Week 35

It was really nice being able to see and talk to a few of you on
Christmas! I'm sorry I didn't get to talk to any of you more than
just a couple minutes. I think it's funny how whenever we try to
skype, we spend more time trying to figure out the video and sound,
etc. than actually talking. I would have been happy with just a
phonecall, haha. I was surprised at the emotions I experienced while
talking to you... I can't even describe it. It was definitely
bitter-sweet and I'm still trying to get over it... but I'm doing well
and still loving my experiences here. I hope you all had a very merry
christmas and that you have a very happy new year. New Years here is
much the same I think as in other places. There have been parades
going on... I haven't gotten to see any though. Our curfew tonight is
5, so we won't have to proselyte among the fireworks and drunk people.
This week... I really can't think of anything to write about. We
don't really have very many super progressing investigators. We have a
couple who are progressing, but are waiting for the funds so they can
get married. That's the case for a lot of our investigators. They
just aren't married yet.
I am so grateful for you all. Continue to live the gospel. I love
you all so much and am excited about all the experiences and things
that are going on in your lives. Thanks for everything. Have a
wonderful new year! Love,
Heidi

Week 34

Dear Family,
Merry Christmas! I wish I could talk to you ALL this Christmas! :D
But I am excited to hopefully skype at least a couple of you. I hope
that each of you have a wonderful Christmas and a happy New Year.
Caroling - Caroling is different here. Lately, we've been hearing a
lot of kids caroling. Only kids. They go caroling more like
trick-or-treating, hoping for money in return. It's sad because
sometimes if the people don't want to give anything, they yell at the
kids to go away. :( When they came to our house, we gave them
crackers because we're not allowed to give them money. They were
super cute though, they made their own little shakers and instruments
out of smashed bottle lids and other things that they found. They
were singing mostly songs I didn't know. At first, I didn't realize
they were caroling until I heard Jingle Bells, haha.
Gas Stations - there are always workers standing outside. Usually
young men in uniforms, waiting to fell up the tricyle or whatever.
They always wave when I pass by. There are also guards, policemen, at
the entrance of almost every store. They are always super nice and
smile and wave at me too. They don't normally stop anyone, unless
they want to look real quick inside your bag. Restaurants and all
stores have really good service. One example, at Jollibee, which I
thought was just a normal burger restaurant, where you put your own
tray and garbage away, right? I tried, and everyone looked at me like
I was crazy, haha. At other grocery stores, there are usually workers
following us closely just in case we need anything. I don't know if
that's normal for everyone, or just because I'm a foreigner, but the
service everywhere is always super good!
Trash - On Friday we did CSP at our apartment, in our front yard. The
Elders came to help. We pulled out tons of weeds and swept up the
leaves, etc. And put everything in a huge pile and burned it all. A
big bonfire. That's how we get rid of all our trash. Once it fills
up in the house, we just open the door and throw it into a pile in the
backyard and burn it later... I think maybe that's illegal in America?
But that's how we do it here. In Roxas, I think there was a garbage
man who came. I'm not sure though. The apartment took care of it.
Here, we have a house.
I saw a Christmas Tricycle Parade the other day. People had decorated
their tricycles with Christmas lights and other things and at night,
they were all in a long line, driving through town. It was pretty
cool. I wish I could have taken a picture of it. We've also seen a
lot of funerals. People walk behind the car holding the deceased
person - instead of driving in a line, like in America. They don't
have cars, so they just all walk to the cemetary together.
We've had a few funny moments. The other week, Sister Patricio
slipped and fell down a muddy hill. (I think that's just their luck
being my companion, haha) We had to go home so she could change.
Yesterday as we were climbing down the same hill in the dark with only
the light of our phone to guide us, Sister saw a frog and got scared.
She jumped behind me and I led the way, with her clinging to my arm
the whole way. It was super funny.
We had a Branch Chrismas Party the other day and it was a success!
Luther, an investigator that we had only taught once before came and
the members were really good at fellowshipping him. He came to church
the next day too and plans to come again next week and bring his two
kids. I'm excited for him.
I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and remember Jesus Christ
and our Heavenly Father and the wonderful gifts that they have given
to us. I love you all and miss you. Take Care always,
Love,
Heidi

