Going Strong in Bolivia!

July 23, 2018

So cambios... big surprise because everyone thought that I was leaving (the Lord likes to move me around a lot haha). But nope, Elder Prince got sent off to Riberalta (I miss that jungle paradise) and I stayed!! My new companion is Elder Croft- my "lil bro" (Elder Silva trained him right after me!) and one of my best buds in the mission. He also went to BYU before the mission- we're gonna go disco skating when we get back hahaha.  He's a Cali boy and apparently I'm a kook (means a surfer wanna-be/newb haha)

These first few days of the cambio have been super busy. Organizing the zone better, finding new people to teach, and planning some activities. I'm exhausted haha. But better to have too much work than too little I guess

Sorry I ran out of time but just a quote that I wanted to share:

"But just because spiritual trials are real does not mean that they are incurable. We can heal spiritually. Even the deepest spiritual wounds—yes, even those that may appear to be incurable—can be healed. The Savior’s healing touch can transform lives in our day just as it did in His."

—Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Bearers of Heavenly Light"

Love and miss you guys,

Elder McClune

July 16, 2018

Here’s a glimpse of how we celebrated the 4th of July hahaha

Well it was a pretty tough week. The ward went on a trip to the temple in Cochabamba so there wasn't a guy to accompany us. Thus we couldn't have many lessons :/ S'all good though, we still found a couple new families to teach and we made progress with those preparing themselves for baptism!

Probably the biggest reason why I love the mission so much:

Alma 29:8-10

8 For behold, the Lord doth grant unto all nations, of their own nation and tongue, to teach his word, yea, in wisdom, all that he seeth fit that they should have; therefore we see that the Lord doth counsel in wisdom, according to that which is just and true.

9 I know that which the Lord hath commanded me, and I glory in it. I do not glory of myself, but I glory in that which the Lord hath commanded me; yea, and this is my glory, that perhaps I may be an instrument in the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance; and this is my joy.

10 And behold, when I see many of my brethren truly penitent, and coming to the Lord their God, then is my soul filled with joy; then do I remember what the Lord has done for me, yea, even that he hath heard my prayer; yea, then do I remember his merciful arm which he extended towards me.

Seeing others learn of the gospel, repent and coming closer to God is marvelous to see. Reminds me of how good God has been to me. I feel so privileged to be part of this work.

Ephesians 3:8 8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the [Bolivians] the unsearchable riches of Christ;

Well we have cambios tomorrow😓 Reason says that I should be staying.....butttttttt cambios aren't made by reason- they're made by revelation ha. So we'll see what happens.

Can't believe I'm heading into my last two cambios- I'll be home in 3 short months!! It funny looking back on how hard the mission was for me, how much I struggled. Reminds me of this quote by Sigmund Freud:

“One day, in retrospect, the years of struggle will strike you as the most beautiful.”

Love and miss you guys.

Elder McClune

July 9, 2018

This week started off kind of slow.... BUT BABY WE FINISH FAST!!

I was pretty sick. Won't go into too much detail but Gold-bond is a heaven-sent gift for missionaries haha ouch. I was draining some pasta, I blinked and the next thing I know all of it was in the sink. Life is rough sometimes....

Got to do intercambios with some missionaries in my zone. Elder Baxter and I passed this one guy standing outside of his house. I felt the impression to talk to him- but just as I was about to he called us over. He asked if we taught lessons about the Bible. Javier has attended a lot of different churches, but none of them felt right- they were all lacking something. We taught him about the restoration of the church of Jesus Christ. We gave him a Book of Mormon and he has already read up to Nephi 13!! He came to church with us and loved it! Hes crazy prepared- just pure desire to learn and follow Christ :) He says he feels like he finally found the truth that hes been looking for!! Amazing seeing the Lord's hand in our lives!!

Celebrated the 4th of July as best as you can in Bolivia- hamburgers with BBQ sauce, singing the national anthem and randomly breaking out into chants of "USA!! USA!! USA!!" haha #norteamericamba jajaja

The new chapel in Satelite got dedicated!! Elder Prince and I got lost on the way there so we were walking around the countryside for like a hour haha

Its super cold again. So to prevent the flu, Elder Prince and I had an orange ball fight with Elder Baxter. DANGEROUSLY CITRIC

Man time is flying by so fast- it's unreal. Next week we have cambios!! I want so badly to stay, we've worked so hard and found some amazing people to teach. All depends on what the Lord desires though. 

