Squirrel! It tastes like chicken, only super chewy.

Hey y'all,

Saturday was transfer calls.  Sister Latu and I were told that we would be staying together! That is what we figured, since we are still in the middle of 12 week training.

Today we received a unexpected call from the assistants, and President feels that the Lord needs me somewhere else.  I'm very sad to be leaving Athens, I had hoped to stay here until the end of my mission, but I'll go where the Lord needs me! I'm heart broken to be leaving Sister Latu, that girl and I are tight.  I know she will take wonderful care of Athens though.

It never fails to amaze me just how hard it is to leave each area.  I love these people so much.  I treasure the time I have had with them here.

This past Friday will be a night to remember for sure.  One of the families here made us a southern treat that I had not had the privilege of trying yet...

Squirrel!

It tastes like chicken, only super chewy.  I think my favorite was watching my poor, terrified, companion hold the little squirrel arm between her fingers as she was trying to gather the courage to eat it.  But she did! I am so proud of her :)

The highlight of my week though was Sunday.  When you see someone, who you love so much and have done whatever you could to help them, come back to church with the rest of their family....well, there really isn't anything better than that.  It's just that first step that you know will bless them more than we can comprehend, and their family.  Church is a hospital, where each of us, with our own sickness, come to be healed.  The only thing that can really heal us is the atonement of Christ, which we apply each week when we take the sacrament.

This little family, we were definitely led to.  Sister Latu and I had been out in the country trying to find less-active members.   We stopped at one house, and two boys came out.  They had no correlation to the Sister we were looking for, but they knew who missionaries are.  Their Mom was baptized just a few years ago. 

They welcomed us in, and we got to know them.  They haven't been here that long, but due to some difficult circumstances, they have not been able to come to church in a while.  We helped them with some yard work and moving, and invited them to church.  They came.  It seems so simple right? I can't explain how amazing it is to see the people you love take steps to come closer to a Heavenly Father who loves them so much.

I know that we are children of a very Loving Heavenly Father.  I know He loves us so much He sent His son for us. 

And I will never be able to thank him enough for that. 

I love y'all!  Stay tuned! 

Hermana McClune

BAMA is Toasty!

The swampy heat is finally starting to lay off a little, which makes our bikes much more enjoyable! That being said, it's getting pretty TOASTY

T-Thrive

O-On

A-Awkward

S-Situations

T-...

(the extra 't' is just to make it more awkward)

So missionaries are weird right? We were name tags that no one can even read because it's in Spanish, we ride bikes in skirts in the middle of the day when it is super hot, we talk to strangers everywhere, and help random people cut hedges. 

It's not always easy talking to people that really don't want to talk to you.  Actually, it's not easy at all! But we got to do it so we can find the people who really want and need our  message about Jesus Christ.  Which is where the toast comes in...

I think some of the toastiest moments are when you walk by someone or something and just KNOW you HAVE TO TALK TO THEM.  You don't know why, you just do.  So you have to awkwardly turn around and hunt them down.  I'm amazed at how every time I feel that, they really appreciate it or we start teaching them.  The spirit really does lead us!

Yesterday, it was 8:50 and we had nothing to do, but we still had 20 minutes to work.  It is always in the last 20 minutes that you find the person who is waiting for you! Problem is that when it's dark no one really wants to talk to you or its just not safe.  We drove up to a stop light and I looked over to my right and saw a self-serve. laundry mat. Bingo.  "Sister Latu" I said, " I need to clean my shirt".  So we went in. Okay I didn't really wash my shirt, but we did ask this cute little Hispanic lady for prices, and had a great conversation with her.  She was from Guatemala, and some of her family members had been through some very had things.  We offered our service and told her about English class that we have each week, and went on our way.  TOASTY, but great!

I just want to close with my testimony.  I usually do, so I'm sorry y'all have to hear it all the time, but I never tire of sharing the blessings of the gospel. I want each person to have the blessings that I've been given.  I know we have a Heavenly Father who loves us. I know he sent his son to die for us.  I know his church has been restored on the earth again today.  I know the Bible and the Book of Mormon are the word of God.  

Love y'all tons! Thanks for all the love and support. Have a great week!

Hermana McClune

Hey y'all!

Did I tell y'all I love Alabama? Well I totally do.

I really love missionary work on a bike, because we meet so many awesome people. Like last week for instant! We met Paul and Florence.  They are an older couple in their 80s. Paul was out mowing the lawn in his hounds-tooth-hat (Roll Tide!).  We stopped by to offer to help, and they invited us to sit on the porch with them.  A little ways into the conversation, I asked Paul if he had ever met Mormons before.  He said,

"No, not really. I did run some of 'em of my property one time". 

I responded: "really?! cool! hey, we are Mormon!"

He looked at me for a second, and then we both started busting up!

Doing a little service!

They told us a little about their story.  When Paul first saw Florence it was at a restaurant.  He sat down and told her: "Either run off and marry me right now, or give me a menu!".  Florence shrugged her shoulders and said "I gave him a menu".

We laughed and offered our service and left them with a scripture and prayer.  By the end, Paul told us we were welcome anytime.

I love how the Lord is able to work through us, to brighten someone's day. I don't know that they will ever come to church, but in that moment, they just need to feel loved. 

This is the best work ever!

Love y'all!

Hermana McClune

Only in Bama!