Walking and Singing . . .

It rains a lot!!

July 27, 2015

What a week!   We totally put in a full week of work and got in return 5 lessons in total.   5. Woooooooo!!!!   Yaaa!!!!!    We are awesome!!!   Man the work here is hard and slow!!!!   5 lessons and 4 were with actives (active Church members).   The other menos activo creo (less active members).   We don’t really have any investigators right now, so that’s rough, but hey we are working hard and we will be blessed for it, right? 

So pretty much we walked ... alllllll week, which was awesome.   It gave me some time to sing.   I especially thought of the song about pioneer children walking and walking and walking.   Ya that was one that ran though my head a lot.   And I sang the song by the big guy about how “Everything little thing ... is gonna be alright” as I got growled at by a herd of trash-eating dogs.   Music this week is what seriously kept me going. 

Besides all the walking and singing I really can’t think of anything else that happened this week.   Hmmm.

Yep, that’s really about it!   I’m in chapter of 8 of Moroni in the Book of Mormon ... SO close to finishing.  It’s so awesomely crazy, I’ve been like trying not to read very much because I don’t want it to end;  but ya, 2 chapters left and nada mas (nothing but)!   I’m also halfway through reading the Doctrine & Covenants and half way through reading the Book of Mormon in Spanish.   What should I do next?   The Bible?  Oh yikes!  (It's SOOOOO big!!)

I’ve really been able to focus on my Patriarchal Blessing esta semana (this week) and it’s so incredible the blessings that have already come forth and have happened in my life.   What a blessing to have this guidance to help me find my way!

The work is hard, but it’s awesome.   The walking is good.   I’ve got good views, good smelling cows, great tasting eggs and hotdogs, and a smile on my face.   Life’s good!

Elder McClure 

My bros . . .

My Joy is Full!!

My District!  My companion on the left.

July 20^th, 2015

2nd week in Ajusco and I do believe I’m acclimating real well!  So much has happened and soo much hasn’t happened this week that I think I might just be good to call it a post right now.

Nah . . . so first a little bit more info--my comp, Elder Sierra, is from Colombia . . . not Columbia. (Supposedly there is a difference.)   He has 17 months in the mission and is probably the skinniest kid I have ever met.  He’s buying special protein to help him gain weight ... I wish I had that problem!

Ajusco is high in altitude (9600 feet) and absolutely beautiful.  There are ponies and moomoos and sheep and grass and fields and even a little bike trail (if only we had bikes) and volcanos and hills (lots of hills) and really it is just the cutest little giant pueblo you ever did see!  My calves have never hurt so bad in my life and the bus ride down the mountain to get to the city is about as life-threatening as rafting class 1billion rapids!   I LOVE AJUSCO!

 This week we worked hard trying to build up our area.  The truth is that when I got here this area was dead.  Now we have a few investigatores and a few future-investigatores and this week looks promising!  I’m really learning how to talk to everyone and how to understand a Colombian accent.  In all my emails I got this week people said how my Spanish must be getting so much better with an all-Hispanic district.  Oh, how I wish you all were right!  HAH!   I haven’t learned one new thing of Spanish.  Sadly my whole district says I’m already good with Spanish and so they won’t help me.  Elder Galindo from Honduras is fluent in English and he won’t help me!  I asked him to correct me when needed and he was all "ehhh, you’re fine".   So yeah, my Spanish might go a little downhill but at least I have Elder Galindo to talk to in English every now and then, so I don’t forget the basics of English. 

Oh yeah, also this week I went with Elder Galindo in his area for intercambios and it was real fun because he knows a ton about American movies and he kept me entertained for a whole 24 hours with lines from movies and just funny American stuff that I’ve missed a lot.  Also this week both my comp and I were down with a cold which was a little rough, but now we are doing much better and ready to work. 