Week 33

I don't know what to write about this week. I was able to watch the
Christmas Devotional yesterday, which was really good!  I love the
first Presidency!  Oh, I also gave a talk in Sacrament Meeting
yesterday.  It was about the atonement and I'm pretty sure it was in a
mix of several languages.  I read scriptures in English, and used a
mix of Tagalog, Ilonggo and Kinaraya.  Maybe one of these days I'll
get transferred to Kalibo where I'll have to learn Aklanon too.  It
went pretty well though, my language is definitely improving!  Thank
you for your prayers!
We had a service project on Friday.  We didn't know what it was going
to be until we got there so I was a little unprepared.  We were
pulling weeds and trees and bushes... clearing the land completely...
and a lot of it!  I worked as hard as I always do when I have a fun
project like that... but as a result I got dozens of nasty blisters.
I took my clothes to a shop this week because I couldn't wash them
myself, haha.  I felt a little unlike myself for the next couple days
because I couldn't give people that firm grip of mine :D  My handshake
is like my trademark!  It's okay though, they are healing nicely :)
We have one investigator who lives in the most beautiful place I've
ever seen.  Every time I walk around the corner to their house, my jaw
drops.  I've tried to take a picture of the scene but my camera
doesn't do it justice... it's too bad. I'll just have to take a
picture in my mind so I never forget how pretty it is.  Sorry you
can't see it, haha.
I love you all, take care!
Heidi

Week 32

Hello family, how are you all?

What has happened this week? I don't know... lots.
I made an observation... back home I always ate a ton, right? I was a
bottomless pit and I ate and ate and ate, as long as there was food in
front of me. My appetite here has changed a lot. I hardly eat
anything anymore, even when I love the food! I think it's because I'm
not as active as I used to be. Even though I exercise every morning
and walk all day, the intensity level is way lower. It's the opposite
for Sister Patricio. She never exercised at home and now she eats a
lot more than she used to. It's weird. I still feel healthy and look
the same, I think..., but I just don't need all the calories I used to
need I guess. Hopefully when I go home, everything will go back to
normal. I played soccer a couple weeks ago and was able to play just
as hard as I always do when playing sports, but ended up getting
really sore, haha.

Here in the Philippines people want to be white. White is beautiful.
It's the opposite in America, where everyone wants to be tan. Where
we have tanning lotion and like to be out in the sun to get darker,
here people wear whitening lotion and always carry umbrellas with them
in fear of becoming darker. Interesting the differences, huh? :D By
the way... I'm not getting any tanner here. :( I thought I would, but
for some reason I don't think I am.

We had District Conference yesterday. President Pagaduan and Sister
Pagaduan came to speak as well as the Cebu Temple President and his
wife. I was surprised to find out that the Cebu Temple President is
President Pagaduan's father! It was a nice little family reunion for
them all! :D They definitely look alike! And his mother too. It was
fun sitting next to one of our deaf members and trying to translate
for her in sign language. I'm getting better! :D

The Karay-a is still a challenge for me a little bit. They understand
my Ilonggo just fine, but I have a hard time understanding their
dialect sometimes. And my companion speaks mostly Tagalog in lessons
which makes things even more challenging sometimes. But it's getting
better. The Karay-a is fun to learn.

This testimony will be mostly Ilonggo, but with some Karay-a mixed in.
Kamaan ko nga matuod ang simbahan. Nagbayad si Jesucristo para
kanaton tanan. Kon magbasa kita kang libro ni mormon adlaw-adlaw, kag
sundon ang mga kasuguan, mabaton naton duro nga bugay. Kamaan ko nga
kon magsalig kita sa Ginuo kag mabaton ang ebanghelyo ni Jesucristo,
makabalik kita kanaton nga amay sa langit kag mabaton ang kabug-usan
kang kalipayon. Makabalik kita kana bilang mga pamilya para sa walay
katubtuban. Matuod gid and ebanghelyo kag importante gid nga magsimba
kita kada Dominggo. May duro nga pagtilaw kag problema sini nga
panahon, pero kon may pagtuo kita kay Jesucristo kag sundon ang mga
kasuguan, malampuasan naton ang aton mga pagtilaw. May ara kita mga
problema para mangin baskog, pero kon hindi kita padayon hasta sa
katubtuban, basi madula naton ang aton panaksihon. Padayon kamo kag
magpangamuyo pirme para mangin lapit sa Dios. Salamat gid sa tanan,
Halong kamo,
Palangga ko kamo,
Sister McClellan

Week 31

Jumping at the beach with Sister Schocker!

