Week 60

This week has been SOOOO crazy.... and wonderful!!! Last week, I got a phone call from President Pagaduan calling me to be a Sister Training Leader... which is like a zone leader for sisters.  They are brand new in this mission.  I of course accepted the call... I'm just hoping and praying that I will be able to do a good job.  Thursday I went to an orientation and training for that assignment... there were only 5 of us sisters who were to attend that meeting.  Then Friday was transfers.  Sister Butler, who was the Sister Training Leader for the sisters in our zone before, transferred to my area... and now the two of us are STL's together.  Last transfer was the first transfer that we got STLs, but there was only one... and Sister Butler was also training a new missionary at the same time.  So far it's been an amazing experience... because both of us are pretty experienced missionaries and we both are trying to magnify this call.  We are working together and have been coming up with tons of ideas to help our area and branch to progress and I love it so much.  With both of us... combining the skills which we have gained so far in the mission and praying like crazy... we are excited to see what we can do with this area and how we can also help the other sister missionaries in our zone to become the very best that they can be. :D

 

When I went to the Orientation, I met another sister missionary who is serving in my previous area in Roxas and she told me some things that made me SO happy!  She said that sister Mary Ann... I don't know if I ever wrote about her... I only taught her once or twice, but she told me that she wants to be baptized so badly and she has no doubt that the church is true.  She said that I had made a huge impression on her and she misses me. She hasn't been baptized yet because of some family problems, but I'm so glad to hear of the progress she has made.  As well as many of the other people.  Karla and the Bermejo family are both doing really well and some of my other previous investigators have now been baptized! :D 

Yesterday was the best Sunday ever... in my whole mission.  Of course I've had other really great Sundays... but this one just made me so happy and gave me so much hope.  This area so far has been struggling a little bit... there aren't very many people... and we haven't really been very successful getting people to church.  But, this last Sunday, we had 3 potential priesthood holders come to church.  We are very excited about each of them.  Brother Reynaldo... we've been teaching him for a few weeks... and he's always willing to listen, but he hasn't yet accepted a baptismal date and he just keeps saying that he really wants to know first for sure before he agrees to be baptized... he's always been a great investigator, but this last week, we really saw a change in his countenance.  After we taught him about the Plan of Salvation... when we came back this last week... he totally bore testimony about it... I almost thought he was about to cry... but he just pulled out the pamphlet and said, this message right here... it's just... really great.  :D  We taught him about faith and the whole lesson, he just had a huge smile on his face and I could tell he just felt good.  And then when we saw him at church... I was just more happy than I can remember. :D  We passed by his house last night and he said he really enjoyed his experience at church and is planning on coming again next week! :D  The other potential priesthood holders who came to church are also really great and they also have baptismal dates. :D

Yesterday I also had my first opportunity my whole mission to help an old woman carry her groceries... of course it's not a huge thing... but it made me and Sister Butler so happy... and we carried them all the way to her house and she said that she would love to listen to our message and maybe someday make us dinner!  Sweet! :D  We've been seeking the middle and upper class lately as we've been finding.  Usually, we only teach really poor people because they're usually more willing to listen... they have more time or are less intimidating or something... but sister Butler and I have made it a goal to seek among the richer and more educated people and families... because everyone needs the gospel... and the people who are richer...  can really help the church to become strong and to grow even more.   We're just trying to talk to everyone and so far it's been great. :D

I don't know if I've ever enjoyed missionary work so much.  I really feel like I can make a difference here and that with the Lord's help, anything is possible.  We're going to see miracles here. :D

Sister McClellan