Week 78

Dear Family,

I lied last week when I said I just left my last area for the last time... I was transferred!!!! :D So... on Monday, I had my departure interview. Then Sister Bowen and I ate at Mang Inasal for the last time and then slept in the City Sister's apartment. It was actually a cool experience getting to their apartment. Neither of us really knew how to get there... I had been there a couple times before going on exchanges, but I couldn't really remember. I just remembered the first jeepney to get on. So we decided to go for it... and while we were riding in the jeepney, I started to get a little nervous because I thought maybe we had gone way too far or were supposed to switch jeepneys or something. Right at that moment, we both saw a road that looked familiar. We decided to take a chance and get off. We got off and... the road let right to the apartment! Of all the times in my whole mission when I didn't know what I was doing or where I was going, I've never gotten lost. God is really taking care of His missionaries. We were guided by the spirit. :D

Tuesday morning we went to the Career Workshop thing where we learned about job interviews and resumes and all that fun jazz. After that, we went back to the mission office and after waiting around for an hour or so we had a little devotional in the mission home with the APs and President and Sister Aquino. We all went around and had a little testimony meeting. There were tears and laughs.. it was a very well rounded meeting. :) After that, we all went out to eat at a nice restaurant at SM and then we went to the airport... I said goodbye to Sister Bowen... it was really hard! I know I'm going to see her in like a week, but I know how sad she was that she was about to leave Iloilo! Then the APs drove me to Oton where I spent the next day. I saw Nilo the dog and Mister the cat! And Brother John the French man and Connie his wife who made me mango float! :D

Wednesday, I went on splits with Sister Nonu. She is a new missionary, only been here 7 weeks from Samoa. Her trainer is Sister Winward who went with a member of the ward. It was so fun! I wasn't in my old area at all, but I was still familiar with their area and I still enjoyed it. I still got to see a few people I knew. Wednesday night I did get to go to my old area because Sister Veronica, the member who used to always work with us in Oton had an FHE with all 7 of us missionaries because now there are also two elders in that area. I was so happy to see her again! That night, all the brand new missionaries straight from the MTC came. Two of them slept in Oton Apartment with us along with some of the trainers who traveled from their areas so they could go to their meetings the next day. Thursday morning, I went to transfer meeting. And... I got transferred to Guimaras! Guimaras is a smaller island pretty close to the Panay Island. For several years only Elders have been allowed to go there, but this transfer it was opened again for Sisters. I was put in a threesome of course... because obviously I won't be staying the whole transfer. My new companions are Sister Nelson and Sister Orani. They are awesome and I have had SO much fun with them these last few days. Thursday after crossing the water in a boat, we spent the rest of the day fixing our apartment, waiting for furniture and water and cargo. We have a HUGE house... 7 bedrooms! And once I leave, there will only be the two sisters living there... but it's nice. :) Guimaras is so beautiful! There are so many trees!

  Friday and Saturday we had normal proselyting days, went to a baptism, met many members and the Branch President and Branch Mission Leader. They all seem so amazing! I wish I were staying here! Church yesterday was amazing! I enjoyed it, and all the members were so welcoming and excited to have sisters there again. We all shared our testimonies, of course. (I was so happy that after sacrament meeting a woman came up to me and told me if she had closed her eyes, she wouldn't have known I wasn't Filipino. That made me feel good. I guess I'm getting better at their accent!) The members are all so nice and were sad to find out that I'm not staying long. After church, 4 of the young women wanted to work with us... we would have gone on splits with them, but all of them were under the age of 18 so it wasn't allowed... so all 7 of us went to all our appointments. I was worried it would be a crowd at first, but it went really well. The young women are so good! And they all want to serve missions!

  And then this morning, my last P-Day and last day in the mission... we went to the beach! :D The beach here in Guimaras is gorgeous! My camera just can't capture it! I wish I was a professional photographer like some of my siblings at times like these. :D Later I'm going to eat my last Guimaras mango and start packing. Tonight we have an FHE with some members which should be super fun. And then tomorrow... I'm off. I might go to District Meeting first, but I need to be back to Iloilo pretty early. Tuesday night I'll be flying to Manila all alone... sleep in a hotel all alone... and then leave from Manila Wednesday morning... all alone... But it will be okay. I've had the best mission ever and no regrets. I will forever treasure the amazing experiences that I've had and the people that I have met. I will forever be grateful for the knowledge that I've gained and for my testimony which has been solidified. I am so grateful that I was able to serve God full-time for 18 months. They sure did fly by fast! Where did the time go!? I feel so old! hehe. :D Especially with all the 18 and 19 year olds coming now. Anyways... I'll see you all soon!

Love,
Sister McClellan

Week 77

I just left my last area for the last time... and for the first time... I didn't cry.  I cried when I left Roxas, San Jose, and Oton!  I'm not exactly sure why I didn't this time. Maybe it's because I was only there for 6 weeks, one transfer, and I didn't feel as attached to it as I did to other areas... maybe because it hasn't hit me yet that I'm not going back. It's weird because I know that I have a week to go before I go back to the states... maybe that's another reason why it hasn't hit me yet.  I'm in a weird situation now... I'm actually not sure what I'm going to be doing this last week... President Aquino just told me to bring all my bags to the mission home just like the other 3 missionaries going home tomorrow.  I'm still attending all the departure interviews and orientation things today and tomorrow... and then... I think I'll be working in Oton again because it's the closest Sister's area to the mission home.  I hope that's what I'll do... I'll most likely be in a threesome.  I know there's still a lot of good service I can do in this last week... but it feels a lot different because I won't be in "my" area. The Oton area was split just after I left, so most of my investigators from Oton are now being taught by Elders, including Brother Reynaldo, Sister Remie... all of them.  I just hope and pray that they all come to church next Sunday and I'll get to see them all along with Brothers Romeo, Conrado, Vicinte... and all the other Recent Converts and members that I did get close to there. :D
 

