Week 74

Good morning!

 

So, quite a bit happened this week... but a lot of it I will have to share AFTER I go home, haha.  It's...interesting. :D  Be excited. Anyways, we've been teaching a lot... and trying to contact less actives.  They are really difficult to find actually, especially since we don't have any ward directory or even an updated list of names of members to look for. Sometimes we just run into people and they tell us they're members and we ask them who else they know who are members that live nearby. It's like detective work :D  And we're still also taking time to find new investigators and giving lots of baptismal dates. :D It's way good.  We have another family... they're pretty poor... but amazing! The mother is reading the book of mormon and when we asked her about her reading, she told us ALL about Nephi and them being commanded to go back to Jerusalem to get the plates and leaving their riches, and him having to kill laban even though he didn't want to, and about how Sariah complained against Lehi, and about how Lehi found out that he was a descendant of Joseph.  She remembered everything! :D I was super impressed!  Now if we could just get them to come to church! :D

Sister Karaponga and I are having a blast here! You have to be fun and creative when you're living in a small apartment with only 2 people. That's all I've got to say for today... :D

Love you all!

Sister McClellan

 

Week 73

Good morning everyone!

This week was SO good!  It's been so fun, just applying all the things that I've learned to this new area.  We are really starting basically from scratch.  There are a lot of members living in our area which we have to go find, but as far as investigators, we have none.  

It's different having so many missionaries in one ward. We meet at the same time as ward 2 which has 4 sister missionaries, so there are 10 of us sister missionaries in one building at the same time. I really feel like I blend in and it's a little harder to get to know all the members.  At least... it's harder for them to remember me... So the other Sisters in our ward are actually assigned in Jaro, really close to the church which we go to.  They were assigned there before and we became the bonus missionaries.  We live pretty far from the church, which makes it very difficult for members and investigators to get to church.  We are hoping that pretty soon we will be able to help this area progress enough that we could get a branch out here in Pavia.  It would help a lot of people. I'm trying to encourage the same thing which we did in Roxas, my first area so long ago. We opened a temporary group there in Panay for the same reason and over time the less actives came back and now there are 60+ people going to church there every Sunday in that little tent thing at a house there. If we did the same thing here, we might have similar results. :D  In the meantime, we have to travel quite often in Jeepneys and in Tricycles and in Trisikads.. we get every form of transportation in this area.  It's even farther to go to District Meetings every week.  It's a good thing I like traveling. :D

This week was pretty fun, we did a whole lot of door to door tracting... I have to say that Sister Karaponga and I are getting pretty good at it. :D  It is actually super fun!  Especially trying to see if we can get the rich people to open their gates and let us in. :D  We have several new investigators who are super rich.  Actually, our new investigator Brother Nestor has the biggest house I've ever been in here in the Philippines... and I'm pretty sure it's even bigger than any house I've been in in the States.  He's super nice.  We rang their doorbell and talked to his wife and I'm pretty sure she wanted to say no, but we worked our magic and just were as friendly as we possibly could and she agreed that we could come back another time when she wasn't busy... that sounded a lot better than nothing... :D  Then later, while we were waiting for Sister Aquino to come work with us, someone informed us that the man at that house wanted us to go back and he was all ready to let us in and he has TONS of questions.  He's not ready to accept anything we say... but at least he let us in!  And we have a return appointment.  He reminds me a lot of Brother Romeo from Oton, hehe... and he was baptized. :D

 

Another family we met we are also super excited to go back to and teach.  He's an African American from Virginia. His wife is Filipina and they have 4 kids ages 11-17 or something like that. We haven't taught them yet but they were super excited to see us and we are scheduled to go back to them this next Saturday. I wish it could be sooner, but that's their availability. The Dad and kids only speak English, so I'm going to have some fun trying to teach the lessons in English for the first time, hehe. I'm excited though. :D It seems like most all our investigators right now are rich. It's great! :D 

We found another man who is super nice.  He's not rich, but his family is SO nice. And we taught them all about the Restoration and they already believe.  The poor are so much more prepared to accept what we share.  They can't afford to come to church... but they are very humble and loving and I know they will find a way once we help them build their faith a little bit more.  We love teaching every type of person.  Right now my goal is to just talk to as many people as I possibly can and make a difference in the lives of every person I meet, although we really are trying to focus on the rich right now.  Everyone needs the gospel!  And I'm running out of time to tell everyone in my area about this wonderful plan of happiness! hehe. :D

So... I NEVER in a thousand years... would have thought that I would actually enjoy going door to door, talking to strangers.  But I have actually been having fun! And at the beginning of my mission I remember being terrified of people asking me questions or something.. afraid I wouldn't know the answer or be able to understand them because of the language barrier... but now I absolutely love it!  I welcome any question... and when I don't know the answer, that gives me something to research in my personal study the next day.  I love people.  I really do a whole lot.  We are all brothers and sisters on this earth and we can gain something from everyone that we meet.  I am so grateful for this experience that I am having here.  I continue to learn new things daily.  I've never felt so happy. :D  Even though I probably won't be getting any more baptisms (because investigators need to go to church several times before they can be baptized and I only have a few sundays left...)... I know that I am planting dozens of seeds. :D

Oh and about the storm... I heard about it... and we have had some super strong rain in the past week... but I don't know if that's the storm you all heard about, haha.  It didn't really affect our work... I just got a little wet... :D  And I once again don't have an umbrella, haha.  I gave it to a woman and her baby... theirs broke, haha. But it's okay, my companion and I can share for a few weeks :D

Love you all! Continue to Lift where you Stand! :D

Sister McClellan

Week 72

Hey family, sorry for the late letter, just as I was about to send it, there was a brown out.
What a week. A lot has changed.

