Athens.... Alabama?!?

How'd y'all know we was in Athens?  I didn't get no chance to tell nobody

(insert southern drawl)

But, I'm happy to be back here.  It's crazy! We were driving through Decatur, and it was a little like coming home. So much has happened in a year! I can't believe it!My companion, Sister Stiles, is from Turlock, California.  She is so sweet :) And everyone keeps asking if we are sisters...which is kind of funny.  We are like well yes! But uh, no... and then we explain :) Apparently we look a like. I'll try to send pictures next week. 

I think my favorite part was going to see Mama Brenda.  Friday, we went to Decatur for a District Meeting. The District leader showed up a little late, apparently they had been lost in the hospital or something.  After the meeting, I went and asked him if I could have permission to go see Mama Brenda while we were there. Turns out, that is who they had been visiting in the hospital.  We rushed over.  She is okay, but had to go in and ended up staying there.  It was so good to see here.  I basically started crying on the spot. (wimpy missionaries!)

When you have seen someone take those steps to come closer to their Heavenly Father, you feel a special connection with them.  Mama Brenda has had such an impact on my mission.  She was one of the first people we found and started teaching, and we really were led to her...it was to much to be coincidences.  We just met her in August last year, when we were trying to bring cookies to her daughter. She was baptized this past January. She needed the hope that the gospel brings, she has gone through so much.   When I feel unmotivated or tired, I think of her, and how are there are more people like her who need the gospel. She is so much happier than she was before--even though she was in the hospital. She has absolute faith that everything will work out.  Only Christ can offer that kind of hope. 

You know who my favorite person in the Book of Mormon is? Ammon. Why? Because he is the happiest guy! In Alma 28 he falls over he is so stinkin' happy when he is reunited with his friend Alma again.  I'm trying to read the entire book of Mormon in Spanish this transfer, and I was reading about him this morning. I love what he says in Alma 26:

  27 Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to turn back, behold, the Lord comforted us, and said: Go amongst thy brethren, the Lamanites, and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success.
 28 And now behold, we have come, and been forth amongst them; and we have been patient in our sufferings, and we have suffered every privation; yea, we have traveled from house to house, relying upon the mercies of the world—not upon the mercies of the world alone but upon the mercies of God.
 29 And we have entered into their houses and taught them, and we have taught them in their streets; yea, and we have taught them upon their hills; and we have also entered into their temples and their synagogues and taught them; and we have been cast out, and mocked, and spit upon, and smote upon our cheeks; and we have been stoned, and taken and bound with strong cords, and cast into prison; and through the power and wisdom of God we have been delivered again.
 30 And we have suffered all manner of afflictions, and all this, that perhaps we might be the means of saving some soul; and we supposed that our joy would be full if perhaps we could be the means of saving some.
 31 Now behold, we can look forth and see the fruits of our labors; and are they few? I say unto you, Nay, they are many; yea, and we can witness of their sincerity, because of their love towards their brethren and also towards us.
That's how I feel.  I feel so blessed to be a part of this work. I know Heavenly Father really does love his children, and I feel so blessed that he would trust me to go out and help care for them.

I love you all! Eat some watermelon for me, enjoy the Columbia, and have a wonderful 4th of July!

Love y'all's guts!

Hermana McClune

"I am a child of God", and so is the little lady from Syria, and so are you!

It only took 15 minutes of raining for this to happen....good ol' 'Bama! 

Are you tired of hearing from me yet haha each week I sit down and think "Hmm....I have no idea what to write".   So much happens every single day.  I  love it!

A cool experiences from this week:

We were tracting in an apartment complex, and one lady-probably in her 80s- whips open the door and says " Come! Sit down!" in a very accented English.  At first, sister Pickett was trying to talk to her in Spanish, but we realized she was speaking Arabic.  She happened to be skyping her granddaughter who spoke some broken English.  We found out that this little lady was from Syria.  Her other family is living in Sweden (including the granddaughter I was skyping with) because of the war.  We explained who we were, and that we were just here to help. We then asked the granddaughter if she we could sing them a song, and if she could explain that to her mother. 

Me and a little gal we are teaching

We sang "I am a Child of God".  Even though we could not understand a word of what the other was saying, just that understanding that we do have a Heavenly Father who loves us was very strong; we know she felt it too.  She gave us a big hug goodbye, almost not letting go.  My heart hurts for her, but I am so grateful that in that moment we could help her feel loved.  

There are a lot of Heavenly Father's children who walk all around us, and don't know that they have a Father in Heaven. 