So, my last week in Pavia was really actually wonderful!  We got a whole lot of new investigators through referrals and service.  Something we've gotten quite good at is finding through service which is my favorite way to get new investigators... although then they tend to be more poor, but that's okay. :D  This week it was really rainy and one day we were walking and saw a sikad in front of us stuck in the mud.  He was taking a woman and her baby home.  We caught up and pushed them quite a ways... getting our shoes stuck in the mud and our skirts quite dirty, haha. It was so much fun.  We were able to talk to the sikad driver and the woman and hopefully we'll be able to teach them (or Sister Karaponga with her new companion...) Then later that same day, we saw a man walking with some heavy bags and a box with a small child at his side.  We offerred to help him carry his stuff. He was really shy about it and acted like he didn't want us to... but we kind of just grabbed his stuff, haha.  We didn't give him a choice :)  When we got to his home, he was so grateful and let us wash our feet and then invited us inside and met his wife and we shared with them.  They said we were welcome any time.  I love people so much.
 

Church yesterday was good... Sister Bowen and I both were asked to share our testimonies in sacrament meeting.  Several less actives came to church.  And our investigator, Sister Iryn also came to church with her 3 children who enjoyed primary :)  I'm so glad I got to see them at church before leaving. They've been wanting to come for several weeks now and just never were able to :(  They want to be baptized, including her husband. I really love that family.  I'll miss them a lot.

We actually did feel the earthquake on Tuesday from Cebu. Sister Karaponga and I were walking to district meeting... we were walking really fast because we were late... :)  I saw above the trees that the electric wires and poles were moving a ton... my initial thought was that there were some men working on them.  I saw some people across the street kind of cowering and motioning for us to get to the side of the road.  Then we saw a big group of missionaries ahead... they were still waiting for the key to the gate to the church.  They yelled for us to stop.  We stopped walking and then I really felt it.  I got kinda dizzy and was like rocking back and forth... so cool! :D  But of course, we were all okay... I feel sad for all the people who died in Cebu though.  And there was a little damage to the temple as well... :(
 

Well, I'll most likely email one last time before going home. So, in the meantime everyone take care and don't miss me too much ;D  I love you all!!!!

 

Love, Sister McClellan

 

Week 76

Funny story. One day, Sister Karaponga and I were going home riding on the back of a motorbike, behind the driver on a tricycle.  As we were riding, Sis. Karaponga turns to me and says very calmly... "Sister, my skirt is caught in the wheel... should I tell the driver?" haha, she's so funny! I said..."uhhh... yeah! like now!" For the next 30 seconds or so, she's trying to explain to the driver what happened and ask him to stop, but he doesn't get it.  Finally I say "diri lang!" which basically means "just here" or "this is where we get off" He stops and her skirt is really stuck in there!  She was lucky it didn't get ripped off her! haha.  They end up pushing the tricycle backwards with her walking beside, until they could finally rip it out.. .so funny!  Her dress was ruined though :(  And another day... we were walking home in the dark, and I stepped in a hole of mud.  Gross!! We used this as an opportunity to talk to someone and ask for some water to clean off my foot and shoe. Missionary work is so fun!

 

Wednesday I went on exchanges with Sister Bowen.  It was super cool to be her companion again! We haven't had an experience like that since the MTC so it was really cool.  We've both definitely changed a lot in the last year and a half.  We've both for sure improved in the language and in teaching. :D

Then, on Thursday, we did a CSP (service project) for a less-active family.  We pulled some weeds and cut some plants that they sell at the market (I forget what it's called...).  It was fun talking with them - they're like my second family here in this area.  The BEST part though, was that I got to ride their carabou! I don't know if that's how it's spelled. They don't have this animal in the states. I have pictures on my camera... I guess you'll see it in a couple weeks, hehe.

Our investigator Iryn, is doing so well. She told us the other day that from the day that we met her husband and were welcomed in their home, they have been receiving so many blessings. She's been recognizing all the tender mercies and has connected it as having started the very day we met her husband.  So cool!  I love them a lot... we're going to have FHE with them tonight which should be loads of fun! :D

We have another investigator who is super rich... I thought he was about to drop us, but we did our very best to follow the spirit. It was the most unique lesson I've ever had. I only spoke to him in English and for the first time, he really listened to what I was saying instead of interrupting. Also, we decided to just answer his questions instead of giving the lesson we had planned. "Teaching People, not Lessons" made all the difference. I really felt the spirit in that lesson and expect him to start progressing soon. He seems much more interested now in what we're sharing and even thanked us for the new insights he gained.  It's funny how sometimes I feel like I keep learning the same lessons over and over again... hopefully, I won't need to learn that one again.

Time goes so fast, no? how many more letters like this will I be writing? 2? wow, what a concept. :D

BYE!!!!

Sister McClellan

Week 75

Dear Family,

 

I don't have much time to write this email. These last couple weeks have been very busy. I had to get fingerprinted this morning... even though I did just last month... and it took a really long time with all the other missionaries as well.  With our area so far away, we don't even have time to go home before our family home evenings... we just leave all our groceries and everything at the other sister's apartment here in Jaro and then take it home at night.  It's been crazy living here in Pavia.  But I love it. :D  It's so much fun and Sister Karaponga is so funny.  I love being her companion. :D

It was also a very VERY challenging week. I've experienced more rejection than I think I have in most of my mission put together... in just the last few days... haha.  I'm surprised though at how... desensitized.. I am.  Of course, it still hurts... but not as much as it used to.  It just gives us more drive to find others who are more prepared to accept the gospel.  It's been good because we've been able to keep a good attitude through it all.  We are still really enjoying the work.  We've switched our focus this last week... from finding new investigators, to contacting and teaching all the less actives in our area. That has been very difficult! haha. Finding them is challenging! They don't have addresses! haha. And then many of them have changed religions and don't want to listen to us... but we just smile and do our best and we've been able to teach many of them. :D  I expect them ALL to come back to church. :D  We will not give up on them because we need them!!! and they need the church! They need the gospel! :D  But... we would appreciate your prayers. :D

I love you all!!! I hope each of you have a fabulous week!