Hmmmm . . . what else?  I had my first interview with my new Prez this week and my whole idea of missionary work was changed!   That man is truly inspired!  I love him!  He taught me how to love the people and after loving them the rest falls into place.  It’s something I might possibly be lacking so I’m super grateful for this insight and help from Prez.  It was such a powerful interview, we were both crying and wow the Spirit was so strong.  This past week was a bit slow, but things are picking up here in Ajusco and I’m ready to give it all I’ve got.   Missionary work is so rewarding--so hard and stressful and painful at times, ya ya ya; but so so so rewarding.  Oh how I love it all . . .even when it’s hard.   When it’s hard I learn even more so really, always it’s a winning situation.  I’m grateful to be here in Ajusco serving and giving it all I got.

My joy is full!

Elder McClure

My Branch President's daughter and her friend.

Ajusco! Lovin' it!

My new area is behind me.

My new district.

July 13, 2015

Wow, my world has been flipped upside down--let me tell ya. So I thought having a call to Mexico City would mean 2 years of straight up ghetto desert city and nothing else ... I WAS WRONG! Transfers came and I am now in a small town called Ajusco.  It’s high in the mountains and extremely cold--like super cold--like so cold I can’t explain how cold!  There are farms and animals and cold and wow it’s so different.  I heard it’s where disobedient kids get sent to suffer and shape up, but I’ve been obedient, so who knows why I’m here.

My district is made up of 4 elders again. My comp, Elder Sierra is from Colombia. He doesn’t know English. Elder Nava is from Veracruz and Elder Galindo is from Honduras. Yes. I’m the only white boy. It’s rough. I ended my last transfer with confidence in my Spanish. Now I just realize how dumb I really am! It’s awesome. I love all the guys here though; they are great and good workers. My house is much bigger than last week, but super cold and damp and my towel doesn’t even dry with a day of being hung. Our house was so gross when I got there I wanted to throw up, but we’ve done some cleaning since then.  But it still needs help. There isn’t a ward here, just a branch of 30 active members and we meet in A House of Prayer. It’s a pretty sweet house though, so I’m pretty excited!  I gave a talk yesterday!  A great way to welcome a poor dumb white kid into the branch, huh! I spoke 15 minutes on testimony and missionary work.

I also had intercambios (exchanges) with the zone leaders this week and learned a ton from them.   They have a sweet area with baptisms almost every week. Also this whole past week my comp had to go to the hospital for tests because he has migraines, so I literally haven’t even worked in my new area yet.  Anywho, lots went on this week and lots of stress and not feeling super, super happy, but still kinda happy! I’m happy and healthy and starving and my calves are destroyed because every road is so steep it’s hard to walk. But I’m good.

 AJUSCO!  Lovin’ it

L to R: My son on the left, then me, my dad, my grandpa, and my great-grandpa. Terms used for who trained who.

Bye, bye!  Iztapalapa!!

Good-bye Iztapalapa!

Hurray for Pizza!!

Super weird fruta called leeches that taste ... kinda like grapes. 

July 6, 2015

Hey Y’all,

So um, first off ... saw that picture of my boy Jacob Clark and all, and HOLY COW, he’s already home!  Can’t believe my eye balls!  Congrats to him and boy do I miss him.

OK, now to the other, not so important stuff:

Well we have a new president and I got to meet him last Wednesday and WOW he’s AMAZING!  Talk about a man of God!  And his wife ... she and I are gonna get along just great. She’s so so so so so so so so funny!!!!!!  Anywho, we had a zone conference to get to know him and his main message was "be 100% obedient" ... pretty interesting huh!  I love it!  That’s what it’s all about!  Success and happiness are what come from this whole obedience thing.  I love it!

Anywho, it was my turn to stand up and introduce myself in this conference and I mentioned that I was from Fort Collins and they both in one voice were all "our daughter lives there!!!!" and I was all like "Score"-- new favorite right here!  No not true, but anywho, ya their daughter is in Fort Collins so that’s pretty sweet.  I think I got an “in” with them for sure!! Hahaha--no.  Anywho, they are amazing and I’m so excited to get to know them better and work with them in this sacred work. 