Some of my personal study this week:

"The heavens will not be filled with those who never made mistakes but with those who recognized that they were off course and who corrected their ways to get back in the light of gospel truth."

- President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Repentance is made possible thanks to Christ and his atoning sacrifice. Because Jesus has paid the price of our sins, He can now turn to us and say, “Follow me” (Matthew 4:19), “Keep my commandments” (John 14:15). If we see His requirements as being way too much to ask... maybe it is because we do not yet see through Christ’s eyes. We have not yet comprehended what He is trying to make of us.

Elder Bruce C. Hafen has written, “The great Mediator asks for our repentance not because we must ‘repay’ him in exchange for his paying our debt to justice, but because repentance initiates a developmental process that, with the Savior’s help, leads us along the path to a saintly character"

Elder Dallin H. Oaks has said, “The repenting sinner must suffer for his sins, but this suffering has a different purpose than punishment or payment. Its purpose is change”

Latter-day Saints know not only what Jesus has saved us from but also what He has saved us for. As my friend Brett Sanders puts it, “A life impacted by grace eventually begins to look like Christ’s life.” As my friend Omar Canals puts it, “While many Christians view Christ’s suffering as only a huge favor He did for us, Latter-day Saints also recognize it as a huge investment He made in us.” As Moroni puts it, grace isn’t just about being saved. It is also about becoming like the Savior (see Moroni 7:48).

The miracle of the Atonement is not just that we can live after we die but that we can live more abundantly (see John 10:10). The miracle of the Atonement is not just that we can be cleansed and consoled but that we can be transformed (see Romans 8).

(https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/brad-wilcox_his-grace-is-sufficient/)

I know that my Redeemer lives. I am eternally grateful for His love and sacrifice. I know that I'll never be able to repay the debt, but I'll show my gratitud by serving Him and living my life the best that I can.

Elder McClune

July 2, 2018

This kid right next to me is watching Incredibles 2 AHHHHHH THE TEMPTATION

Anyway the week was FANFLIPPIN'TASTIC. Focused and having fun!

We had council of leaders and multi zone conference. I learned alot and made some plans of how to improve!

I got to see Heiver!! He's about to leave on his mission in Argentina!! Man I love that guy, I'm so proud of him.

We had a very sincere and powerful lesson with one of our families with baptism date. We were planning on teaching about the Sabbath day, but I felt prompted by the Spirit to ask them how they were doing- if everything was okay in the home. They started accusing and blaming each other for all of the problems that they had. It was very sad and heartbreaking to see such a wonderful family attack each other like that. The Spirit was leaving rapidly, so I told them to stop. Elder Prince and I shared some scriptures testified and taught about what is needed to be a happy family: love, repentance, and forgiveness. It was one of the best lessons that I've ever had- the Spirit was so powerful. My family and I are not perfect. Despite the immense love that we have for each other, sometimes we get annoyed and argue. But thanks to this gospel- we understand the importance and eternal nature of the family. We understand who we are and what God has planned for us. We want to live together for ever- so we won't let little temporary differences or problems separate us. I am so grateful for my family and for the gospel.  (https://www.lds.org/topics/family-proclamation?lang=eng&old=true)

On the way home we stopped at the venta to buy some stuff. There was a huge party going on next door. A angry looking drunk dude yelled "HERMANOS!!" and ran at us. I was kind of worried that he wanted to fight us until he started dancing- quite vigorously and aggressively hahahaha. Then he told Prince that he wanted to buy his shampoo for him. Trying to be polite Prince said no thanks- so the dude hit him! I distracted him by asking him to teach us how to dance hahaha oh man it was so funny

I think one of the hardest parts of the mission is just staying positive and happy all the time. We love the Lord and his gospel. We have such high expectations, goals and desires.  We really dedicate ourselves to the work so when dont see the success that we're hoping for, it really hurts. Elder Prince and I left early Sunday morning to pick some people to go to church. A ton of people had committed to coming pero entre dicho y hecho hay gran trecho jaja. Lots of people weren't home or said maybe next week. I was feeling a little discouraged until the Spirit helped me remember these verses

Alma 26:27-31

27 Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to turn back, behold, the Lord comforted us, and said: Go amongst thy brethren, the Lamanites, and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success.