Sister McClellan

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

Week 69

yay, we had another baptism! Brother Vicinte was finally baptized and he was more than ready and excited.  It was so great when he shared his testimony and almost started crying.  And the best part... Brother Romeo, our other recent convert was the one to baptize him.  It was a great opportunity for brother Romeo to exercise his Priesthood and serve God and his friend.  It was a super happy day. :D  And I'm excited to see both of them continue to progress in the gospel and have them accept and magnify important callings in the church :)

After that we had a Branch Family Home Evening.  We actually had several investigators attend which was awesome! Denmark, Jr, Ofelia, Sister Delacruz, Katkat, and also many members and recent converts as well.  It was so much fun! We gave the lesson and the games for everyone and the relief society provided some good food for everyone. I'm so proud of this branch. :D  

So.... I have some sad news (for me) but it's okay, really!  I believe it's meant to be, haha. There was a mistake in my request to extend and so I will for sure be going home in October. That's just way too soon!!! President Aquino told me after Zone Conference on Wednesday that he did everything he could and the final answer was no. :(  So... yeah! I'm just praying now that I don't get transferred because that will be my very last transfer and I really would love to stay in this area and help all my progressing investigators with baptismal dates! I want to stay and see them all be baptized! Transfers are just 2 weeks away! :(

The mission is seriously the best thing ever. I'm pretty sure that I say that every week, but I'm not kidding. I don't want any of you to think I'm just writing the good stuff and keeping the other stuff quiet... because I really am enjoying every minute of my mission. I heard someone say once that if someone says that their mission was really the best two years, they are lying... but I don't believe that's true.  So far... this has been the best 16 months of my life. :D I'm sure there will be other times in my life when it gets better... :D but so far.... oh man.  It's all good!!! :D I have nothing bad to say about it right now! haha.  And it's not just because we had a baptism... even when no one's accepting the message, it's great... as long as we're doing our best. :D

Oh, this morning our district went to the zoo!  It was pretty cool! It didn't have any big mammals or anything... mostly just birds and fish and cats and dogs... which was actually kind of sad... but there were some ostriches and some spotted deer creatures... and some dead snakes... and some live ones... it was great! hehehe. :D

ummmmmmm..... I really want to be writing more of my spiritual experiences... so this week I'm making it a goal to keep track of all of them so I have a more spiritually uplifting email to send next week, haha.  Because they are happening all the time... I just have a hard time recalling them...

oh, and I have lots of pictures to send, but earlier when I started this email, there was a brown out, so we only have a little time now before our FHE tonight... so you'll have to wait until next week. :D Sorry!!!

so anyways, love you all and I look forward to seeing you all again... don't worry, I'm not getting trunky yet... just excited, haha.  :D

halong!

Sister McClellan

Week 68

We had a wonderful week this week!  Our Zone Training Meeting went well and we were able to think of some fun activities to do with all the missionaries. Wednesday we went on exchanges for training purposes and I went to City and stayed with a sister there, Sister Ili, who is Samoan.  She is awesome and it's cool because she almost looks Filipina.  Some people are surprised when she starts talking because she has a unique accent.  It's nice in City... but I'm sure glad that my area is Oton, haha.  City is sooooo different!  The people are super nice and everything, but I like all the fresh air and fields and ocean that I've been lucky to have in all my other areas. :D

So, we're super excited about the next few weeks.  We have baptisms scheduled for every week!  This Saturday is finally brother Vicinte who is super prepared and excited.  Then next Friday will be brother Reynaldo! yay!!! and then the next week, two young men, Denmark and JR, who are both awesome and I'm sure they will both become wonderful missionaries some day.  We have several others scheduled for the month of September as well.  This work is super exciting!!!  

I don't know if I mentioned this already, but if you remember, in Antique I had an investigator, brother Freddie who is deaf and didn't know how to sign or read, but was coming to church every sunday.  Sister Aurelio and I had some fun trying to teach him the lessons. Well, I was recently informed that he was baptized!!  that's so exciting!  I don't know if he learned to sign or read, but I'm glad he was finally able to be baptized because I know he's been wanting to for a long time.

I can't express how much I love this gospel.  I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the only true and living church on the face of the earth and I know that this is true because I have received a witness from the holy ghost on many occasions. I can't deny what I have felt and know.  I know that God lives and loves each and every one of us and He is closer than we sometimes think.  He is watching over us and I know that if we continue doing the things that we know we should, we will be able to live with Him and our families again someday.  If we don't... we won't.  It's so simple.  And I know it's true.  I know Jesus Christ is my Savior.  My knowledge of His Atonement for me is what drives me to work my hardest every day here in the mission field and what encourages me to continue to strive to become like Him.  I love Him.  And I know He loves me.  And... that makes me happy! :D I don't think I've ever felt such joy before for such a long period of time... I would feel joy like this after a day in the temple or after a great personal study or devotional or something, but this joy has been with me for the last 16 months and it keeps growing brighter and brighter :D.  It's an indescribable feeling! :D  service is a key to happiness, I totally recommend it to anyone who ever feels anything other than joy :D

Love you all!