This week was a good one, but very slow, might I say.  Not many lessons and the heat has kicked in -- and rain. los dos (both).   The reward at the end of the week was having 7 investigadores in the chapel on Sunday!  How amazing right???!?!!  We were so happy and 4 are a family--parents and 2 daughters.  They are the ones with the bunny and I’m so excited for them.  We don’t have many investigators, but the ones we have are really good and progressing, so it’s so wonderful.  I’m so happy!

Ok, now the scary news!  I’m getting transferred!  I know not where and with whom ... but tomorrow I’ll be off to a new land with a new comp and boy my adrenalin just can’t stop pumping!  Iztapalapa has been my home for all my mission and here I have made new friends, found much success, seen miracles, felt true happiness and grown spiritually in a way my little brain can’t even comprehend.  Leaving is going to be so hard, but I’m so excited for what lies ahead! 

I feel so, so blessed right now in my life and I’m so, so happy I just can’t put it into words. Serving the Lord really is the best thing any 19 year-old-boy could do. 

Next week get ready for the big news on where I am and who my comp is.

Elder McClure

My Mexican grandmas!

Super Tranquilo in Mexico

Notice the faces on the sides of the buildings.

June 29, 2015

Hey guys!

It’s been... another week!!!   Wow they fly by! 

This lovely week has been a bit of a boring one to tell the truth.  Nothing super awesome happened ... sickness came among our district and 3/4 were sick this week, on and off--the other 2 with stomach and me with a cold.  But it didn’t slow down the work much.  

Hmm, what else?   I didn’t get chased this week, didn’t step in too much dog poop, and really it’s super tranquilo here in DF.

La Hermana Carolina wasn’t baptized so that’s a bummer, but in a few weeks I think that’ll take place!  We are also teaching a guy named Domingo.   I think I’ve mentioned him before, and he’s sooo cool.   He’s like my bro and we are teaching him and waiting patiently for him to receive an answer from the Spirit.  He comes to Church every Sunday and man I love the dude.  He also asks for a priesthood blessing after every lesson; so just with him I’ve had a TON of practice with the whole blessing thing.

We have new investigators, an older couple, and they are absolutely delightful!  The husband wasn’t all too interested at first, but yeah now they are both soaking up what we have to teach! 

It’s the last week of this cambio (transfer) and also my president took off today!  [His mission president is just finishing his 3-year mission and going home.]  So sad!  The new prez gets in tomorrow.  We are sending lots of prayers his way!  I’m pretty sure I’ll be transferred to another area so that’ll be the news for next Monday ... I should know by then, if I’m leaving!

Our mission is number 1 in referrals or something like that.   My prez sent us all an email with a lot of !!! because he’s so proud of us.   Our mission is also one of the strictest, if not THE strictest, in all the world and really I love it!  We have so many rules, but it just makes us stay on track better.

I’ve enjoyed being a trainer, but man I’m worrrrrnnn out-- kinda grateful it’s the last week. Elder McClure needs a Mexican companion so he can learn him some Spanish!

I’m healthy-ish and happy and workin’ hard!   Gonna go enjoy some Mexican pizza in a sec and really ... life is GOOD! 

Oh, something else that’s cool, Fernanda who just got baptized ... yeah she’s a famous singer here in DF (Distrito Federal)!   Totally just found that out!  I can totally say I baptized a famous person now!!  WOOO!!

Lovin’ it,

Elder McClure

Over and Out

Tomas’ shack is just past these buildings.  You can see all the shacks in the distance.   All is getting destroyed and they have no say in the matter even though it’s their homes.

Hermano Tomas--he lives is this little shack and it’s also his work, a shoe store.   He just got word that he and his whole area have to evacuate in like 2 days cuz they are coming in and bulldozing the place.  It’s sooo sad.   He’s a counselor of the ward mission leader and helps us a ton with everything.

Ho, Ho, Ho from Mexico!!

Christmas in June!!

Hermana Fernanda with her Mother and Sister

June 22, 2015

This week’s been a good one! 

We be doin’ a whole lot of walking, but hey my gut could use that so really I’m quite content! With the new rule of not visiting women without a man present, our numbers have dropped from 30 some to 20 some or even 10 some per week and with this new change it’s very hard, because it just means we walk a ton, but really it’s all good!

