Sister Huber and I are exhausted! It has been a fantastic week! Packed full of Goodness!

We were only in our area last week for about 3 days honestly. Not ideal, but necessary.   

Friday we had interviews with President.  He is so awesome!

Then right after that we went to the Haylesville's District Meeting (the other district in our zone) and met with the Sisters after, and then started an exchange with the Hamiltion Sisters. They were double transferred in, and are basically working from the ground up.  It was definitely bellowing freezing and I did not have the clothes I should have with me, but I've never been so thankful for so many hills while we were biking! They kept me warm!  We had a fun exchange with the Sisters, and hopefully helped them out to bit. They are wonderful Sisters!

  

Right after that we rushed as fast as TIWI (our little box in our car that yells at us when we speed) would let us to Decatur, AL.  I haven't been there in a while! It was so weird to be back, but good!

A few months into my mission when Sister Leahman and I were in Decatur, we were trying to figure out more effective ways to find people to teach. There are a lot of members who are less active in the area, and they live a ways out, so we decided to spend a day visiting different members.  We baked cookies, and were not having a ton of success, but when we stopped at Stephanie's door-a young single adult who usually went to a ward in Nashville-her Mom, Brenda answered. 

Long story short, Brenda, in her cute pink pjs welcomed us in out of the hot and we had a little chat. As we got to know her, we asked her if she had ever wanted to learn about some of things her daughters believed.  Her daughters had both joined when they were in high school, and Brenda supported them, but she had not been interested and was very active in her own church.  She always supported her daughters, but it had been difficult for her to understand why she could not go to her daughter's weddings in the temple, and very hurtful.  We invited her to read the Book of Mormon, and find out for herself, if what we believed was true.

As Brenda prayerfully studied, she gained a testimony for herself that this was where the Lord wanted her to be, and that the Book of Mormon was the Word of God. My last night there in Decatur, Sister Leahman and I invited her to be baptized. Her response at the time was that she wasn't ready yet, she wanted to keep learning.  I knew she would in her own time :)

Mama Brenda and I have been writing letters back and forth since I left. A few weeks ago she invited me to speak at her baptism.  I was so excited I screamed and started to cry! I love her so much, and I am so happy for her. I know the gospel has, and will continue to bless her life.  She has been through some very hard things, and has found a lot of comfort in the church. 

Look how cute she is: 

After her baptism, Sister Huber and I drove back to Columbus MS.

Sunday, right after church Mama Donna was baptized also.

Last transfer, when Sister Black was here, I was training her on different door approaches.  It was cold, and dark, and neither of us really wanted to be out.  We knocked on one last door, and started walking back to the car, when a dog started barking at us.  As we walked by the house, it kept barking, and I felt a tugging at my heart that we needed to stop.  I told Sister Black we needed to turn around, and so we did.

Mama Donna welcomed us right in! We did her dishes and chatted. come to find out, her brother is a member.  We helped her wrap her Christmas presents, and introduced the Book of Mormon. She read, prayed, and also gained a testimony for herself of its truth.  I don't know that I have met anyone else more ready.  When we taught her the Word of Wisdom she stuck out her lip and said "I'm going to miss my sweet tea, but okay!". That was that, no if whats or buts about it. 

Her baptismal service was so wonderful.   Cool story: she had asked Sister Huber and I to sing at the service, and told us to pick the song. Sister Huber and I, without saying anything to the other, both felt that we should sing "Come Thou Fount".  As we sang, Donna started to tear up, and mouthed the words along with us.  Come to find out, that was her favorite hymn.  There are no coincidences in the Lord's work. 

I am so blessed to be in this work.  I have learned so much from the examples Mama Brenda and Mama Donna.  I love them both so much. They will always be close to my heart.

Love all y'all! thanks for the prayers and support! sorry for the novel....but it was such an amazing week! I miss you and pray for you each every day.

expect miracles!

Hermana McClune

Mississippi is beautiful.  I love my mission.  I love this work. 

 

This is how I feel this week.  It's truly been amazing. 

Sunday, Terry was baptized.  It has truly been amazing to be apart of it.  A few months ago, when I first met him I addressed him as "Brother Elliott".  He corrected me, because he wasn't comfortable with it and not interested in the Mormon church.  He loved his wife, but didn't not understand the Book of Mormon or much else he had heard.  That was a Tuesday.  Two days later we visited, and talked about the Savior's Atonement, and introduced the Book of Mormon.  We addressed some of his concerns, and he committed to reading it. That was it. 

