Spiritually Fed (Plus Yummy Cake)

CHRISTMAS IS EVERYwhere. The members gave us so many gifts yesterday everywhere I turn there are sparkles. Today I was buying a sandwich at the co op, whipped out my wallet, and loads of sparkles fell onto the counter hahaha I apologised to the cashier and she was like ‘you’re making it seem like raining sparkles is a bad thing’ lol guess not! It’s Christmas!

Weelll. I’ll start with something exciting! Do you remember Regina from Worcester!?! Sister baker and I found her street contacting in Worcester and we’ve been working with her for 6 months and on Friday she is getting BAPTISED!!!!!!!!! And president gave me permission to go to her baptism!!! I AM SO HAPPY! White Christmas:):) 

Speaking of WORCESTER Bernard and Val Haw some of my very favourite members came all the way to Cardiff to visit me!!! It was such a special afternoon I couldn’t stop smiling! They are like family. :)

Thursday we had zone conference in England which meant we got to wake up at 4 to travel. Super fun! But it was good I only have 1 more until I go home! Had a cool experience on the way back though:) there were about 10 missionaries on the train back to Cardiff but it was quite full so we all had to sit in seats next to random people. I started talking to the man next to me, and then I heard sister fahl talking to the woman next to her, and then elder Johnson was too, it was a chain reaction everyone started talking to their neighbour!!! At one point I was teaching the resto to 3 guys next to me at the same time it was sooooo cool. We were joking that the whole coach was going to be converted haha. Afterwards sister fahl told me that she was really feeling prompted to talk to the woman next to her but was too scared, but when she heard me talking to my neighbour she wasn’t so scared anymore. The guy I started talking to was not in the least interested but I know it was still meant to happen:):) 

One day we were in the post office posting a parcel and it was crazy busy because almost Christmas. Anyways from across the post office we spotted a crazy less active (I’ll tell you about her when I’m home I literally can not email about it) anyways she screamed across the office ‘I NEED TO TALK TO YOU IM LEAVING THE MORMON CHURCH!’ It was really awkward lots of confused stares all around. 

Saturday was our ward Christmas party. Us and the elders were really hungry but it wasn’t going to start for another hour. Some members offered to give us some leftover COSTCO CHOCOLATE CAKE okay I repeat COSTCO CHOCOLATE CAKE which I have not tasted in over 16 months. We hid ourselves in a room behind a whiteboard with 4 spoons and just pigged out hahaha we were all joking about how it was definitely the most life changing and spiritual moment of our missions. Bowen even said it was the highlight of his life. (Sad lol) 

I keep gaining a testimony over and over of how good it feels to be spiritually fed. (Didn’t realise I put this right after the chocolate cake bit) Yesterday morning right when I woke up I read a conference talk and all day my perspective on life was happier. That evening was the Cardiff stake Christmas choir concert. The spirit was so strong! I was on a high. 

At zone conference this week president shared a story of his son returning home from his mission. They all made banners and didn’t realise a spelling error on one of them... it had said “Retuned with honour” instead of returned. This has stuck with me all week. He related it to a piano. I feel like I came into the mission field out of tune. But over the last 16 months I have been retuned for my return. I am so, so, so thankful I could come on a mission. I couldn’t imagine my life without it. I view life in a completely different way. A better way. And I still have 2 more months of refinement! (And a lifetime that will follow) 

I will send my bus driver story at the end of this email for those who don’t have access to Facebook:)

Love yous! Can’t wait to skype next week 😜😜😜😜😜

Cheers,

Sister McEwan xxxx

Photos

1) rosemary an old lady we visit. Look how tender she is looking at me! Love her so much. Although she loves me a little too much lol in church she just stares at me and smiles the whole time. Can be uncomfortable at times lol. 

2) LOOK WHO CAME TO VISIT!

3) MEMBERS from WORCESTER came too see me this week! Best day ever! 

4) Merthyr Cardiff and Cheltenham Christmas zone conference 

5) zone conf 

6) tender mother father and son pic

7) SIRI-EK such a good reunion we were crying. 

8) naughty! 

9) lovely gift (OF FOOD) from members 

10) Christmasssss 

11j Gloucester cathedral from the train. 