SIster McClellan

Week 67

Why is it that I'm always like giddy happy whenever I'm writing these emails? Anyways... I'm just SOOOOOOOOOOOOO happy right now! Life just couldn't get any better right now!  I've never had so many investigators come to church. We had 10 investigators plus several children and others who aren't yet investigators.  Our sunday school class was overflowing and I was fighting back tears of joy, haha. (I'm still fighting back tears of joy just thinking about it, haha) Our recent convert, brother Romeo passed the sacrament yesterday which was so wonderful to see.  And brother Reynaldo is completely over his Word of Wisdom problem and for the first time, his wife accompanied him at church. He's been praying (and maybe fasting) so hard for that.  Hopefully the two of them will be able to be baptized together on September 7th. I am so happy and so excited for them.  Goodness, this mission just keeps getting better and better!  We also have found several new investigators who have cars and are excited about us coming back and sharing more.

I also had an epic spider-killing experience.  I've seen 3 or four giant spiders in the last few days... one of them was in our house... and it was huge and was carrying a huge egg thing filled with babies.  I tried to kill it with permetherin, but it escaped and I ended up just hitting it with the empty bottle and the egg exploded and baby spiders went everywhere... they all died in the spilled permetherin.  It was pretty gross and I couldn't get the image out of my mind for hours... at least I got the whole thing on video... :)  You'll see it when I come home, haha.  

Let's see... what else happened... tomorrow, Sister Peralta and I will be giving a training in Zone Meeting again... so please pray for us, because we aren't quite prepared yet, haha.  We've been having a few sleepless nights trying to come up with good ideas.  It will all work out, but prayers would definitely be helpful.

Today I was talking to our Mission President, President Aquino and he asked when I was going home.  I said December, and he looked confused... he said he thought he had seen me on the October list... I explained what had happened and he was like... well would you like to extend? I said yes please! And he said he'd work it all out, so I'm super excited... I almost lost my chance to stay! And I didn't even know I was still on the October list.  So... yay!!! I get to stay to see all the changes that will be happening in November! 

The mission is. the. best. No regrets. It's full of excitement and joy and love.  I think that's one thing I've learned the most about here on the mission. About love. How to love and how to show love for others and for God.  I've even gained love for myself :D  how to accept love from others... it's become easy to love.  Even when others are doing palakpat things or when they are so different... it's easy to love them.  I've learned more about God's love and every day I learn more.  Love is so important and it's awesome!. :D  I love you all!!!! 

Sister McClellan 

Week 66

something's wrong with the keyboard. i don't know how to fix it, haha. anyways...

this week was really crazy! i was really sad to see sister butler leave but i know she was excited and ready to go home, so of course i'm happy for her.  but because she left me on tuesday morning, and transfer meeting wasn't until friday, i didn't have a companion for three whole days.  i was very lucky to have a member work with me so i didn't have to be in a threesome with the other sisters. it would have been fun but i wouldn't have been able to help the investigators in my area!  so this member, sister ilona, is waiting for her mission call and we got it worked out where she could even do studies with me and plan with me and sleep at our house... so she really got to see what missionary life is like. i'm excited for her!  so friday was transfers and i was asked to do a musical number... i did something that i've always wanted to do... haha.  i'm not sure if it was really allowed in a meeting like that, but no one said anything... i got the other sisters in my zone to sing with me and we sang come thou fount... and during part of it i did a little beat boxing... just a nice soft beat, nothing weird... i thought it sounded nice... it got a lot of smiles from the elders :)  hehe.  so my new companion is sister peralta.  she is from manila and is turning 28 this month.  but she looks younger than me, haha.  she is a very skilled missionary and i'm excited to work with her.  she's very sweet and i've enjoyed these last few days with her!

so brother reynaldo... goodness i love him so much. so, shortly after he got a priesthood blessing from our branch president a few weeks ago, he started improving dramatically in his word of wisdom.  every day he was going down... from 10 cigarettes a day to 8 to 6 to 4 and then he got seriously sick. after he got a blessing last week for his sickness, he went to the hospital the next day.  he stayed there for a couple days. when he came home, he was feeling much, much better and he said he's pretty sure he's completely overcome his word of wisdom and it won't be coming back.  it was really hard on his body stopping his addiction all of a sudden, but through the help of priesthood blessings, he was able to do it quickly. once he got sick, he never had another cigarette.  his sickness was actually a blessing! i really admire his faith and his determination to stop, despite how hard it was.  i've had many investigators who have expressed the desire to stop their addiction, but i've never met someone who tried so hard so quickly to stop.  usually the response is amat-amat lang. or it will take some time... and yeah, they really want to stop, but he really put forth action and exercised his faith and we were able to see a miracle.  in just a few weeks, he has completely overcome his addiction. and his sickness is gone. he came to church yesterday with a smile on his face.  i think he'll be ready for baptism on his scheduled date, sept 7. :D  now he and we are all praying that his wife will soften her heart and accept the gospel as well.  she keeps saying that she will someday, but something is holding her back... she's procrastinating... so we would appreciate your prayers as well :D

congratulations mom and dad that you were chosen to extend your mission! that's awesome! i was hoping i would have the opportunity to see you guys as missionaries there in nauvoo. i also will be extending. so i will be coming home in the very beginning of december, i'm not sure the exact date yet. wow how time flies! part of me wishes i could stay here forever... and part of me is starting to feel ready to go home, haha.  i have a feeling that when the time comes, it will feel like the perfect time. :D

i love you all soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much and i pray for you all every day! and i am soooooooooooooooooooooooooooo excited to spend the rest of my life and all eternity with you so make sure you all stay worthy! okay? we are coming into some crazy times with lots and lots of temptations... it's going to become harder and harder to be a member of this church... the work is hastening... on both sides... satan does not want the work to progress... of course we know the work will progress whether he likes it or not, but we can't let him get to us.  we have to stand strong... 'be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in good works.' that means ALWAYS!  so get up and get to work!!! today! :D love you all!

sister mcclellan

Week 65

Hey Everyone!