On Monday, we had Family Home Evening with President Aquino and his family. It was super fun and I really enjoyed it!  President Aquino is the best! he really cares about each of us so much!  After the FHE, he pulled me and sister Mendez into another room and informed us that we would both be transferring.  Sister Mendez was given a different assignment and I also was informed that I would be released as a Sister Training Leader and would be opening up a new area, Zaragga, where no sister missionaries have ever been and elders only went there occasionally because it was far from their area.  I was super sad to hear that I would be transferring because I honestly didn't think I would be, with only 6 weeks to go, but I guess God had some other plans in store for me.  When transfer meeting came I was surprised to see that I was being assigned to somewhere other than Zaragga.  Instead of opening up Zaragga, I'm opening up Pavia.  It's also a great area and there are several members living here.  My new companion is Sister Karaponga and I really like her a lot.  She is from New Zealand, but she grew up in the Cook Islands. She's so much fun!  Because we're opening the area, we didn't have an apartment for a while and slept in another missionary's apartment which was kinda far from our area. We have an apartment now though and we love it.  We finally got beds today which will be nice... and a lot of the other furniture and household items which we need. We're still waiting for desks and shelves and things like that, but we're comfortable enough. We've already made good friends with several neighbors and the guards. :D  Our neighborhood has a swimming pool... :D  and a basketball court, a grassy field to play frisbee on in the mornings... and a grocery store, restaurant, and just about everything we need! :D  we love it already! and the management and owner is super, super nice! 

since we're the first missionaries living here, we're kind of a big deal here :D  both of us are foreigners and we are not yet familiar with the area.  Usually one missionary has been there for a while and trains the new one where to go, but we are equally new to the area, so we've been asking a lot of people for directions, haha.  It's been fun!  I love our area actually. it's the first time I haven't been on the coast, but there are a lot of big houses... actually more rich than poor that I've seen so far.  It will be a whole new approach for us to really be focusing only on rich people.

Our ward is really awesome as well. It's kinda weird being in a ward again.  Our bishop is super awesome.  the whole bishopric is SO young! they all look like they're in their 20s... and sometimes they kinda act that way too, haha. but they are so great!  Our bishop likes to rap... and he was especially excited when he found out I could beat box.  hehe. There are now 6 missionaries in this ward. And from what I heard, Oton just split again as well and there are also 6 missionaries there in that branch.  Goodness, the work is for sure progressing!

Yesterday, we had a cool experience.  Sister Karaponga had been writing in her planner and had it on her lap or in her bag or something and somehow, while we were traveling in a tricycle, she lost it.  She was super worried because it had a lot of money and her personal card and all our numbers and things that we needed... we said a prayer and were immediately comforted.  We remembered the 90/10 principle and decided to apply it and keep a good attitude no matter what.  Later that night we received a text that someone had found it and this morning we went to go visit him and he had it, completely untouched. What a great man, and so honest. He wasn't very interested when we asked if he would be willing to listen to our message, but we gave him a pamphlet and he has our number so hopefully something happens there.  I feel that that experience happened for a reason and we are also very relieved that we found that!! We know God is watching out for us! :D 

That's all I have time for now. I'm looking forward to seeing all your bright, smiling faces again! take care! love you,

Sister McClellan

Week 71

So, I have had several offers from several different people to come and live with them when I come home.  So... whoever wants me the most... give me all the reasons why so I can make a decision, haha. :D  If you don't reply I'll assume you don't want me... which is totally fine, hehe.  I have no idea yet what I want to do!!!  If you know someone who can get me a job in the recreational field... that's a definite plus, hehe. :D

This week was super awesome! Tuesday we had an FHE with President and Sister Aquino and all the other SIster Training and Zone Leaders. It was SO much fun! I was assigned to give a talent (of course) but I wasn't very creative... I just sang I'm trying to be like Jesus... hehe. They also fed us a delicious dinner! I love them so much!  And then Wednesday we had Missionary Leadership Counsel which was also SO much fun and also Super spiritually uplifting.  I love being a leader, haha.  And now Sister Peralta and I are planning another training for our zone tomorrow. I'm excited because we're planning on doing some activities which I did at some of my recreational jobs and in my classes before my mission and now I'm applying them to missionary work and the gospel.  It adds a whole new perspective to the discussions I would normally have with people. The activities I did before my mission would apply to teamwork and trust and problem solving, etc... and they still do... but they were focused towards athletic teams and the corporate world and other things... it totally applies to missionaries and districts and the gospel as well.  It makes this all so much more exciting and it brings me so much more satisfaction afterwords.  I am so grateful for this opportunity!  And I know it is also super helpful to the other missionaries in encouraging them to do their very best and to be more unified.