 

After that, Terry continued to read.  Step by step we saw him make changes. He tried to control his temper, treat his children and wife with more kindness, be kinder at work.  He said the blessing on the Thanksgiving meal as the head of the house for the first time; he had not felt worthy before.  He really developed his own relationship with his Father in Heaven.  He quit drinking coffee, sweet tea, and any form of tobacco. All because of his love for the Lord.

 

I've never seen anyone happier than him on Sunday. He had the biggest grin on his face.  The service was right after church, and most of the ward was there. They were so excited.  Sister Huber and I sang "The Ol' Rugged Cross"-an old Baptist hymn that has meant a lot to him.  He was baptized by Brother Norton and confirmed by Bishop Jolley.  It was a great service.

 

My favorite part of the whole day though, was when after everything was said and done, Terry put his arm around me and told some one: "This one has worked her tail off to get me here".  I replied, "It was the Lord, but we will keep working to get the rest of your family here too". 

 

He response was: "Don't worry, I'll take care of it".

 

When he said that, I knew that I had been a part of a miracle.  He changed his life, right to his very core. It had been in the Lord's hands the whole time, and I had a privilege of being a part of it.   I did all that I could.  When he said he would take care of it, it showed that he really had made a complete change, and was going to continue to grow and nourish his testimony, and be an example to his family.  I feel so honored to have become a part of that family, and to be a part in the Lord's work. 

 

I have a testimony of the truthfulness of this gospel, and the love that our Savior has for each of us.  He has come below us all, so that he can lift us up.  I know that we our children of a Heavenly Father.  He sees our potential, what we can become.  It's impossible for us to see that, but when we trust in him, miracles will happen. 

 

 

 

Later this week on Sunday, Donna will also be baptized. I can't wait to tell you here story next week :) We found her knocking doors, but she was just waiting.  Saturday, Miss Brenda from my old area in Decatur will also be baptized.  She has asked me to speak, which is an honor. 

 

I love you each so much. Thank you for all the prayers and support.  It really is a strength to me. 

 

Love all y'alls guts!

Sister McClune

 

And you thought you had to go to a foreign mission to eat parts of animals no one should think of......

 

 

This is a wonderful member of our ward, with Chittlin's.  Translation (since I'm now well versed in southerneese) Pig-intestines.  Yup.  The Stuff that holds poo.  Sounds delicious right?  Sometimes you can still see the cilia, and yup, guess what they smell like? Poo.  Guess what they taste like?  Probably the closest thing I'll ever get to eating Poo. 

 

I was fixin' to spit 'er back up, but I ate me a piece of deer, so it'll be a'ight. 

 

Anyhow, great week

Love the people here, Love my companion.  Sister Black is getting transferred :( I only got to do 6 weeks (half of her training).  I'm looking forward to next transfer though. There will be some great opportunities to serve. 

 

Sending my love and prayers! Thanks for all the love and support!

Con amor,

Merry Christmas Y'all :)

Each week I keep writing about our progressing family, The Elliotts.  They are awesome and I can't express how much I love them! They are so dear to me and they are so inspirational.

Attached to this e-mail is a picture of a Christmas bag. Inside the bag is one of the best presents I have ever gotten (the other being my Dog, 10 Christmases ago).    

We have been asking Bro Elliott to pray about December 28th as a baptismal date.  He has been, but we knew we would have to teach the word of wisdom before he really committed. So Thursday night, that was the plan.  We asked Bro Coggins, a member here to come teach with us.  Brother Coggins is also a convert who, until he was converted, drank coffee, tea, and smoked.  

As we first started to teach the lesson, it was going well.  Bro Elliott though expressed his need for small steps.  He has been smoking or chewing since he was 14 years old, or in his words, nicotine has been flowing through his veins since he was 14.  That's a long time.  I can't image what it would take to quit, I've never experienced that.  We asked him if he would live the word of wisdom, and he was hesitant.  He said he would try.  At one point, Tyler got up and grabbed the other cans of his Dad's snus from the top of the fridge.  We gave him a jar of Pero that we had wrapped in a Christmas bag....and continued to talk.

I don't remember how the rest of it happened. It's all a blur in my head.  What happened though, is that we bore our testimonies, shared scriptures, and really the spirit took over.  I could tell you what we talked about, but not the order or how it exactly happened.  It was not in my control, it was in the Lord's:

I remember looking down, then looking up as Terry stood up, weeping.  He said, "Take it away, Take it all away".  He walked over to the trash, spit out his lack pack of snus, and sat back down.  I asked him if he was sure and he nodded.  Brother Coggins gave him a blessing for strength, that he would be difficult, but he could do it.  As soon as the blessing was done, Pam took the snus off the table, put it in the Christmas bag we had just given them, and handed it back to us.  

