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

Pictures from Week 60

Pictures!  My awesome new companion, Sister Butler, has a cool converter thing which makes it much easier to download these pictures! :D  Sorry, I can't explain all of them right now... some from San Jose, most from my new area here in Oton!


 

 

 



 

Do you remember when we would get a new pair of shoes and were permitted to stand on the table or counters as long as the shoes had never before touched the floor??? I don't remember if that was like a real rule that you created... or if we just made that up as an excuse to stand on the table... anyways... we bought new shoes and thought it would be fun to stand on the table!

 

We also had an activity with President and Sister Pagaduan earlier this morning which involved water balloons... :D  They are being replaced next week! :'(

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

Week 59

I don't really have anything to talk about today... do any of you have any questions for me??? Anything maybe I'm not explaining very well or that maybe you're confused about?  I'd be happy to answer some questions... because I really don't remember what things would be interesting to you all and what isn't.  Everything here is pretty much normal to me now.  By the way, the ketchup here is really good!!! Oh... and also tang!  I think in America there's like only orange tang... but here there's all kinds of flavors!! My favorite is mango. :D

This week is transfer week... we'll see what happens.  I already know what's going to happen... but it's still confidential :D  So you'll find out next week.  Ummmm.... it was a good week... lots of walking... we get punted a ton every day... and we are getting really good at just talking to everyone and anyone... we're getting lots of new investigators but we're punted gihapon, haha. :D  But we also have some that are progressing.  We have an investigator, sister Preslyn... she had a baptismal date before, but her mother does not want her to be baptized.  We were finally able to teach the whole family the other day... we shared about the plan of salvation because their dad passed away just a few months ago.  It was a really good and spiritual lesson, but they still aren't sure.  They still need to do their part and actually read and pray and come to church to know for themselves, but at least I hope we were able to give them some comfort and hope.  I sure hope they accept the gospel so they can be an eternal family.  It breaks my heart to see broken families without the gospel.  They need it so badly and they don't even know it!  :D  Love you all!

 

SIster McClellan

Week 58

I am so happy right now... and I don't even know why.  I am just so happy to be here right now. I had one of the hardest trials of my life this last week, but I learned one of the most important lessons from it that I don't know how I would have learned otherwise.  I really feel humbled and ready to change.  The mission is really one of the hardest things I have ever done in my life... but it is really the BEST thing ever!  I am SO grateful for this opportunity to be here.  I KNOW I'm supposed to be here.  I know God is happy with the work that I'm doing and he also knows I can do better.  I can't believe I never really wanted to serve growing up.  I almost missed this opportunity.  Then what would my life have turned out like?? I'm sure it would have been fine... but... I'm glad for this eye-opening experience.  

It's been raining a lot this last week.  I accidentally left my payong in my last area at an investigator's house... so I got soaked gid the other day.  My first payong broke, my second one I accidentally left in a tricycle, the third one I gave away to my companion because I had another one... which I left in San Jose... so now I have none.  And I try to share with Sister Falogme, but then we both ended up getting wet.  So... I'm going to go buy my fifth payong today. (bet you can guess what a payong is?) :D  I'm also buying my fifth bag today... because all my bags kept wearing out or breaking, I finally spent some extra money on a really nice backpack that would last the rest of my mission.  This week, a new rule came out... that we can't use backpacks anymore.  They want us to use nice black side sling bags. haha...  they are really focusing on image... which is super important.  I guess they don't want us to look like school students... and the backpacks really hurt the Elder's white shirts too I think... because of all the sweat, haha.  I also have to buy some new shoes today because our rubber shoes are now bawal also, at least to meetings.  Should be a fun day :D

I just got finished playing some ULTIMATE FRISBEE!!! I feel SO good right now!! 

I got a letter from my bata, Sister Aurelio in San Jose the other day... Brother Renato got baptized!!! I'm so excited for him!!!  I'm a little disappointed I wasn't there for his baptism, but I'm so happy for him.  

Brother Vicinte, our investigator right now, had his baptismal interview this last week and so his baptism should be coming up soon. He is excited also for his baptism.  Our branch really needs him!  

Amo na lang! That's all for now. :D

Love you all!

Have a fantastic week everyone.  Keep working hard and never stop progressing. You've never learned everything you can learn.  :D

Sister McClellan

 

Week 57

Congratulations Heather!!! I am so excited to meet beautiful Eliza! :D  I now have 5 new family members who I haven't met yet! I can't believe how fast time flies and how fast our family is growing!  Dallin is already 1 year old!? And Everett! And Emma! haha.  I am excited to meet them all! And of course my new sister in law, Jennifer. :D Am I missing any? :D  

This week was good. What happened? Today was the first day of school.  It's always fun seeing all the kids in their cute school uniforms all over the place.  Sometimes it's unusual for me to see these tiny little kids getting on a big jeepney all by themselves to go to school.  It's nothing like a school bus, haha.  

Yesterday in fast and testimony meeting, there was an adorable little girl who got up... maybe she was 10 years old?  She said she wanted to share her testimony about the sabbath day and then opened up the bible and started reading from the first verse.  Every few verses she would stop and translate the english into Hiligaynon.  She got to maybe the 4th day of the creation before the branch president asked her to just share her testimony... because she was taking a long time.  :(  It was kind of sad... but she was so cute!  

We found a really big family with 10 kids the other day!  The mother's name is Rebecca... easy for me to remember :D  she had seen us pass by every day and hoped that some day we would stop by and talk to her, but we never did because we were always on the way to an appointment... :(  I learned a lesson from that... but anyways, we taught some of her kids at another home the other day and asked if we could go back to them another day to meet their parents.  They said sure, so we were finally able to meet them.  We are super excited for them!  We taught the first lesson, and when we extended the baptismal invitation, found out they were hoping that we could just have "bible study."  They have no intention of being baptized...even if they feel that our message is true... they were just hoping we could entertain their kids every once in a while... but we are still excited to teach them and believe one of these days... if they really pray sincerely like they said they would, they will feel the truth and change their minds about baptism.  Sometimes it's a little discouraging when they say no,  but if we don't give the invitation, we're not fulfilling our purpose as missionaries.  Now they at least know that we're not there for bible study and maybe they'll listen more attentively in the next few lessons. :D  They are really a great family. :D  Her son-in-law is a jeepney driver and he drove us home that night... and wouldn't accept payment.  They are super nice.  We have so many other new investigators as well... that's never been a really big challenge for me... getting new investigators... getting investigators to progress is the challenge for me... :( When they ALL commit to coming to church... and then NO ONE shows up??? It's a little sad... but hey, they do have their agency.

Let's see, what else?

Yeah, that's about it for now :D

I really am enjoying this work.  This area is different than my others.  All our investigators live far apart so we're doing a lot of walking every day... and it takes half an hour to even get to and home from our area sometimes, so we don't have as much proselyting time as I'm used to either.  But it is a beautiful area with beautiful people and I'm excited to help this area to progress.  It's hard work, but it's worth it.  There's nothing more enjoyable than seeing someone's life changing because of the gospel, and we are seeing that in some of our investigators.  It's a wonderful feeling. :D  

Thanks everyone!

Halong

Sister McClellan