Hermana Fernanda was baptized on Friday and confirmed on Sunday!   She’s number 3 out of that family and all we have left is their dad to teach ... but he’s not interested so that might be hard.   Who knows.   It was a wonderful service with almost warm water in the font and she bent her knees and sat down in the water just like I taught her and man it was so quick and easy.  I just love ordinances that go smoothly!  Afterward she bore her testimony and started crying and so, of course, I’m sitting in the audience crying my little eyes out, too.   She told the story of how her family is more united now and her little sis believes in God now and it’s all because God heard her prayers; and soon after the missionaries showed up.  It’s been a true pleasure to spend the past 6 months teaching her and her family.   Having 3 separate baptismal services is just fine with me!   Oh how blessed we are here in this area.

Fun story... last night we were walking home in the dark and a drunk teen came after me with a broom... lucky for him I didn’t have my umbrella on me and pull out some light saber moves on him that I’ve been practicing. 

We have a new family to teach and I really honestly don’t remember their names, but I do remember that they have a pet bunny and yeah that’s pretty much all I got to say.  I’m in heaven--Seriously the best surprise all week.   I held that thing for forever and it was so hard to concentrate on the lesson!  I’ll try to get a picture of it this week.

Carolina is set to be baptized this Sunday.   She’s a young mom with the cutest baby ever and she’s been a golden investigator.   She’s been ready for baptism since day one so really we have just been trying to get the lessons done with her so she can be baptized.

I already mentioned the new rule about visiting women in houses and so really some days we only have 2 lessons...which means we spend about 7 hours straight walking...just so you have an idea.

All is well.   My comp and I took Christmas card photos to send to you all as we are ready to celebrate half-Christmas on Thursday and my half-birthday on Friday.

I, Elder McClure, am loving it all sooooo much I can’t complain about a thing. DF(Distrito Federal - Mexico City) South is where I belong and man I love this work.

Elder McClure

Well Howdy!!

Riley with Elder Walker in the hospital

June 15, 2015

Hey guys,

This week’s been a real crazzzy one!   There’s so much I wanna tell, but really I don’t know how to tell it all and so you might just have to wait for the whole story until I get home.

But for a really quite lovely summary, this week started off with a real great P-day (Preparation Day) and then went downhill from there very fast!   We left real early Tuesday morning for a zone conference and on the bus ride there my comp got a little sicky-sick.   We got to the zone conference without having to clean up a mess, thankfully;  but then I pretty much missed the entire conference because we were in the bathroom ... a lot!   The saddest part for me was missing the testimonies of my Mission President and his wife.   It was our last conference with them because they leave in 2 weeks.   But anywho, my comp was hurlin’ and moaning and not doing good at all.   Long story short, the President and his esposa  (wife) rushed us to the hospital where my comp could get some medical attention.   As my comp got plugged in with the IV and all, my president took me to the restaurant nearby and I got to have 45 minutes of one-on-one time with him and that was probably the highlight of the week and a super cool experience.   I really feel like I got to know him and of course that happens right as he is about to end his calling!   Anywho, we were at the hospital for 24 hours and I got to know the nurses real well and learned how to fill out pages and pages of info that were all in Spanish!   I got to sleep on a couch in the room--but no pillow or blanket-- and those darn nurses kept coming in and flippin’ on the light and waking me up and having me sign things!

What an awesome experience!  Anywho, we spent the rest of the week recovering and now it’s Monday again and I just pray this week goes a little better than last!  My comp is all better now.   Something had been wrong with his stomach and he said the whole experience was the most painful time that he’s ever felt in his life.  I’ve learned that hospitals are actually pretty fun to explore in and that IVs aren’t really that scary when they are in your comp and not you. 

This week we have a baptism planned for Hermana Fernanda, the sister of Rebecca and the daughter of Silvia. 

I’m healthy, ready to work, excited for this week, and ready to preach some Gospel!

Love,

Elder McClure

 

Mission President and His Wife along with Riley's Comp from the Missionary Training Center