This week was amazing! Probably the best yet of my whole entire mission! :D  Our investigator, Brother Romeo... has been listening to the discussions for a couple of months now and hadn't been able to make a decision or recognize an answer.  The week before his scheduled baptism came and he had to finally decide whether or not he wanted to be baptized.  Even though he still wasn't sure if it was true, he decided he liked what he was hearing and was willing to make those covenants with God and endure to the end... so he qualified for baptism.  When our district leader interviewed him, he could tell that Brother Romeo is still a little confused about some of the doctrines, but he said "well... the spirit says he can be baptized."  That made me feel a whole lot better.  If the spirit says he can be baptized, I don't need to worry about it.  The last lesson we taught before his interview was about revelation and the scriptures and we explained to him that there are errors in the bible and showed him some Joseph Smith Translations... I felt like I just told a little kid that there was no Santa.  But he took it well... and he believes that everything we are sharing is true.  The day of his baptism, he was super nervous... he was also super excited and was not turning back.  He was baptized by President Aquino... his special request... which is very rare... but an awesome opportunity.  When he came out of the water he had a great big smile on his face and afterwards he had the opportunity to share his testimony.  When he stood to share his testimony, he just looked like he was glowing.  He was SO happy!  He didn't share that he knows the church is true or that Joseph Smith is a true prophet, but he shared his experience about having to make a decision and about just wanted to find the truth and find happiness.  And I think he has definitely found the happiness he has been searching for.  Yesterday, he received the gift of the holy ghost and was interviewed to receive the aaronic priesthood.  We are very excited for him and admire his faith.  I have no doubt he felt the spirit a lot these last few days and we just need to continue to help him recognize that those feelings and that happiness he feels if from the Holy Ghost that is witnessing to him that this really is the way to salvation. :D  I have no doubt he will gain a true testimony over time and that he will become a great strength to the church.

 

Our other investigator brother Conrado, was also baptized Saturday.  He is amazing as well and although medyo old, he will also be a great strength to the branch.  He is very poor, so we're just trying to do our best to make sure he has a way to come to church every Sunday.  He's wonderful and funny.  He was a little confused when asked to share his testimony... he stood up, folded his arms, and began to pray... oops, haha.  The Branch MIssion Leader helped him out. :D  We love him. And I am just so happy!  

In Sunday School, the man who started the debate last week was there again... and he was at it again.  We watched the Restoration DVD and I'm sure that everyone, including him, felt the spirit.  Afterwards, this brother started saying how it was a work of man and that the catholic church is God's church, but he says he believes that this church is also true... he kept contradicting himself and just wouldn't listen.  Luckily, we had a member from the stake come and got him to be quiet for a few minutes and allowed several others to share their testimonies and what they felt during the video.  I was very proud of all the other members and investigators in that class who shared.  Everything they said was out of love for this man and for God and everyone shook his hand after class.  Of course I want this man to continue to come to church, but part of me is a little worried about what other things he might say that could confuse our other investigators.  It just made me happy to hear all the others defending the church and I know their testimonies were also strengthened through this experience.

Our investigator, Brother Reynaldo, who is more than amazing, was not able to come to church.  We had heard the other day from his wife that he was sick so after church we decided to stop by and see how he was doing.  He really did not look good at all! Apparently the had gone to the hospital earlier that day.  We started to explain about priesthood blessing to his wife because she wasn't there when he received one to help with his Word of Wisdom, and just as we began to explain to her, Brother Reynaldo who was lying on the couch with his eyes closed began nodding and said he would like one.  Ah, his faith is so strong!!! :D  We called our branch president who said to call another brother who lives close by.  We walked to his house and he was so willing to come with us even though he wasn't sure how and I think it was one of the very first times to give a blessing of healing.  He was nervous, but it was a beautiful blessing and afterwards, Brother Reynaldo immediately looked a whole lot better and started chatting with this member and smiling.  It was amazing! I love the Priesthood. :D  That member ended up working with us the whole rest of the night and he was amazing and I could see that the experience really strengthened his testimony as well.

I am so grateful for the gospel in my life.  I know that it is true.  I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the only true and living church on the face of the whole earth and that if we live by its teachings until the end of our lives, we will fulfill our purpose here on earth and return to live with God again and receive a fullness of joy in his presence.  I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God.  I know that Joseph Smith is a true prophet of God and that through him, the Church that Jesus Christ himself established, was restored to the earth.  I know that if we don't endure to the end... and if we don't keep the commandments... we will not reach our full potential and will be miserable.  We taught a less active man the other day and really just explained it to him very simply.  Sister Butler and I called that lesson "Operation POS Smackdown."

We shared Mosiah 2:36-41 and I think he understood.  He came to church for the first time since I've been in this area and I think he intends to stay and finally fulfill his calling... we've been struggling without him for a while.  His calling is kinda important... :D  The work is hastening... we can't afford to waste time or go astray.  We need to continue to hold fast to the iron rod and press forward.  If we don't, we'll fall and it will be too late to come back.  Anyways... I love you all so much!  And you are all amazing!  And... I am so lucky to have such a great family.  I can't express how much I love you all.  And I can't express how much I want to live with you all again for eternity. hehe. :D

BYE!!!!

Sister McClellan

 

 

PS HI! This is Sister Butler. I'm Sister McClellan's awesome companion. I'm just adding a bit on here...because I want to. So I have a request for all of you. I know that you LOVE Sister McClellan SSSSOOOO much...and I know that it would be just awesome if you would SHOW her your love by sending her a HAND WRITTEN letter by the end of August.  None of you are exempted. Each of you (little children included) should send her a letter. It would mean the world to her and it would make her very happy. Please do it. :) Thanks! you're all awesome! I love you...even though I don't know you. :) Have a great day!
 



At the baptism

 

 

My district
 

Week 64

Good Afternoon! (Is this a normal greeting? I can't remember...)