28 And now behold, we have come, and been forth amongst them; and we have been patient in our sufferings, and we have suffered every privation; yea, we have traveled from house to house, relying upon the mercies of the world—not upon the mercies of the world alone but upon the mercies of God.

29 And we have entered into their houses and taught them, and we have taught them in their streets; yea, and we have taught them upon their hills; and we have also entered into their temples and their synagogues and taught them; and we have been cast out, and mocked, and spit upon, and smote upon our cheeks; and we have been stoned, and taken and bound with strong cords, and cast into prison; and through the power and wisdom of God we have been delivered again.

30 And we have suffered all manner of afflictions, and all this, that perhaps we might be the means of saving some soul; and we supposed that our joy would be full if perhaps we could be the means of saving some.

31 Now behold, we can look forth and see the fruits of our labors; and are they few? I say unto you, Nay, they are many; yea, and we can witness of their sincerity, because of their love towards their brethren and also towards us.

So we shrugged it off and kept working. Thanks to our faith and the help of God, 4 families came to church!!

Due to the council, conference, meeting and zone stuff that we had to do- proselyting time for Prince and I was kind of short. We still got a lot done- lots of awesome lessons. But by 6' oclock Sunday night we were heading into 2 more appointments and we still hadnt found any new people to teach. I haven't gone a single week in my mission without finding someone and I wasn't about to start now. So we finished our next lesson a little early, hit the doors for the 10 minutes that we had before our last appointment and found a new family to teach!! God adds his strength to his servants efforts!! MISSION OF MIRACLES BABY!!

So yeah. I'm loving the mission. Time is flying by. To misquote one of my favorite country songs: God is good, the mission is great, and Bolivians are crazy haha :)

Love and miss you guys,

Elder McClune

June 25, 2018

THIS WEEK WAS DOPE!!! Super busy and stressful but awesome😎

Had to organize interviews for the zone with president, meet with the district leaders, fill out 4 different reports for the zone, organize a ward mission activity, give a couple baptismal interviews etc. This week we have leaders council, multi zone conference, district meeting, ward council, mission correlation, pay the accounts on the houses in the zone etc. All in addition to working in our own area haha- AIN'T NO REST FOR THE WICKED AND THE RIGHTEOUS DONT NEED IT!!

Getting work done here in Viru Viru!! We keep finding new families to teach and they are such great people. For example la familia Orellana. They are just a wonderful family. They've been to a ton of different churches but always felt like they were missing something. Elder Prince and I taught them about the restoration of the church of Jesus Christ, and they have started reading the Book of Mormon!! They came to church and participated in a FHE. They can really feel the truthfulness and blessings of the gospel- Veronica is already talking about serving a mission!! (Family Home Evening https://www.lds.org/topics/family-home-evening?lang=eng&_r=1&old=true.)

We have been working a lot with members and recent converts (Aldo has been going out with us a ton!) and they are such a great help. Without them our job would be a lot harder and we definitely wouldn´t have near as much success.

This cool cat's name is Tommy- we're homies.

Ran into some crazy drunk dudes. Always makes for some interesting conversations ha

Celebrated el día de San Juan eating a ton of panchito and choripan.... and WE SAW COCO!! President gave us permission to watch it for a ward mission activity on family history. I loved the soundtrack.

Last night in a FHE Elder Prince was one of the losers of the game that we played and he had to chew and swallow a clover of garlic hahahahahaha burtal

Sorry that I really suck at writing these emails. This week was full of little miracles and special moments. I wish I was better at sharing all of the cool spiritual experiences we have but we have so little time to write and I don't always know how to express them.

