The Best and the Worst!!

Sylvia (Rebecca's mom) who will be baptized and her dog who is reading the Book of Mormon.

April 27, 2015

Mother’s Day is almost here!!!!!   Wooohooooooo

No, I’m not counting down the days....   .....

As a missionary I must not lie.....

I’m totally counting down the days.

But I’m still focused real good on the obra (work) -- real good.   We are working so hard and having a ton of lessons and we are going to be having a baptism for Hermana Silvia (Rebecca’s mom) this week, and oh man we are just doing great!   As the pops (leader) I still have a lot of pressure with teaching and leading and finding house (which is nearly impossible here) and all that jazz.   On top of that is teaching Elder Walker all that he needs to know.   Really the hardest part is still the language, but it’s coming along ... slowly!   We had a bunch of success this week and yesterday (Sunday) in the evening we had 2 crazy, crazy lessons!  The first was one of the most spiritual lessons I’d ever had!   All 4 of us in the room were crying as we taught this man how to pray.   He was just crying and pouring out his heart and it was just incredible!   Oh, how powerful -- definitely one of those lessons where you walk out and just want to yell with all your might "BEHOLD THE POWER OF GOD"!

But then after that we went to the absolute worst lesson I’ve ever had.   It was a situation where each person didn’t want to be there and it was so awkward and we couldn’t leave, but oh how we wanted to and I couldn’t understand anything (because there was no Spirit there) and oh how horrible.   Last night I crashed, I was so, so wiped out.

I introduced a food called tortas to my comp.   They are like sandwiches, but really, really, really bad for you sandwiches and ya ... my comp is hooked.   He loves them so much and I’m afraid we might be eating them quite often this cambio (transfer).  This week I tried grasshopper for the first time -- quite delicious really!  Yum--a nice little crunch and everything!   I’m just happy they weren’t alive!

We had almost 10 first-lesson lessons this week which was good because we have new investigators, but super stressful too, because that first lessons means everything--whether you make it or break it!   I’m hoping we don’t have any more of those for a while!

Still plugging along healthy!  All is well, all is well.  I think Elder Walker and I are going to sing a duet at the baptism ... we´ll see how it goes!

I’m giving a talk in 2 weeks, a 20 min talk in Spanish.  Yup. I know the “in Spanish" part is a given but oh man, it’s still daunting.   Wish me luck. 

Elder McClure, Over and Out

Grasshopper . . . quite delicious, really!  

Another Colorado BIG BOY!

My New Comp, Elder Walker from Cortez, CO

I love this crummy city!

April 20, 2015

Hey ya,

Elder McClure here just living it up in the hottest city there is!   My new comp is really awesome!  His name is Elder Walker and he’s from 4 Corners, Colorado!  Yup that’s right--we 2 Coloradans living life in royal DF (District Federal)!   He’s 6’ 3” and 215 lbs!   We are talking BIG BOY!  haha   He fits right in with us big boys.  haha   I’m sure proud to be the dad of such a big strong young man!

We had much success this week, teaching 32 lessons and learning how to live with each other which can always be a struggle at first.  But we are good and have rocked our time together so far!   He likes to skydive and lives on a farm and drives tractors and had like 3 cars in high school, and it’s safe to say he’s a bit redneck, if you know what I mean.  Haha   We get along fine and really sometimes it’s hard to do my additional study that I like to do because we talk so much, just about random stuff.

Hermana Silvia is set to be baptized in 2 Saturdays and we are super, super excited for this date! Man oh man!   We also have encountered a few new investigators ... one being the family that lives right above us!  We have lots of work to do and we are pumped to get pumpin’!

This week has been a stressor for sure, but really I did good!  The sad part is I was so stressed that I didn’t capture any super funny moments that I could write home about!  Just work, work, work!

Yesterday we had the chance to give 3 priesthood blessings, in one day!   Wow!   We are talking 3!   That’s a lot!   My little Elder McClure self has a hard time handling stuff like that!   That’s waaayyy too much spiritual POW for one day!   But really, what a blessing it was for us to do!   I love being able to truly help people.  It brings such joy and it’s always just a constant reminder of why I’m here and how much I love this crummy city!

Elder McClure is tired and needs a nap and wishes he could take one, but P-day is just about up! Entonces

Elder McClure is out!

Love ya

Pedro & Sacnite with Elder Davis

My last district.  Elder Brown went home. Elder Davis transferred.