This week was great! Tuesday we had the BEST Zone Meeting I can ever remember... probably because Sister Butler and I were the ones teaching... we were definitely inspired. We had been trying to think of ideas for a week beforehand but ideas weren't really coming until the day before.  We fasted and prayed and the revelation started to come.  We decided to teach about faith to move members in seeking the upper class.  We created an awesome analogy about an airplane emergency and had all the missionaries act it out... we prepared a long room, with chairs aligned and numbered like in a real airplane and taped face masks to the bottom of every chair.  It was an awesome analogy... if I do say so myself.  We had emergency exit personnel who had additional assignments taped to the bottom of their chair. President and Sister Auino were the pilot and co-pilot.  We gave them instructions and passed out peanuts and began out flight.  A few seconds into the flight there was an emergency... the airplane started to lose pressure and all the passengers needed to put on their oxygen masks and they only had 30 seconds to do so. Each missionary however had a color on their chair that determined whether they were an adult or child.  The children could not put on their own masks... and the adults had to first put on their own before they could help anyone else.  The trick was... that some of the masks were either missing or broken... it was up to the emergency exit personnel to follow their instructions in helping their fellow passengers to either retrieve new masks from us, the flight attendants, or to help them fix their masks.  It was awesome.  3 people died in that emergency... which was perfect.  No matter what the conclusion was, it would have made for a great discussion.

So, I guess I'll explain what each thing means... The flight attendants (me and sister butler) were representing all the missionaries.  We are trained and know what everyone needs in order to be saved... and are equipped with the tools in order to do so.  The Emergency Exit Personnel represent the members... they know the people around them and what they need and are able to help them get what they need.  They were given special instructions in which they could work through us to help the others.  And they are SO important!  The adults represent the upper class... who have the ability to help others once they have been saved themselves... and the children represent the lower class... who are just as important as everyone else and also need to be saved... but can't really do as much in building the kingdom of God.  In our analogy... there were a whole lot more children than adults, which is accurate for here in our areas.  We have been encouraged by our amazing leaders in the church to seek the middle and upper class, people who can really help build the kingdom of God... and once the church is strong... everyone else will much easier be able to live the gospel.  As it is... when all the members don't have enough money to get to church, they can't really hold a calling, and the church doesn't get any stronger.  (D&C 58:9-11)

Anyways, it was an awesome training and we had an amazing discussion afterwards where the missionaries came up with even more amazing insights about things that happened in the activity and about things that they have been seeing and experiences they have been having in their individual areas.  Participation in meetings is amazing and really brings the spirit.  I am so grateful for God's help in this and in our work every day.  I really had a good time!  

I had a really cool experience yesterday at church.  We miraculously had 7 investigators at church!  We were hoping for about 15.... but it's okay... 5 of those were potential priesthood holders and they doubled the elders quorum class, haha.  Anyways, in our gospel essentials class, the topic came up about whether God has a body of flesh and bone or if he is just a spirit.  It became quite the debate and the branch president got involved and then President Aquino even came in and shared.  Our investigator Romeo, who will be getting baptized this Saturday was still confused about this issue and he wasn't sure what to believe... he was sharing all these scriptures from the bible that proves God is just a spirit... he doesn't know yet about JS Translations, haha.  I know though, that you can't prove anything with the bible... there are errors in the bible! You need an additional witness. The situation was starting to get kind of intense, and I could just feel something welling up inside me... I knew I needed to say something.  I raised my hand and waited to be called on... I don't know why, but my heart was pounding so hard and I felt really hot and shaky... when I was finally called on, I just shared my simple testimony of the restoration of the gospel and the church and about prayer in order to know the truth for yourself.  I never felt the spirit so strongly.  The classroom got quiet again after that and soon ended. I will never forget that experience... My testimony of the restoration of the gospel increased a ton with that experience.  Even though I've been testifying and teaching about it for months, this time it was just a little different.  It felt good. :D

There are a lot more things that happened this week... we went on exchanges which was super fun, lots of great new investigators, getting soaked again from rain... opportunities to serve and more.  I love missionary work SO much!  I will never ever ever regret this chance that I had to come here to the Philippines and serve these people and God for 18 months.  It is the best thing ever and I am learning SO much!  I will never be the same again.

I love you all.  Take care always.  Choose the Right.

Love,

Sister McClellan 

 

 

Week 63

This week I learned about the power of reading the Book of Mormon.
We have an investigator, Brother Conrado... he is 70+ years old and should be getting baptized on July 27. He is really poor and sometimes has a hard time coming to church because he doesn't have any money to pay for transportation. He is a fisherman and sometimes he doesn't get any fish... so it's a hard life for him... but we recently saw a change in him. He came to church 3 times in a row. We always follow up on his reading when we visit him and he's been reading the Book of Mormon every day... sometimes for hours on end. After he's been reading the Book of Mormon, his faith is so strong and he's sure he wants to be baptized and that everything will work out. Last week he didn't come to church because he didn't have any money and when we asked him how his reading was, he said he hadn't read since the last time we had visited him which was several days before. He also said he wasn't sure about his baptism because of course he wants to be able to keep his covenants by coming to church every Sunday and he just wasn't sure he could. We taught him a lesson about faith that day and encouraged him to continue reading the Book of Mormon. When we went back to him later that week, he had read 30+ pages!!! and he was like... I'll find a way to come to church because God will provide a way. He went to go fishing Saturday night... his last chance to make some money. We were praying for fish!!! When we got to church yesterday and saw him sitting there, we were overjoyed!!! We asked him if he got some fish and he said none. We haven't followed up to see exactly how he made it to church, but I definitely know that God provided a way because of his faith and he
did everything he could to be there. And reading the Book of Mormon really increased his faith.