Dear Family,
How was your week? I had a super good week, which involved more traveling.  I played soccer on Monday, which was the first time I had played any sports since the MTC.  I played hard and ended up sore all week long... :(  but I loved it all the same, even though soccer isn't my favorite sport.

On Wednesday, we traveled to Lapaz for our
Christmas Conference. We had to wake up at 3am! The car ride was actually really fun.  The road was the windiest road I have ever been on, but one of the elders brought their guitar, so we were able to
play and sing songs the whole way there.  It felt like home :D
The Conference was really good too.  It was really fun to see all the
other missionaries and to watch their skits.  We did a skit too, but
of course all I did was play the piano... that's what I get for having

Baptism - I feel huge next to them!!!

that talent... joke lang, I love having that talent.  I also had a mini solo singing at the end, so I got to use that talent as well. At the end of the conference, we also had a gift exchange.  It's
Christmas already!! :D  They also fed us lunch, but I think we must have eaten something bad because when we got home that night, all 4 of us sisters were sick. It didn't last long though.  I've been so tired ever since coming here to Antique.  I've been sleeping every spare minute and it's not helping.  It might have something to do with our dogs and chickens and roosters and neighbors who are noisy all night long.  I sleep right by the window which we can't close.  It's okay though, somehow I'm still making it through every day and enjoying

Conference - The sister standing next to me is Sister Patricio, my new
companion!

them. :D
The language Karay-a is coming.  I still have a hard time understanding sometimes, but it's pretty close to Ilonggo. The switch keeps the mission interesting!  Speaking of which, the mission is the best thing ever.  Of course every once in a while I have the longing to go home, but it's only a small part of me.  Yes the mission is hard, I miss you all and the comforts of life, but I'm not here for myself.  If I was, I would have had my fun and gone back home by now.  I am here for a greater purpose, which outweighs any inconvenience or
selfish thought.  There's no way I'm going home early.  Besides I love
it here.  I can't make up my mind if it's going by fast or slow.  At
the end though, I know it will be too soon.

Yesterday I ate a snail... yuck!  I sucked out the juice and I
actually thought it tasted good, and then I wondered what it was and
took a closer look.  It was at the deaf family's house.  I looked at
it a little closer and it looked kind of like a snail!  I
fingerspelled it to one of them, asking if that's what it was and they
nodded!! I'm grateful I know how to fingerspell! After that, I didn't
eat any more, haha.  They also fed me this bamboo soup stuff.  That
was good too! They said it came from the bamboo from their house!
Interesting, huh?  Also at that house, they were really admiring my
arm hair.  People here don't really have arm hair and I have quite a
bit... they were all pulling at it and feeling it and pretending to
sleep on it, haha.  I was laughing so hard, but also fet a little bit
uncomfortable, haha

I was studying this week about virtue.  Virtue originates in our
innermost thoughts and desires.  It is a pattern of thought and
behavior based on high moral standards.  A good way to judge where we
are at in our level of virtue is to ask ourselves "What do I think and
do when I believe that no one is watching?"  If you ever have
unrighteous thoughts in your mind, quickly put them out of your mind
by focusing on righteous, uplifting thoughts.  Obey the commandments
and counsel of church leaders and if you make a mistake, repent
quickly and pray to God for strength to overcome temptations.  I think
by keeping our eyes single to the glory of God, and trying to improve
ourselves each day, we will be able to continually focus on righteous
things.  When I am tempted, I try to remember my goal to return to
live with my father in heaven again and remember that even if no one
else knows, He does.  We will both know the choices that I make and I
would hate to disappoint Him.  I want to always please God and remain
worthy of His trust.
I hope you all have a wonderful week and that you always remember who
you are, children of God.  I love you all!
Halong,