Seeking Christ at Christmas

Right fam you only have to hear from me 10 more times (Still a lot but oh well lol better than what you have to hear from Amelia;))

Sooooooooooo this week. 

Met with Georgia the recent convert here who’s 16. She wants to go on a mission so we asked her to tell us about the restoration:) she did so well! Even included Alvin and Hyrum haha bless her! After the lesson we were doing some online proselyting in the library and some random guy came and sat by us and asked about our name tags and we taught him the restoration and then after 30 minuets he left and then 3 minutes later ANOTHER GUY sat down by asked and asked about our badges and we taught the restoration again! It was amazing. Even when sitting down god gives us finding opportunities:) 

Tuesday evening we were with the elders. We were gonna go tract a street together.  So we started walking outside of city centre and we were all kinds arguing about where we should go to knock doors and finally I saw a bus and was like ‘ok everyone we are just going to get on this random bus and wherever it stops we we will tract’ Hahahaha. So we got on and ended up by a street we all agreed on. I felt a very distinct prompting that we needed to tract one specific side and the elders needed to tract the other. It’s crazy how it all worked out. We were able to show the light the world video at almost every door we knocked. And we found an amazing new investigator called Anna who’s cousins are Mormons in utah! So she knew all about it and was totally interested in learning more. It was great we were able to go over on Friday night and teach her:) but it’s funny because the side the elders knocked they got let in several times but they were all male and were smoking weed..... god protects his sister hehe but they found some new people as well:)

Wednesday morning we had interviews with pres. Wednesday evening was AMAZING! Some non member friends my family and I met on a cruise 6 years ago came to take me and my companion to dinner! They drove all the way from Leeds to see me spent 5 hours in the car bless them! It was so special. Got to answer so many questions they had about the church and teach the restoration to such dear friends. :) it is a lot more scary teaching the gospel to your friends! I don’t know why that is... But I loved every second. A day I’ll never forget. 

Sister fahl has officially gotten my illness! Bless her..... we had to take another trip to the doctor.... Saturday night was so bad for her I was up all night with her trying to treat her haha. I felt like a mother. I made this blanket thing (with a towel) put it over her head and melted some vapo rub in hot water for her to inhale lol bless she couldn’t breathe so we listened to music and chilled till about 5 am when she finally went to sleep. I’ve been so sleepy! 

Ate dinner with Lilly and Lauren and got to teach her again. She’s still keeping commitments, reading and praying. She’s got a little bit of a road block at the minute but nothing she can’t overcome:):)

Church was cancelled this week because it started snowing (stupid UK don’t know how to cope with snow lol). I was really sad actually.... I haven’t missed church in 16 months! But that’s ok it helped my testimony grow of how much we need church. I felt so spiritually low yesterday. Church really does refill me and get me started for the next week. I read lots of talks and watched several videos on the lds website and that helped but there is just something about going to church on Sunday! :) 

Was weird seeing snow for the first time since being out! Haven’t missed it! But it was a good change from rain falling from the sky! The uk hasn’t had snow like this in years. Facebook is only pictures of snow haha I’m like wow let’s send em to utah;) 

Sorry this letter has been so long. The weeks are flying. Every week I learn something new. Sometimes I have to learn the same thing twice.... but god is so patient with me and for that I am so grateful. President uchtdorf came out with a recent message called seeking Christ at Christmas. At the end of his message he talks about king David and how at a difficult time of his life he wrote “o god, thou art my god; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsting for thee, my flesh longeth for thee.” This is the attitude we must have. A yearning to know him and become more him. President uchtdorf later says that this truly defines who we are as Christ’s disciples. 

Let us be true disciples. 

Cheers,

Sister McEwan xxxx

Pictures 

1) sending letter to mom and dadddsd

2) baking cakes with a recent convert called bicky named after a biscuit LOL

3) Callum! 6 years later n

4) the Gater family 

5) Great times :) 

6) broke my nail....... ouch! Missssssssh life 

7) 4 am sick sister fahl hiding under my contraption 

8) comp love 

Happy Bunnies 🐰

Hey mates 

Can’t be bothered to write lots so here’s the good bits! 