 I love the quote:   "We are not spiritual orphans".  - Elder Stanley G. Ellis

 He is there for us, He knows us and everything He does is because He loves us.  Even the hard things! Even the things that we wonder why on earth could that happen, He can't control the choices of others but He gives us these hard experiences so that we can learn and grow.  For that, I am truly grateful.  

A beautiful family that will be baptized next week!

I've learned we really are all brothers and sisters.  Sounds cheesy right?  Maybe it is. But it's true.  I've learned a lot about that.  Sometimes it is so easy for me to be so focused on my needs, that I don't think about what it is like in their shoes. That that telemarketer is trying to work hard for that family and really couldn't get another job.  That the cashier is having some hard things going on a home and so work is not the first thing on her mind...or maybe it's just that little Washingtonian-missionary knocking on your door who is really excited about her message and just wants to share it with you. Who knows? We don't, so we just have to treat everyone with kindness :) 

I've been very inspired by the example of my parents, and how the treat everyone with love. They love me and help inspire me to be my best self.  Happy Father's Day Dad.

Love you all tons! 

Sister McClune

What a year it has been!

Hey y'all!

Soo...this week I hit my year mark. Which is crazy!  Sister Pickett and I pulled out our first mission journal last night, and I was reading through.  I thought I'd share a few inserts from journal entries of the past year:

Missionary Training Center

June 12, 2013

"Currently I am on a flight to Salt Lake City.....saying goodbye this morning was one of the hardest things I have ever done. I am going to miss my family so much.  I was doing okay until Derek started crying, then I couldn't stop.  I hope they know how much I love them....My Dad gave me such a big hug, and my Mom held me so tight.  Devyn and Aunt Elizabeth came to the airport. I could not ask for a better friend than Devyn.  She stayed over last night. I can't express how much I will miss them all.  I know this is a wonderful sacrifice though."

"I am very honored to devote my life to the Lord in the next 18 months.  I love Him so much, and already love his children in Alabama."

June 17, 2013

"Yesterday, Sunday, was by far my hardest day...it was Father's day, so I wrote a long letter home to my Dad tell him how much I love and missed them"

June 24, 2013

"Also, I finally got a letter!"

July 22,2013

"We will be leaving the Missionary Training Center for Alabama in 45 minutes...I'm so excited!"

July 23,2013

"Alabama is beautiful! Everything is so green! It was raining all day, but I loved it! I'm excited to use my raincoat! There is a bible in the nightstand by the bed, and at the airport there were ladies with big cross necklaces.  I'm so excited to be here!I can't wait to get to work! 

DECATUR, AL

July 29, 2013

"Friday and Saturday we got to work and started knocking on doors. It's interesting how different people respond to us.  We found one guy.  He is about mid-20s, bright red hair, with tattoos up and down his arm, and he seemed interested...Another lady told us they were preachers at a local Baptist church and we were wasting our time..."

August 3, 2013

"Hermana Leahman and I get the funniest looks while we ride our bikes.  We just smile and wave--it's great!.

I'm slowly but surely learning what it means to be a good missionary, especially a missionary in the South.  I can do everything I can, but really, it's up to the Lord and his timing."

August 10, 2013

"Well, I was warned.  I lived in western Washington for seven years, but when it rains in Alabama, it pours!"

September 6, 2013

"Well, I got my fill of F-bombs yesterday."

October 10, 2013

"On our way to trying to bike to some people who just moved in, we passed a lady...who had run out of gas, but no one had helped her...Apparently two girls in skirts trying to push an SUV on a slope got some attention fast, because two cars immediately showed up."

COLUMBUS, MS

November 13, 2013

"Yesterday was probably one of the hardest days of my mission..Then it was also about 25 degrees outside, and we were on our bikes...thankfully I was wearing my fleece-lined tights my Mom had sent in her package...that being said, it was still a really good day.  I prayed so many times to Heavenly Father to give me strength.  I did not know how I was going to make it through, and He gave me that strength... I lost count of of the hymns I sang yesterday. It took an hour to bike home, usually it take 30-40 min.  But it was a good day"

December 12, 2013

"Today is exactly my 6 month mark! And I witnessed a miracle...We invited Terry to be baptized, and he accepted" 

December 28, 2013

"Rain, Rain, Rain...We done been soaked! But it was a great day.  Went to a former investigators, and got preached too...also my feet hate me, but my keens are holding up great!"

January 19,2014

"I know the Lord still performs miracles.  Today, I had the privilege of being a part of one."

