mission with any regrets, I say don't start it with any. Don't get to your six month mark and wish that you would've taken more time to teach and practice. We as the missionaries seni Ewe Mwichifelil Jises Kraist ren Aramas mi pin non Fansoun Soponon are given a small amount of time to prepare to serve and teach. DO NOT WASTE IT!!!! Our Father in Heaven wants His missionaries to be prepared, in all aspects, to teach and preach and work as missionaries do. Never forget that you are the man, but also remember that you work in the name of the Son of Man. Remember when you put that badge on, you are a representative of Jesus Christ, and as such are entitled to His help and guidance in your life. I pray for you and for all of you everyday, and I'm so excited to hear of all the blessings you have all received.

Oh, one more thing. Do you guys think you could buy me an English to Chuukese dictionary and send it to me please? That way I can be learning more new words :)

Ai tong ngenikemi!!!

Elder McEwan

Another great letter from our Pacific Island Missionary . . .

July 8, 2013

 
Hello to everyone!! I was so excited to read your emails yesterday and to hear that everyone is doing so well!! I'm glad that you all are staying busy, because I'm trying to do the same as well. We have a rather large investigator pool right now, add to that the large number of recent converts and less-actives that are not still strong, and that makes up a little bit of what I've been up to lately. Like I said in my email, I've had the great opportunity of baptizing two more people into this great and marvelous church, David and Bianna. They are both very young for recent converts, but I've learned that if these people are not taught when they are young, they get into bad habits and it's really hard to break them.

So guess what, I finally got my license!! Only took 4 and a half transfers, but I finally have it, so now I won't get into trouble when I'm driving. I also bought a machete, and used it this last weekend to do some service for an older member of our branch, this is one thing I've tried using, and I've really enjoyed it. I absolutely love our branch here, the people in Mechitiw are some of the most humble people I have ever met, and they are also some of the kindest. I feel sad when I think that this might be my last transfer here, but I know that the faith of these people will only go up and grow.

Also, we just barely had our youth conference at the end of June, and that was the most exciting thing I have ever seen or been a part of, just because there was so many youth that attended and had a great time. As a result of this, 12 youth have started mission papers and another 4 are preparing to leave this year. That experience has just showed me that our Heavenly Father truly is hastening His work that this truly is the eleventh hour, and that He truly wants all able and willing members to accept the call.

When you guys get these pictures that will follow after this letter, could you print them off and send them back, along with keeping copies for yourselves? That's another thing I love about the Chuukese, family is a big deal for them, and they love talking to missionaries about their families. This place is truly the best in the world, and I've come to learn a ton of things that I never thought I would learn on a mission, like how awesome prayer is!! The last couple of weeks, we've really had low attendance at sacrament meeting, and I have been trying and trying to get people to come, but nothing has worked, till this last Sunday when I begged and pleaded with the Lord that people would come, and guess what?! 70 people showed including two investigators and some less-actives. I love prayer, and I know now that when I pray and try to do my part to help, when I add prayer to that as well, I know that my Father in Heaven will help me to become the very best person that I can be.

Well, I'd better go. We're having a basketball tournament with all the missionaries today for P-Day. I love you all, and Kot epwe nom reolm ach chusefan!!

Ai tong ngeni kemi!!
Elder McEwan

Beautiful Chuukese Sunset . . .

It doesn't get much better than this . . . watching the sun go down over the ocean! I sure love this place :).

Ran Anim from Paradise

Hello Family--

 

I'm so sorry that I haven't written you guys in a while, there has just been a lot of stuff going on. We have had two baptisms in the last two weeks, plus youth conference this last weekend. There is a lot of good things going on right now in Mechitiw, and I'm just trying to enjoy all of it and still work hard, because with this current transfer ending in the beginning of August, who knows if I'll still be in Mechitiw...

 

Anyway, I'm doing great, just trying to help Elder Fermanis the best that I can and also find new people to teach. That's one thing that I've learned these last few weeks, you need to constantly be rotating your investigator pool. If you don't, people will get bored and then they won't progress. Also, I had a pretty sweet experience last Sunday that I will put in a letter and tell you guys about.

 

How are you guys? Anything new and exciting going on? Who is getting married that I know? Anyone else gotten mission calls? Right now we are helping a 19 year old girl named Kaireen with her mission application, and it's a lot of work. So many papers, so much information that is needed, I kind of forgot how much was needed since Mom helped me so much. But I know that the Lord is allowing me to have this experience so that I can know how to help my kids when they start their missions. I'm loving it here, I'm having the time of my life teaching and learning, and I wouldn't trade it for anything else in the world. I'll put more in ya'lls letters.

 

Love,

 

Elder McEwan