Heidi

Week 30

Wow, there is way too much to write about, I don't know where to
start.  First of all, Congratulations Daniel and Jennifer on your
wedding!  I thought about you all day yesterday and the day before...
haha. I'm glad it was a success :D
So... they don't celebrate Thanksgiving in the Philippines, but the
other Americans in my apartment decided to celebrate ourselves.  We
bought Jolibee and ate root beer floats and slept downstairs.  It was
fun!  that night, we found out that Sister Schocker is going to train!
 Exciting for her!  So, that meant that on Thursday, she had to travel
to Iloilo for a training meeting and I was left in a threesome with
the other sisters.  It also meant I was for sure going to transfer.
Sure enough, I found out Wednesday night that I would be transferring.
 So, early Friday morning, the three of us and the zone leaders
traveled to Iloilo for the transfer meeting.  The new missionaries
haven't gotten here yet because for some reason their visas were
delayed or something... so for the next few days until they arrive,
Sister Schocker will be in a threesome with the other sisters.  I on
the other hand have been transferred to Antique, San Jose.  The ride
here was so beautiful!  I thought Roxas was the best thing ever and
the rest of my mission would be dull in comparison, but just the drive
here got me excited.  We were following the beach the whole way until
we got to the forest area.  It was SO beautiful.  I love it here so
much already.  Yesterday, we were walking to someone's house and when
we turned the corner, my jaw dropped at the view.  I'm definitely
going to get a picture of that before I leave here.  So... the
language here is Kinary-a.  It's a little different, and I was super
scared at first when I found out I would have to learn a new dialect,
but they seem to understand my Ilonggo pretty well and I'm picking up
on the new dialect pretty quickly.  My new companion is Sister
Patricio.  She's super sweet, and my first Filipina companion.  She's
almost done with her mission... in missionary terms, I'm "killing
her."  She goes home in February?  But she's super good, and I'm sure
I'm going to learn a whole lot from her and how to become a much
better missionary.
Yesterday was the primary program at church.  They were so cute, but
small in number. It reminded me of primary programs back home when
there are usually so many kids!! We are actually in a branch, and the
other sisters that we live with are in the same branch as us, just a
different area.  In our apartment, I am the only American and the
other 3 are Filipina.  They are always speaking Tagalog in the
apartment to each other so maybe I'll get a lot better at my Tagalog
as well while staying here.  I replaced Sister Bowen here, my
companion in the MTC.  She was transferred to Kalibo, where they speak
Aklanon, the hardest dialect... I wish her good luck! :D Their
apartment is really nice.  My companion and I don't have a real
bedroom... but it works really well.  There is a big wooden board in
the middle of the living room that separates our room and the door is
a curtain.  It's nice :)
I met one family here... I'm not sure if they're related or not
actually, but they are active members and they are all deaf.  It's so
much fun to talk to them.  I'm pretty sure with one of them I learned
more sign language in half an hour than I did in my one semester in
high school so long ago.  They are SO much fun!  I am excited to
continue to learn more sign language from them as I stay here and when
I go home, I'll be able to sign to those of you who know sign
language! :D
Oh wow, I just forgot something that's kind of important... the day
after I got here, we had a baptism!  Sister Glory Dee?  She's 17 years
old and super active and good!  She was baptized with another woman
who was pregnant and due NEXT WEEK!  That baby will be able to say
he/she was baptized twice! haha.  Both of them were so happy and I
just love attending baptisms.  If any of you haven't attended a
baptism recently, go to the next one in your ward!  They are really
nice... and help me remember the day I was baptized and what it felt
like.
I am so grateful to have a family who loves each other and supports
each other in all that they do.  Some people don't have that blessing
in their lives.  Thanks to each of you who have impacted my life in
some way or other... and all of you have. :)  Can I just say again,
that missionary work is like the best thing ever?? :D  Sorry, once
again, I am unprepared for pictures.  Maybe next week.  Love you all!
Halong!
Sister McClellan

Week 29

Hello wonderful family!