We taught Lilly and she fed us one of the best meals I’ve had on my mission! We brought Lauren a returned missionary in Cardiff and she literally doesn’t even have to try to fellowship they are already really good friends and are going to hang out during the week! She asked so many incredible questions. Shared some amazing experiences. 3 weeks ago she didn’t even believe in god, but she’s been reading and praying daily and has found that there is a god. Her experiences she has had are so sweet and remind me of when I first gained a testimony of his omnipotence 

Sister fahl and I are having so much fun. I love her already way too much! I really hope we stay together for my last transfer. We’ve gotten a lot of time to get to know each other this week because I went to the doctor and have a bad chest infection so between appointments I’ve been resting. 

I GOT MY CHRISTMAS PACKAGE I WAS SO HAPPY!,!,! Especially because I got some of Amelia’s stuff by accident LOL I love you mom xoxoxoxxoxoxxooxxoxoxoxox

We had stake conference this weekend which was nice. It was all based on families. Made me so excited to see mine in just over 2 months. Woooo! So exciting. 

A favourite member from Worcester sent me this lovely quote he made up: 

The most important things in life are to love your family, to follow the Saviour, to love the gospel and to follow your football (soccer) team. Then you will be a happy bunny!!! LETS BE HAPPY BUNNIES 

So true! Go wolves! ;) 😊 (and Leeds?) (@joe)

Hey do the light the world challenges pls!

Cheers,

Sister McEwan x 

Pictures 

1) in a trio while waiting for my new companion..... SO WEIRD 

2) district meeting 

3) district meeting 

4) district meeting 

5) ironing baby clothes 

6) MAMAJANYAN 

7) Love her 

8) look over and she’s KNITING!!!!!! 

9) my beautiful trainer sent me this! 

10) CHRISTMAS PACKAGE 

11) ready for Xmas

He Knows Me Better

HEY 

Well transfer DoDgE. Sis Siri-ek is moving to Swindon. The last 7 transfers I’ve had 7 companions. WOW. But that’s okay because I am getting SISTER FAHL from Germany!!!! One of my dream companions!!! We have been writing letters for the last year or so saying ‘oh I hope I get to serve with you someday!’ And here we are! So pumped. HERES TO MY LAST 12 WEEKS I hope she will finish me off haha. 

I’ve got loads of pictures this week so I think I’d rather just use those than type everything out this week haha. I’m just really thankful I’m staying in Cardiff. I love it here. Although I’m really gonna miss sister Siri! I’m going to be so lost haha. She is so hilarious. I’m gonna miss all the Asian food. (Kind of)  Literally never had so much noodles in my LIFE. Man.... parting is so bittersweet! (Not sweet at all actually) I’ll probs cry. 

Some highlights though, on thanksgiving some members made us thanksgiving dinner!!!!! Yay! It was really happy and a great evening together. 

Ive still been really sick and haven’t slept much. We live in university housing and our street is like the hub for every weekend and Uni night (wednesdays) people are partying until 4 or 5 and it is SOOOOOO LOUD. plus I could barely breathe with my sore throat so that didn’t help. But the members have taken care of me. A Chinese recent convert gave me loads of Chinese remedies and wants to give me more tonight hahaha bless him I am in good hands!

I love playing the piano here on Sundays. I feel so appreciated every Sunday I get so many people come up to me and thank me for ‘my emotion’ haha. This one grandma came up to me after with tears in her eyes and she said ‘how did you manage to move me in such an upbeat hymn like there is sunshine in my soul?’ Haha I love it. Lilly got to look at the temple grounds in London this weekend! We are excited to meet with her this week. :) 

I had a very spiritual experience this week. The kind of experience that trying to express  in an email just will not portray its beauty. But I can say that I know that God is aware of us individually. And it breaks his heart when he doesn’t hear from us. I know he loves me! Something that means a lot. There’s an EFY song that keeps running through my mind (mission life) and it says over and over ‘he knows me better’ he truly does know me better than I know myself.... and he keeps proving this to me over and over! ;) 

Today for P day we went to Caerphilly castle. SO BEAUTIFUL. So wales. I will send another email with all the pictures. Here are a few from the week though: 

Cheers,

Sister McEwan xxx

A favourite member ❤️ she served on temple square with Grandma and Grandpa McEwan!  

“Everyone do the Sister McEwan smile!” Haha 

Companion from Nottingham! Love Sis Bacchus.

Cardiff And Bridgend District 

Someone was too excited and spilled his thanksgiving meal on the floor haha