Our other investigator, Brother Reynaldo... is amazing. We are so excited for him. He just has a word of wisdom problem. He recently got a priesthood blessing to help and he said it's helped. He's been coming to church as well and is really doing well. When we asked him about his reading, he said that when he's reading the Book of Mormon, he has absolutely no desire to smoke. He forgets that he has that problem and says he just feels peaceful and happy. When he's tempted, he remembers to go and read the Book of Mormon and it's been really helping him a lot. There's power in reading the Book of Mormon. I know that is true. We had the opportunity of teaching an active family recently about missionary work and showed them how to give a Book of Mormon away. We had them practice on each other. We gave each of them a Book of Mormon and had each of them commit to give them away to a friend. I'm excited to see what happens. :D Even the little girl who's like 7 years old committed to give it to her best friend at school. It was so cute and when she practiced on me, she even shared the cutest little testimony about how the Book of Mormon helps her in her life and said that it would also help her! It was adorable! Sister Butler and I decided we would also do the same thing. Neither she or I have ever just given away a Book of Mormon before... I did once in high school I think... and here, usually it's part of a lesson when we introduce the book, so this was new to both of us. We wrote our testimonies inside and  marked some of our favorite verses and wrapped it and just gave it as a gift to a couple who works at the fruit stand by our house who we've offered to visit before but they don't have time... so hopefully they'll at least have time to read!

I love the Book Of Mormon! It's really my favorite book ever! And the more I read it, the more I LOVE it! How blessed we are that we have it. I hope I never take it for granted ever again. I wish I had more time to read it! I only have 1 hour a day for personal study and I spend most of that time preparing for the lessons that day and only have a short time to actually get some good Book of Mormon reading in. Of course I'm super grateful for this hour that I have... but I would sure love a little bit more time!!! :D And more time outside proselyting as well. We have a very good problem! We have so many investigators with baptismal dates! ha ha. We've stopped extending dates recently because we are encouraged to visit investigators with baptismal dates three times a week, and we just don't have enough time! We aren't trying to find new investigators at the moment... but somehow they keep coming! It's great! We got 11 new investigators this last week without even really trying! It's been crazy, ha ha. We've been focusing on getting our lessons shorter, but still effective and spirit-filled in order to have more lessons in a day... but in our area, there's a lot of walking no matter what, so we still can't have as many lessons in a day as we would like to have. It's a challenge... but a good challenge. :D

Anyways... that's about all that's going on with me right now! Thanks everyone for your love and support and prayers. I'm discovering more and more the power of prayer. Please include also my investigators and branch in your prayers... oh and also our zone meeting this coming Tuesday because Sister Butler and I will be doing an EPIC training for all the missionaries. Thanks! :D Love you all!

Sister McClellan

Week 62

Hello Family!

 

So... the events of this week... this has been an amazing week!  There have been a lot of little miracles and tender mercies and we are very excited about the work.  

 

Sister Butler and I go jogging almost every morning.  It feels so great to really be exercising.  I always exercise, but rarely to the point where I sweat... :D  I'm so grateful to have a companion who enjoys that kind of thing.  She's the first one who really enjoys any kind of physical activity. :D

Our investigator, Brother Reynaldo, who is really progressing a lot, shared a cool experience with us the other day.  We followed up with him about his church experience and he said that before sacrament meeting, his 8 year old granddaughter was complaining about being hungry... but after she took of the sacrament, she said she felt full.  He compared it to when Jesus fed all those people with the bread and fish.  It was definitely a testimony builder for him. :D We are so excited for this guy.  His whole countenance has changed since we started teaching him. He loves, loves, loves the book of mormon and we frequently find him reading it when we come to visit him.  It's so great!

It's been raining a TON lately! and hard!  The other day, it was raining really hard and even with our umbrellas, we were getting wet.  While walking to an appointment, I saw a woman quite a ways ahead of us, walking without a payong, soaking wet!  I felt impressed to go run and catch up with her and give her mine!  I brushed the thought off - she was really far away!!! We were walking faster than her though and kept getting closer.  I kept feeling that same impression... finally, we were almost caught up with her and I decided to talk to her. I said "basa ikaw!!!" or in other words... "you're wet!" haha. She was super friendly, actually accepted my umbrella, and she said we could teach her ANY time!  We set up an appointment for the next day which went well and I got my payong back.  And... she and her daughter both came to church yesterday... :D  We should follow the promptings we receive... immediately... :D

That rainy day just kept getting better.  We were soaked completely... and got even more wet as we shared one payong.  Because we were so wet and couldn't go home until the evening, ALL our investigators that we visited prayed for us that we wouldn't get sick.  One of our investigators, Sister Nelia, prayed that we wouldn't get any more wet than we already were... and it didn't rain on us any more after that... only during lessons and after we got home.  We went home that night and boiled some water and I took my first hot shower in the Philippines (why didn't I think of that before???)... and neither of us got sick!!! :D Prayer works.

We also used the opportunity of being wet to tract at a rich home. (how could they turn away two freezing cold, soaked, little American girls in need of a bathroom?? ;D)  It totally worked!!! We got in their house!!!  Unfortunately, we couldn't get a return appointment because apparently they are always busy!! but at least we got past the front gate... which is progress! :D  It's very hard to OYM at rich houses.  But we're not letting that stop us from trying! :D

 

Yesterday was amazing!  We were a little disappointed because we were expecting about 10-15 investigators to come to church... as in we were confident and excited for ALL of them.  Only those 2 new investigators came... which was COOL!  but ALL the others did not come. :'(  We don't know why yet... but the amazing part was that Sister Butler and I did a 2 hour training for the ward council members and it was amazing.  I am excited to see this branch really progress. We've been using our companionship studies the last couple days to prepare and really were able to receive inspiration and the training was way smooth!  Sister Butler and I were perfectly unified and the council members actively participated.  The practice went well, and I think they are feeling motivated!  We taught about establishing the church through retention, reactivation, and conversion.  What I loved most was how relaxed and confident I felt.  I wasn't nervous and I never had to wonder or worry about what I was going to say. God really helped us and the spirit was the teacher.  We did our best to prepare and God took care of the rest.  Now we just need to continue to follow up with them and see that they are applying these things.  We had a ward council meeting afterwards which was one of the best I've ever been to.  We have so many plans... like a branch family home evening.. branch fast for specific people... and many other things... It's going to be great!