January 23, 2014

"Momma Donna is so ready, its amazing.  I was just thinking about what if we hadn't stopped that cold night when it was dark and we could have left.  But as we walked by, the dog was barking, and the spirit was tugging at my heart.  I knew we had to go in, so I told Sister Black we had to turn around.  She welcomed  us in and we did dishes and chatted....Her baptism is this Sunday, and she is so excited."

BIRMINGHAM, AL

March 10, 2014

"...then she fed us too! Yup. 3 meals. One night.  Do you see my tummy? That is a lot of love!"

March 23, 2014

"Happy Birthday Derek...She quit smoking and is moving! We helped her pack today...We also taught Hermano Paco english, and played soccer with some ward members and people who are interested in learning.  I am terrible, but it was fun!"

April 20,2014

"Then-my favorite part- Montse bore her testimony.  She said she wanted to be baptized to bring more guidance in her life for her baby. She said:  'En las palabras del Libro de Mormon...' (In the words of the Book of Mormon") to have more peace and happiness. She was so sincere, so beautiful".

April 22, 2014

"Side note:it's always funny when you are speaking Spanish and you realize they can speak english"

April 28, 2014

"Well, I am currently sitting in a bathtub.  Sister Layton is sitting next to me, while Sister Pickett, and Sister Torgerson and Sister Klein are sitting on the floor...

Tornado. Yup."

May 22, 2014

"Alabama has my heart"

I  hope you all enjoyed that a little peak into my past year.  I am so grateful for the support of my family and friends.  I still got 6 months to go and so I am going to keep running.  Whenever I am having a bad day, the best thing to do is to go out, work hard, and loose myself in the service of others.  I wouldn't not be able to share all the wonderful experiences I've gained in the past year, and I know I still have so much to learn!!! 

I know,  without a doubt, that I have a Heavenly Father who loves me.  We take so many things for granted.  I have been so blessed in my life, and all I want is to share those blessings. That's where I've found my true happiness.  When I was going through a hard time, people who tell me to go and find myself, take time for "me".  What does that even mean??? I have only found myself by losing myself and putting others first.  I never understood what that meant before. If you don't either...I hope you get out and try it :)

"And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your  fellowbeings  ye are only in the service of your God."

Mosiah 2:17

I've seen the Book of Mormon, which we study with the Bible to learn about gospel of Jesus Christ, change lives.

I am so grateful for all that I have been blessed with.  This is the hardest thing I have ever done, but also the best.  I love my God, I love my family, I love life!!!

Roll Tide!

Love y'all!

Hermana McClune

Do I have anything important to say?

What to say??

I don't really know what to talk about this week..... it was all a blur. I remember it was a good week though!  Here are some pictures, because pictures make my Mom and family happy!(okay and I'll totally admit when she sends me pictures it's like the best thing ever!)

This is the best thing I've ever done.  I'm so stinkin' blessed.  If I feel down or discouraged, all I have to do is walk outside. 

We teach a guy who is working 2 jobs and only sleeps 2 hours every night so that He can work to get his family here from Guatemala.  Yet he still tries to find time to read the Book of Mormon because he knows that it is the word of God and will help him to become the father he wants to be.

A member of our church is raising 3 children all on her own, working as hard as she can.  Her husband passed away in 2012, and she wishes she just has a Sunday free every now and then to come to church, but she doesn't even have that.  She has scars on her arms from being badly burned at work, and every other reason to cry, but every time we come over she only talks about how great Heavenly Father is.  

I'm not worthy to teach these people.  I wear a badge that says "Jesus Christ",but they are more of a disciple of Christ than I am.

I love Elder Bednar's invitation from this past General Conference:

"I invite you to study, pray, ponder, and strive to learn more about the Savior’s Atonement as you assess your individual load. Many things about the Atonement we simply cannot comprehend with our mortal minds. But many aspects of the Atonement we can and need to understand. "

 We each have a burden, a load.  Christ's atonement, can and will lighten that load.  Atonement is a word we might be unfamiliar with, and something we may not completely understand, but in a very simplify way you could explain it as his sacrifice and suffering, so that we could overcome death and suffering in this life, and return to our Heavenly Father.  It is the most important thing I teach as a missionary.  As we evaluate our individual loads,often, we will find we are much more blessed than not, we have many reasons so smile, even in some of the darkest times.  We find that through gratitude, and seeing the Tender Mercies in our every day.

I'm not very good at putting my words together, but I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior.  I know He lives, and has his arms reaching out towards each of us.

I feel so blessed to work with these people.

Love you all, and I hope you have a wonderful week!