Hola Familia y Amigos! June 25, 2013
I miss you all very much! An hour does
not seem like enough time to type everything (you'd think it would be but it’s
not) so I'll type fast!
I can't believe that tomorrow I will be
starting my third week here-crazy! The saying here is that the days feel
like weeks but the weeks feel like a days. True that.
So since last Tuesday, as you can guess
life has been busy:
Wednesday- All the little greenies came in (making
us no longer the greenies; it’s a great feeling!). We got four new
sisters to our zone. As is tradition, we had initiation that night where
we passed down the pinecone and Cravin, the Chocolate Easter Bunny. No
one knows exactly how long those objects have been in our zone, but the rumor
is since about the 70's (IDK about Cravin, but I'd believe it about the
pine cone. Anyhow, then we added an additional part to our initiatory...watermelon!
One of the girls who has been here for 4 weeks was sent a huge watermelon and a
large knife in the mail, and so we cut it up and chowed down. It was
probably some of the best food we have had here.
Not that food is terrible, but it sure isn’t anything like being in the back yard by the pool when Dad is pulling chicken straight off the grill, and Mom has just made her quinoa salad and homemade rolls, complete with watermelon, strawberries, and pineapple. The first week here I had continuous stomach aches. I think it was mostly stress, but I also deem some credit to the chicken here. At least they call it chicken; it sort of resembles the kind of chicken I know, but much more plasticy and cubey. I can say that I have had an apple about every meal, and I always check to make sure it is a Washington apple. My companion and the other sisters think I am funny, but they just don't understand how every bite is a little bit of home.
Not that food is terrible, but it sure isn’t anything like being in the back yard by the pool when Dad is pulling chicken straight off the grill, and Mom has just made her quinoa salad and homemade rolls, complete with watermelon, strawberries, and pineapple. The first week here I had continuous stomach aches. I think it was mostly stress, but I also deem some credit to the chicken here. At least they call it chicken; it sort of resembles the kind of chicken I know, but much more plasticy and cubey. I can say that I have had an apple about every meal, and I always check to make sure it is a Washington apple. My companion and the other sisters think I am funny, but they just don't understand how every bite is a little bit of home.
The food would probably be better if we weren't
stuck in a classroom sitting all day. Since I can't run as avidly
anymore, I have taken up pacing. It's a nice compromise. I am
becoming an excellent multi-tasker. I can study the scriptures or write
my journal very easily while walking in circles around our classroom.
Then it isn't so bad when we actually have class. We are allowed about an
hour for gym time each day, but if we go outside, most of our zone likes to
play kickball. If I want to run, I need to at least have my companion or
another girl with me, and no one really likes to run. I started running
with two sisters last week, and after one lap they decided they were
good. It has been a challenge to go from running an hour most days, to
not moving much at all. They do have some workout classes at 6 in the
morning for us that are great and fun: kickboxing, cardio, and pilates for
example. They haven't had those the past week though because the
cafeteria is in the gym right now because of the New Mission President's
seminar.
There are approximately 173 new mission presidents
and their wives being trained right now in the main building 1M (where the
cafeteria is). This means we got to meet our new President for Alabama!
President and Sister Hanks are awesome. He is 6' HUGE, and she is just so
stinkin' cute! Hermana Easter (my companion), and Hermana Pickett and
Hermana Klein (the other two sisters in our room and district and mission) and
I just love them. They are spiritual giants, and so caring. When we
asked them what they did on their first date, his response was:
"KISS!" to which she promptly slapped him on the arm and informed us
that she would have never dared to do that. It was cute. I am so
excited to get to know them better. Mom and Dad, I will be in good hands
in Alabama.
In the Alabama Birmingham mission, there will be approximately
270 missionaries. There are more Elders than Sisters, but not by
much. There are only 40 Spanish speakers, 30 of which are sisters.
I can't wait to be there! That has been one of the very hard things about
being here, is that I just can't wait to be out in the field. I know this
is wonderful time for me to prepare and learn tons, but I can't wait until I
can be with the people there. It's amazing how much love I feel for them
already. And it's even more amazing to think that that is just a piece of
the love that Heavenly Father feels for his children there.
Anyhow, so Sunday was the Worldwide Leadership Broadcast
for the New Mission Presidents and everyone around the world. If you
didn't have a chance to watch it (because you were on an airplane to Maine) I
really suggest you do! It was awesome. I got to see the 12 in
person! They were right in front of me!!! They stuffed the Marriott
center with all of us missionaries and members from around. The main
message of the Training was that the work is progressing. There are now
70,000 missionaries out. 70,000!!!!! I am so grateful to be a part of
that wonderful force for good. The work is progressing. While our
individual reasons may be different, in summary 70,000 young adults are out in
the field because we know the truth and blessings that come from the gospel,
and we want to share that with people around the world so they can also feel
that. The leaders of our church reminded us that the only successful
missionaries are those who act completely out of Love. I hope to be the
best missionary that I can, and help change lives for the better.
My favorite scripture is in Helaman 10:4: "Blessed art though, Nephi, for those things
which thou hast done; for I have beheld how though hast with unwearingness
declared the word which I have given unto thee, unto this people. And
thou has not feared them, and has not sought thine own life, but has sought my
will, and to keep my commandments."
I love this scripture for a lot of reasons.
One of the biggest is that it is my goal to be able to put my name in place of
Nephi's. I may not be able to many things, like speak perfect Spanish or
have a perfect knowledge of the gospel, but what I can offer is enough, because
I can do all things through the Lord. Through him, I can have the
strength I need. It is my goal to work my absolute hardest, and to never
slack. I want to share this gospel with "unwearingness", and to
follow the will of my Heavenly Father. I know that he loves me so
much. He has blessed me with so much. I know that because of his
love, he has provided a way that I can return to be with him-the
Atonement. Despite all of my many, many imperfections and inadequacies,
through Christ I can be clean again. I am so excited to share that
message.
Well, time is ticking. Much love!
Hermana McClune
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