July 24, 2017
(Internet cut out so no time left)
I'M AN UNCLE!! My amazing sister gave birth to a beautiful
girl, Elise Jene Demartino. I can't wait to meet her:)
This has been one of the best weeks of my life. I have been
so incredibly blessed. I can't express how happy I am right now.
My sloth friend “Sid” is still chilling in the same tree.
Occasionally if he’s feeling wild he’ll shift his position or even change
branches. Sid is living in the fast lane.
Elder Bariere has a more gringo name than I do: Hans Gerard
Bariere Nordenflycht. He's pretty much a Chilean viking.
Hermana Claudia was baptized this last Saturday!! She was
nervous but so excited! Her testimony was so beautiful, she shared how happy
she felt thanks to the gospel, and how she's never felt closer to God.
I’ve been studying Bolivain Sign Language so that we can
communicate with la Familia Menacho (Pretty much the same as ASL, just a few
slight differences). I can bear my testimony, ask and answer basic questions
(how are you? Did you do your reading? etc) They continue to read the Book of
Mormon. They committed to getting married and to being baptized!!! The gift of
tongues is real.
Miracles are happening here. This truly is the Lord's work.
PS: My pensionista says that we're going to be eating monkey
this week!
Les extraño,
Elder McClune
July 17, 2017
I love the mission. Still tough but man I love it. I was
made for Riberalta baby.
Couple fun facts about Riberalta: It's in the Amzaon Basin.
Super hot. Theres a TON of super red dirt. Reminds me of Moab (holy trunky
hahaha). Every house gets their water from una noria (a well). Some are lucky
enough to have a pump, but most just
pull it out by bucket and rope. The people don't have much but they are so
humble and loving. Food here is crazy, stay tuned because I'm going to try
armadillo, monkey, osrtich eggs, pirahana and a bunch of other wild stuff
hahaha.
I found another home dog. His name is Arnold. He loves to
follow us around. He just chills outside or next to us during lessons. One time
he got in a fight with another dog. He walked up to a wall and peed on it to
mark his turf. Another dog got ticked and peed where Arnold peed. Oh snap it
just got real. Arnold wasn't about to take that so he peed again. This repeated
like 5 more times hahahahaha (I have no idea how they have so much pee)
Had some great lessons this week. One of our investigators,
Clauida, prayed about the Book of Mormona and recieved the confirmation that
its true:) My heart almost burst I was so happy. She's going to be baptized
this Saturday!!
Crazy cool experience. Elder Bariere and I are teaching a
deaf and mute family, familia Manacho! I remember a few signs (like son,
reading, sorry, book, excellent etc.) from school, my friends, and my mom.
Obviously not enough to teach a lesson but it helps haha. We are going to buy a
book of signs so that we can practice testifying. But for now we teach with
pictures and a "whiteboard" (white paper laminated with scotch tape).
They read the Book of Mormon, prayed, and they know that its true!!!
This last Saturday we had 3 baptisms, Juan Jose (17), Raquel
(15) and Ruth (11). We woke up and our house (and almost all of Riberalta)
didn't have power or water, so that stressed us out a bit. But we were able to
fill the baptismal font and get everything ready. It was a beautiful service.
Elder Bariere baptized Ruth, I baptized Juan Jose and Raquel. Juan Jose is a
stud, that dude has got such a powerful testimony. He wants to serve a mission!
Raquel and Ruth are awesome too, I love visiting with them. Their little
brother always goes nuts when we visit, running in circles yelling "Los
Hermanos!! LOS HERMANOS!!!" hahahahaha. We're hoping that Hermana Blanca,
the mom of Raquel y Ruth will be baptized this Saturday with Caludia!
Wish I could send pics but alas, that technology has not yet
arrived to this internet cafe. Quizas proxima semana.
Les extraño,
Elder McClune
July 10, 2017
literally have no time, sorry!
It was hard to say goodbye to Elder Santos. Love and miss
that guy.
Cambios were insane and unexpected. I got sent to Riberalta.
Had to fly here, only could bring 20 kilos with me. Its super hot here. Super
beautiful, red dirt and lots of vegetation. The people here don't have much,
but are super friendly. My new comp is great-Elder Bariere from Chile. We've
been working super hard. We baptized Juan Leon Salvatierra (John Lion
Savetheearth, epic right??) We are working to have 4 more baptisms this
Saturday!
Also saw a sloth just chilling in a tree. Hasn't moved since
I took that photo hahaha
One night Elder Bariere and I were chatting about misc.
stuff. Apparently theres a ton of empanadas in Chile. He was telling me about a
pizza one an I was like "O, como un calzon?" I didnt actually know
the word for calzon in Spanish. But apparently calzon means womens panties
hahahaaha ya live and ya learn
Sorry this was so short, didn't have much time today.
Hopefully I can send something more detailed next week. Love and miss you guys!
Elder McClune