We asked Terry if he was ready to be baptized on the 28th of December.  His reply was yes.

I have not had such a tender, spiritual moment on my mission.  I've been down on my knees several times asking Heavenly Father use me to preform his work here, miracles if I was worthy and able.  This family has been that miracle.  Through them, I have felt the Lord's love and seen his hand.  It's been amazing to be apart of.  

Friday, we went to the temple.  I prayed my heart out for them there.

Saturday, we went to check on them. Pam is an amazing example to me.  She is the glue that holds the family together. It has been so hard for her because she knows the church is true, but didn't feel that she could go without her husband.  She has been waiting for this

 Terry had eaten a lot, and a lot of fruit, but he was holding up.  It was hard, that was evident, but he is holding strong!

Sunday, they all came to church.

Tonight, we are doing Family Home Evening with them and the Norton's and my Mom's sugar cookie recipe!

Saturday, December 28th, Terry will be entering the waters of baptism

Sunday, December 29th, he will receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.  And his daughter and I will be singing a duet to "What Child is this?"

I am so blessed to be a part of this work! 

Love you all! thank you for all the prayers and encouragement.  I am so blessed!

Love all y'all's guts!

Hermana McClune!

Well! It was one of those weeks!

We couldn't meet with any of our progressing investigators.  They were either at drill for the reserve, studying for finals and at the Library or work for hours, and a variety of other reasons.  Which makes missionary work very difficult, but we did the best we could! 

It was also pouring down rain.... :) At one point we were on our bikes, in the pouring rain. I was up front, and kept thinking how I was putting poor Sister Black through this (it was her first time on the bike!) When we got off our bikes though and looked at each other, she had the biggest grin on her face-- as always. Love that girl! She is so positive and such a hard worker.  

Our Bishop here asked Sister Black and I to speak Sunday. My topic was the Atonement. I've done a lot of public speaking before, and so I am pretty good at writing talks. I can keep people interested and make some good points. So what? This time I wanted the spirit to really speak to the ward (congregation)...so I didn't write a talk. Don't get me wrong, I spent hours looking up scriptures and material about the Atonement and made little notes so I would remember, but I didn't actually organize a talk. I was scared to death, but I wanted to rely on the spirit and say the things Heavenly Father needed me to say.  I don't usually get too nervous, but I was sick to my stomach when I stood up there. And then as I started, I really did feel the spirit guiding me what to say, and I felt peace. It wasn't perfect, I don't think I changed anyone's life or that was I said was even that great, but as I looked at everyone, I know that what they were feeling while I was speaking--the spirit--was touching their hearts. I hope to use that more in our lessons, and really listen to their needs. I will be a much better missionary if I do.

Tonight we are going to play floor hockey with the Young Single Adults here.  They bring a lot of friends and it's great.  The Oja's are the FHE (Family Home Evening) coordinators and they are an awesome family...from Washington and Oregon :) Best place on earth! 

Tomorrow, back at the Elliots!

Friday-the temple. Oh good! 

Also, I can't believe I have been out for 6 months..... crazy.  My proselyting card expires in a year from today...

Gah! I still have so much to do! haha :)

Love all y'all! Hope you have a great week! So thankful for you :)

Hope you Christmas season is starting off wonderfully!

Hermana McClune

Howdy Y'all! 
It's been a great week-heard that one before?  It's true!

It was sad to say good-bye to Sister Krage, and were running around like crazy, but I can just say how much I love Hermana Black??! She is the best little trainee ever! She came from the Mexico MTC.  Really though she doesn't need much training!  She is from Paige Arizona (Lake Powel).  She was also at BYU this past year, and stayed in Y-view.  She is majoring in Photography.  Basically, she is the most positive person you will ever meet!  She doesn't stop smiling! I love it.  She has already made Columbus better, and she hit the ground running! 

Thursday, Thanksgiving, was her first day!  And we had two dinners :)

The first was with the Elliotts.  We invited Terry to be baptized last week on December 14th.  He has changed so much. He has never offered the Thanksgiving blessing before even though it's been house, for a variety of reasons. It is difficult for him to pray out loud, and he hasn't felt like he could before. This was the first year he offered the blessing.  It was short, but probably one of the most sincere blessings I've heard.  It was very neat to be there.  

Of course they ordered us to try a little of everything, which doesn't sound too bad until you see the lay out of food, and realize a little of everything = a whole lot.  They stuffed us!  It was so fun to be apart of, I love that family so much.  And Hermana Black fit right in! It was great.  