Holy Cow! I'm a Trainer Now!

Pineapple Ice Cream inside a Pineapple

People we are teaching.

April 13, 2015

Wow another week has come and gone!    Time just flies--I can’t believe it!  This week has been a week of wrapping up things and goodbyes! 

As of yesterday I finished my training and now I am a beautiful, normal missionary who doesn’t need any special help because I should know everything!   I’m very happy my training is over though, because really you’re just kinda treated like a dummy for those first 12 weeks.   I have completely enjoyed these past 12 weeks with my comp, Elder Davis, and we have had a ton of success together!   Why?   Because we have been exactly obedient and because we have worked our booties off every second of these 12 weeks.   I have no regrets.

I had my evaluation this week and my comp and I were selected to practice with the PRESIDENT!   I don’t think I’ve ever been so nervous in my whole life!  I was so scared I have no clue what I said or how it went, but afterward President commented on my Spanish and how good it was and then after we walked away my comp was like, "Holy cow, Elder Mcclure!  We killed it!"  So what a surprise that was for me!  I thought it probably had gone quite horribly, but then again what do I know ... I was not completely all there through it.

Also a bit ago I got bit by a dog ... not bad enough to bleed, but it sure made me a bit angry and for a sec I didn’t think "what would Jesus do" and almost booted that thing out of Mexico.  It was a little mid-sized black dog and it seemed so harmless until at the last second it turned and snapped ... kinda like Satan right?  So since then I’ve been threatening every dog that gets close to me and my leg is ready to boot at any moment!

Fast Sundays are by far the hardest days here on the mission ... It’s one thing to fast, but when its 95 degrees and you’re walking miles and miles and miles ... it gets to the point of dangerous.  Thankfully we are blessed and I feel so much closer to the Lord when I fast.   Fasting is so necessary.   I don’t know what I’d do without it.   I desperately need those blessing that come from fasting.

We got word that my comp is headed for a different area tomorrow and that’s kinda sad to see him leave but we’ve had a killer time together and I’m excited to do the same with my next comp -- whoever he is.

Elder Riley McClure

Mexico City South Mission

Out of training and ready to work!

 

Lots of good times with Elder Davis.

My Testimony Has Exploded!

At the Mexico City Temple Visitor Center

April 7, 2015

Well the sun is getting hotter and I am getting ... more dead!   We are talking HOT!

This week has been a good one!   As it is my 11th week in the field, I was the senior comp for the week and had to lead every lesson and every planning session.   I have to admit it was not my most favorite thing in the world, but it was a good experience and was very necessary because next week there’s a good chance I’ll be the senior comp in this area!   The whole experience was very difficult and very demanding!   I was forced to use more Spanish and had to really do my very best to understand what the investigators were saying so I could respond.   All in all, I’m glad I did it and this week is my last week in training!!!   WooooHooooo!

Up north (U.S.) we celebrate Easter for one day.   Here ... it’s a week of parties and crazy drunk people and water fights and every investigator being on vacation, so you have no one to visit.   Really it was a crazy week!   Especially when our neighbors threw a party that started at 7pm and ended at 8am.   Our house was shaking from the subs and me falling asleep that night was a miracle!   When I woke at 6:30 the next morning  the house was still shaking.   Crazy Mexicans!

The highlight this week, of course, was General Conference!   Holy cow was it just me or did all of a sudden General Conference get amazing!   I couldn’t soak it in fast enough.   It was truly so amazing!   One thing I think I’ve really learned on the mission is how to listen because here if I don’t put 150% into trying to understand these fast-talking Mexicans, I  don’t understand ... and so that has really boosted my listening skills and man oh man I loved General Conference.   One of the main things I think I learned was that it’s pretty much a commandment to get married as fast as I can after the mission.   Haha   No, but  really... Kinda crazy!   I loved every talk so much, but of course I must admit that my favorite was probably Elder Holland!   I couldn’t hold back the tears for that one!

In between the sessions on Saturday my district went to an all-you-can-eat taco buffet (see pics) and let me tell you I’ve never been so happy!    WOW!   I’m sorry, America, but really Taco Bell just doesn’t cut it anymore!

The teaching was slow this week, but I’ve improved a ton and my testimony has exploded!   I can’t believe how fast time flies and how powerful the Spirit is!   I’m going strong and my comp and I are gonna rock this last week together! 

All is well in Mexico!

Elder McClure

My Missionary Friends