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