After a while, we asked if we could share a message with them.  The 30 people there didn't look very enthused to stop shooting their guns, come inside, and listen to these two strange girls who both had the first name "sister".  We shared Alma 34:38, about giving thanks daily.  As we bore our testimony of the Savior, their demeanor changed. The spirit touched each of our hearts, and we could see it in their faces.  

In between appointments (they were pretty close) as we were driving, I realized I was not going to be able to eat one bite at this next appointment, and I really didn't want to be rude.  So I pulled over, told Hermana Black to roll down the window and start driving. You can imagine her confused expression, especially as I got out of the car, and in my skirt and boots, started to run along side the car down the road.  I had to make some room in my stomach!  And I still could hardly eat another bite, but I managed. 1st world problems.

Anyhow, the work is definitely progressing in Columbus! we are on our toes.  It is such a blessing to participate in this work. 

Did I mention I am blessed?

I love your guts!

Sister McClune

Hola, Howdy, Hey-there

I know, that's quite the subject for this e-mail, but trust me, it's been a good-week.

First the sad news though: Hermana Krage is being transferred.  Basically we have drowned our sorrows in peanut butter cookies (because we haven't eaten chocolate in 3 weeks in an attempt to loose some of this Southern Squish... pb cookies are a healthy alternative right??) She has been here for 6 months now though, and has done a lot of great things here.  I will miss her! Love that girl!

Wednesday, I will be picking up my new companion fresh off the plane.  Training! Yikes!  I've been praying for this new little sister, whoever she is. Her first day out will be Thanksgiving, which I can imagine will be hard because we are away from our families.  It's a great opportunity for me to reflect, and see what I want to change.  I hope it goes well!   

Anyhow, now to explain about why yesterday was the best Sunday on my mission.

THE ELLIOTTS CAME TO CHURCH!

Pam and Terry have not been inside that building since the day they were married, 15 years ago.  And not only did they come, but their son Josh and his wife, and Kayla, and Sage!  Josh and Kayla are members, but Josh's wife and Sage are not.  Sage is sort of an adopted son, and the brother of Josh's wife (I know it's confusing). But basically what you need to know, is they came to church! And, it was honestly the most perfect sacrament meeting for them.  Brother Young was speaking, he is a convert and a very good friend of the Elliots.  His talk was similar to a sermon, which is what they are used too.  And it was such a great talk on gratitude!  Then we had a youth speaker, which gave a great talk and really impressed Terry.  THEN (it keeps getting better!) we had a beautiful musical number that just happened to be Pam's favorite song.  They both cried! 

I could not have planned a more perfect day for them at church if I had tried.  It just goes to show, the Lord will do what's best in his way, in his time.  I have fought tooth and nail before to get people to church. I've knocked on their door and 6 30 so that they'd get up and get ready.  I've called the Sunday School Teacher, RS Pres, Bishop, ward members to fellowship...to make sure the Sunday went well.  And I've never been able to put it together like that.  Yesterday, I was praying so hard that they would have a good experience, and as the meeting unfolded, I just sat back and was amazed at how my prayers were being answered.

I love the Elliotts so much, this family means so much to  me.  Their faith is really growing, and we hope that they will be baptized soon.  I pray that I can see them go to the temple.

AND I SERIOUSLY JUST GOT THE BEST EMAIL EVER FROM MY COMPANION IN DECATUR. My dear Miss Brenda has committed to a baptismal date for the 25 of JANUARY! oh my goodness! I just screamed I was so happy! She is so close to my heart! I am so happy for her, I know this will bless her.  The gospel has answered so many of her questions and given her the strength she needs.  She is so wonderful. 

I am so blessed to be a part of this work.  I am so grateful for the opportunity to serve am mission.  I love the people here. I love my Savior and my Heavenly Father

I really do miss you all, especially at this time of year.  It will be hard to be away for Thanksgiving ( Nortons, Elliotts, Smiths....)  We have about 4 homes to go on Thanksgiving day though, so don't worry, I will be with the people I love here.

But no one replaces family, and I just want you to know how grateful I am for my family and friends.  

I love all y'all!  I hope you have a wonderful week!

Love your guts!

Hermana McClune

 One of the Hispanic ladies we work with made us the best PJS in the world! 

YES, I 'VE WORN THEM ALL WEEK! WITH PRIDE! it's basically a massive sweatshirt that goes to the floor

Pam, Terry, Hermana Krage, and I have started an air band.  We made them instruments.  After my mission, they are going to take my hunting and we are going to do karaoke to every country song under the sun.

And Kenzaria did my hair the other day right before we did a little lesson.  Cute right???