Yesterday Sister Peralta and I gave talks in Sacrament Meeting and I have to admit I wasn't prepared at all! I've had so many different things on my mind, I procrastinated... so I was a little nervous... but it went super well... I just talked about missionary work which was easy for me and of course I already knew several scriptures and experiences I could share and no one knew that I wasn't prepared.  I know it's true though that "If you are prepared, you shall not fear." I'm just glad it went well despite my fear and unpreparedness.  hehe.  I was super happy though because there were so many people at sacrament meeting! Lately we've been consistently getting over 80 people at church, which is super good for our branch!  I hope it stays that way and continues to increase!

I had a good experience this week with sister Pinky. I've been so confused about her because one day it seems like she's totally ready to accept the gospel and move forward and then she doesn't ever do anything.  She'll commit to read and come to church and everything... and then nothing...I have seen progression though, little by little.  At first she wasn't sure about anything. Saturday night when we visited them, it was the first time we had taught Pinky in over a week because she started working every day. We've only been teaching her daughter, Cherish.  Pinky expressed to us the sadness and frustration she's felt this last week and how much she missed us.  She told us how happy she was that we were there and that we hadn't given up on them.  She testified to us that she knew that everything we've been teaching is true and that some day she will surprise us and come to church and that once she comes to church, it will be permanent.  I'm not sure what she is waiting for... but I felt the spirit as she was talking and I believe her.  We just need to help her realize that she needs to make that decision now and not procrastinate her repentance until the end... They have such a good family.  I love them all so much and I really hope they will just put their trust in the Savior and move forward in faith.  They could be such a strength to the church and the church would be such a strength to their family.

I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior and that He loves us. I know that He sacrificed Himself for us and that we can trust in Him and His promises.  I know that the Atonement is real.  I know that our Father in Heaven has a plan for us and that it is a plan of happiness. 

I love you all and I wish you all the best!

Halong :D

Sister McClellan

Here are some pictures.. of our baptism, the birthday of a little boy (traditional birthday celebration with pancit), our trip to the zoo, district meeting, etc. :D enjoy!

 

 

Week 70

Dear family,

This has been a good week. We've been super busy as always! :D  We have several investigators who are working towards baptism. They have a few things holding them back at the moment, but we're working out those things, and it just feels good to know that so many people have the desire and are gradually making the needed changes in their lives.

I don't really have anything out of the ordinary to talk about today. I'm actually really struggling coming up with something to write at the moment.  I was going to keep track of my spiritual experiences this week, but I forgot.  I guess it's time to repent and try again for next week. And I forgot my journal... which I usually bring with me to recall things that have happened... haha. So.....

Denmark and JR are doing really well. They are two young men, age 14 and 16 and they are both awesome. They are going to all the young men activities and everything and they have a desire to be baptized. They didn't come to church yesterday though and we don't yet know why... so they won't be getting baptized this week, but we love them so much. Every time we come to their house, they are reading their Book of Mormon and are always excited to tell us where they are at now in their reading.  Jr's mom doesn't want him to be baptized yet. I totally understand. We haven't gotten the chance to teach her yet, but when we asked her about his baptism, she just said she doesn't want him to just go through a phase and be baptized and then in a few months decide he wants to join some other religion.  She has seen a change in his behavior though in the last couple months that we've been teaching him.  She likes what she's seen and I think she just wants to see that continue a little bit longer before she gives her consent.  I just hope one of these days we'll also be able to teach her because that would be so much more helpful for him to be able to endure to the end as well.  So we are all praying for all of them... that they actually WILL endure to the end and that his mother will give her consent and that she and their whole family will agree to be taught the lessons and also accept the gospel.  Denmark and JR have both expressed the desire to serve missions as well which I think is so AWESOME!!! :D  I'm excited for them.  They will make such good missionaries and do SO much good.

Brother Reynaldo is struggling a little bit, but is still super solid and is doing his best to overcome his trials and challenges.  He totally has a testimony and we know he can do anything with God's help.  Everyone is just doing so great.  I think the work really is progressing here.  All the baptisms here are really helping out.  It's increasing exponentially it seems.  It is always helpful when we tell an investigator about one of their neighbors or relatives that just got baptized or started coming to church... it really increases their interest and willingness to try it out as well.  And once they come to church and feel the spirit, they progress faster than ever before.  I've never had an investigator come to church and say that they didn't enjoy it.  They all like it.  So, all of you, invite your friends to church! :D  They'll like it!!! :D

So, I think that's all for now. Have a fantabulous week!

Love you!

Sister McClellan