The ATTACK of the CENTIPEDES!

I think it's centipede season here or something.. there have been centipedes all over our house!  It's really gross... usually it's lizards, cockroaches, an occasional giant spider... sometimes a mouse or rat... but this is the first time we've gotten centipedes... they're EVERYWHERE!!! And they're especially gross when we squish them :D  Did I ever mention, we also have a dog and a kitten??? they're not ours... not allowed unfortunately... but they belong to the owners of the house or something and they are stinkin' cute and love me to death... sometimes the dog runs up to me when I come home at night and jumps up on me and gets mud all over my shirt... :\  and sometimes the cat gets stuck in the tree or on the roof and cries until we can save her... I love animals :D

Yep... that's my life right now!  Our new mission President is awesome.  We had a fireside with him the other day and we already love him.  He's also mentioned some changes that will be happening in the near future... including us using facebook.?.?.  we'll see what happens there.  Anyways.. I think that's it for now.  It's great being a missionary and great being a leader as well.  I'm lovin' it!

Love you all,

Sister McClellan



Our district activity at the beach last week where we played ULTIMATE! :D

 

Walking across a bridge the day it rained... it was flooded BIG time!  The bridge is about 7 feet high maybe?? the water is usually very, very low... like 1-2 feet high... this was fast flowing water! crazy! At first we weren't sure if it was safe to cross... but the guys there assured us it was okay... and we were already soaked from the rain... so...

Oh yeah... and cultural note... people here do not like to get their heads wet.  It's common to see someone walking around with their hand on their head if it's starting to sprinkle... or book or towel or anything they have.  Even if they are already soaked... you'll see them bring their hand up to their head occasionally.  It's kind of funny. :D  Of course it's because they don't want to get sick.  I guess I just never had to worry about it before in America because it wasn't as humid? Also, it's very common to see people with towels inside their shirts, to keep their backs dry... or paper... or pieces of cardboard... especially parents do this for their kids... so they don't get sick. It's very smart... just took me by surprise the first few times I saw it.  It doesn't look very comfortable... :D

 

 

 

Week 61

Oh my goodness.... last night I was able to watch the Worldwide Leadership Training Broadcast thing... and it was AMAZING!!!!! I've never felt so good! It was also exciting to see just how many sister missionaries there actually are in the MTC right now!!! crazy! When I was there, we were definitely a minority!  Now... not at all! After that was over, Sister Butler and I went home and got straight to planning a training we want to do with the leaders of our branch.  We plan on meeting with them and discussing some of the things that we learned as well as teaching them and practicing with them how to invite others to come to church and/or meet with the missionaries.  We are super excited about this training and are praying and fasting that it will be a huge success for our branch.  In the past few weeks I've already seen a huge change in our branch. The attitudes of the members seem to have been changing... we're not sure what caused it, but they are getting more and more excited about doing missionary work and more desirous to help us.  We've had a couple of the most productive branch counsel meetings and correlation meetings I think I've ever had.  So, they have the desire and we're hoping this training will help them to learn how to act and build on those desires that they have.

This week has been one of the best yet.  We were a little disappointed because Brother Vicinte... our sure candidate for baptism... didn't come to church!!! we don't know why... but... he won't be getting baptized this week... but he's solid... We have really been focusing on fathers lately.. I was so excited that so many potential priesthood holders came to church this last sunday... and the topic in Sunday School was about the Priesthood! :D  It was perfect!  I am so excited to see them ALL be baptized and receive the Priesthood, and in a year or so... there will be enough Melchizedek Priesthood holders to make a ward.  The work is hastening and it's wonderful.  I love that I'm here during all this excitement!  Things are changing here.  More and more missionaries are coming, standards are changing regarding how technology can be used and things are becoming more strict as well.  Today is our first day with a new mission president.  We had the opportunity to meet him last night and he seems awesome!  I am going to miss President and Sister Pagaduan, but President and SIster Aquino are really wonderful and I am excited to be working with them.

We've really been seeing the Lord's hand in the work and in our lives... every day.  There are little things we've been noticing, just the way things have been happening.  I really know that he is very much involved in this work... and this work is very, very important.  I hope that each and every one of you are also involved in this work... there is nothing more important that the salvation of souls! :D School, work, play... nothing is more important.  Family is super, super important... but what's a family if they can't be together forever?  We have so many investigators who say they can't come to church because they have to work... to support their family... and yes, that is very important... but... I know God blesses us as we keep his commandments and that the salvation of souls is really the most important thing... so that we can live as families forever.  We each have the responsibility to help our brothers and sisters as well come to the knowledge of the gospel.  The work is hastening and we need to get EVERYONE involved.  This isn't just a full-time missionary effort.  We need your help! :D  Each and every one of you should think of someone this week who you could invite to church or meet with the missionaries, or maybe someone who hasn't been coming to church who should be and then do something about it!  This last month we almost lost a very important member of our branch. We don't have a lot of active priesthood holders and one of them stopped coming for a few weeks.. he was having family problems and started getting addicted to computer games.  Sister Butler and I got the branch president and his wife and a friend of his and we all basically bombarded his home and taught him a lesson and told him we need him!!! He came back this last Sunday and we just need to make sure that someone continues to make regular visits to him and everyone else.  Visiting and Home teaching is also crucial to this work.  We as missionaries can't do this alone.  Even if those you are visiting are strong and active... don't slack.  Every responsibility and calling is inspired of God and necessary.  :D  Okay that's all for my rambling right now. :D

I hope you all have a wonderful week!

You're all awesome!

I got to play frisbee this morning on the beach!  :D

Love you,

Sister McClellan