So, I might be getting transferred this week.  I won't know for sure
until Wednesday night? But, it's pretty likely.  I'm super sad!!! I
don't want to leave this area!!  I just love the people and the area
so much more every day!  I would be perfectly happy staying in Roxas
my whole mission.  I don't even really like going on exchanges
anymore.  I used to think they were fun... and still do... but before
it didn't make a difference to me who I was teaching or where I was
because I didn't really know anyone.  Now though I really care about
these people and I don't want to miss one opportunity to teach them.
We have so many new investigators as well and I want to see them
progress and be baptized!!!  So... hopefully I don't transfer yet.
I'll find out soon.  We did go on exchanges this last week on
Wednesday.  I went with Sister Ilaga in her area and Sister Wignall
went with Sister Schocker in our area.  It was a good day... I've
never had so many people tell me how good I was at the language!  I
learned that day though that I really don't have a problem anymore
talking with people.  It's been a gradual change but I just noticed
because I compared that exchange with the last time I did exchanges
with Sister Ilaga in her area.  Before, I couldn't even ask them
questions about themselves or even felt comfortable having a normal
conversation.  This time though felt really good!  I could really talk
to them without even really having to think about it!

Oh man, referrals are so great!  This week we had a GOLDEN referral
from our patriarch.  Her name is Anna Marie.  We contacted her earlier
in the week to set up an appointment with her and even then she was
telling us that she's catholic, born and raised and went to a catholic
school, but because of the respect she has for her friend, the
patriarch, she is so open and willing to listen to us.  She wants to
learn from us herself so that she can then teach her family, which
means she has a lot of real intent.  When we taught her on Saturday,
I'm pretty sure it was the best lesson I have ever had so far in my
mission.  I could tell how everything we were saying was being
directed by the spirit.  She told us that she had prayed to God that
if she shouldn't meet with us, she would be stopped somehow, but the
whole week she was excited to meet with us.  She was invited to a
Catholic activity for the exact same time as our meeting and told us
she was surprised that she had come. When we testified that there was
a reason why she was there and that it wasn't by accident, she started
crying and told us that she already knew that.  When we testified
about the peaceful feeling she would get if she read and prayed about
the book of mormon, she told us that she was already feeling a
peaceful feeling.  She said she was going home a lot more happier than
she had ever expected to.  We'll meet with her again next Saturday.
Hopefully I won't transfer and I can keep teaching her and all our
other good investigators!  I can't imagine how hard it's going to be
to go home in a year.  Just the thought of leaving Roxas makes me so
sad!

Funny story, when we were leaving an appointment the other day, an old
lady with a muddy cane started walking with us.  As she was talking,
she got so into her story that she started waving her cane in the air.
 Sister Schocker got hit in the back of the head.  I have no idea what
the lady was saying because I was laughing so hard.  She wasn't hurt,
but it's not every day and old lady gets so carried away in a story
that she hits the American in the head with her cane... and of course
all the neighbors and bystanders were laughing too... because of
course they were all watching when it happened, haha.

We had surprise clean checks this week.  Good thing our apartment
wasn't too dirty to clean in a few minutes.  Elder and Sister
Robinson, two senior couple missionaries came to check.  I love them
so much.  We just talked for like half an hour with them, asking about
their mission and what they do.  It sounds so great!  I so want to go
on a senior couple mission!  I'm jealous of you, mom and dad!!! haha,
joke lang, this mission is the best thing ever. :D  Anyways, they are
going home in 2 months and they're super sad about it!  Elder Robinson
started to cry when we were talking about it.

So I had a PAT ring made here in the Philippines by the bishop's
brother.  It's pretty sweet.  PAT stands for Pumili Ang Tama.. or in
English, Choose the Right! :D  He engraved on the inside for me
Philippines Iloilo Mission 2012-2013.  I love it!

We woke up this morning at 3am to do our personal study..... and then
companionship study at 4, and then at 5 we went to the beach for maybe
the last time for me.  I took some pictures, but I forgot my cord, so
sorry no pictures this week.  I am super tired, but hopefully we'll be
able to get everything done early today so maybe.... just maybe... I
might be able to get a short nap sometime later.  I have a ton of
stuff to do today though.  Including laundry...

I hope you all have a wonderful week.  Enjoy getting together for
Daniel's wedding.  I'm sorry I can't be there, but I hope you all
understand :)  No one wishes more than I do that I could be there, but
I know that this is where I need to be right now.  I know that each
and every one of you will come to my wedding someday... right?  :D
Start saving your pennies...
I love you all!!!  I hope you all have a fantabulous week and continue
to choose the right.  I was going to share a short spiritual message
about trials, but I'm out of time... so you can all look forward to
that next week.  And in the meantime, know that I'm thinking and
praying about you all.  Congratulations Daniel and Jennifer!

Sister McClellan