Started reading the Book of Mormon again. I've lost track how many times I've read it, but I learn something new everytime. Some verses that I wanted to share:

“But behold, I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance.” (1 Nephi 1:20)

“And I said unto him: I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things.” (1 Nephi 11:17)

“Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.” (2 Nephi 2:25)

“For my soul delighteth in plainness; for after this manner doth the Lord God work among the children of men. For the Lord God giveth light unto the understanding; for he speaketh unto men according to their language, unto their understanding." (2 Nephi 31:3)

I know that the Book of Mormon is true. (2 Nephi 2 33:10-12 https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/2-ne/33.3?lang=eng) It is the word of God, written by the hands of his prophets in ancient America. This book has brought me closer to God and changed my life. I am eternally grateful for this priceless gift. I urge each one of you to read the Book of Mormon. It can help strengthen your faith, comfort you, and bless you in ways that you cannot even imagine:)(https://www.mormon.org/free-book-of-mormon)

Love and miss you guys! Time is going by too fast. I'll be home before ya know it!

Elder McClune

June 18, 2018

It is still ridiculously cold. I sleep with 3 blankets in long-johns and sweats. It feels so cold because of the humidity and none of the houses here have insulation ha

Ya boi Chef McClune has been on a roll this week: chocolate pancakes, pizza in a pan, spicy cheesy eggs, tacos, french toast, stir fry etc. None of it healthy but all of it DELICIOUS!!! Yeet.

The whole house has been working out together. AUMENTOS/GANANCIAS!! (GAINS!! Doesnt exactly translate haha)

We had a cool activity teaching the young men how to share the gospel with their family and friends.

Aldo accompanied us Tuesday!! It was a blast. It was his birthday so I got him a Peru mug for the world cup, a soccer jersey, snickers, peanutbutter, candies.

Paula, Estefani, Gosha and Aldo visited me yesterday!! Man I love those guys. They make me so happy. Amazing people. So blessed to have them in my life.

Not gonna lie this week was pretty rough. Just a lot of little things, but not much seems to be going our way. Amongst the many blessings of the mission, I'm learning to respond positively to stress and opposition. So after a few moments of venting our frustrations, me and Prince bounced back and went to out do the good work- THE BEST WORK!! Thanks to our faith, the guidance of the Spirit, and the goodness of God we found three awesome, new families to teach that day.

Watched a beautiful movie with some members yesterday, called "A Labor of Love" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Joacdj-faw). I got pretty emotional watching it, made me think about all that I've been through on the mission, how much closer I've grown to God. I struggle with feelings of inadequacy sometimes because I know how important this work is and I wish that I was better at carrying it out. But I know that despite my weaknesses that God loves me and accepts my service:

Ether 12:27

27 And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.

Alma 26:27-31,11-15

27 Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to turn back, behold, the Lord comforted us, and said: Go amongst thy brethren, the Lamanites, and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success.

28 And now behold, we have come, and been forth amongst them; and we have been patient in our sufferings, and we have suffered every privation; yea, we have traveled from house to house, relying upon the mercies of the world—not upon the mercies of the world alone but upon the mercies of God.

29 And we have entered into their houses and taught them, and we have taught them in their streets; yea, and we have taught them upon their hills; and we have also entered into their temples and their synagogues and taught them; and we have been cast out, and mocked, and spit upon, and smote upon our cheeks; and we have been stoned, and taken and bound with strong cords, and cast into prison; and through the power and wisdom of God we have been delivered again.

30 And we have suffered all manner of afflictions, and all this, that perhaps we might be the means of saving some soul; and we supposed that our joy would be full if perhaps we could be the means of saving some.

31 Now behold, we can look forth and see the fruits of our labors; and are they few? I say unto you, Nay, they are many; yea, and we can witness of their sincerity, because of their love towards their brethren and also towards us.

11 But Ammon said unto him: I do not boast in my own strength, nor in my own wisdom; but behold, my joy is full, yea, my heart is brim with joy, and I will rejoice in my God.

12 Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever.

13 Behold, how many thousands of our brethren has he loosed from the pains of hell; and they are brought to sing redeeming love, and this because of the power of his word which is in us, therefore have we not great reason to rejoice?

14 Yea, we have reason to praise him forever, for he is the Most High God, and has loosed our brethren from the chains of hell.

15 Yea, they were encircled about with everlasting darkness and destruction; but behold, he has brought them into his everlasting light, yea, into everlasting salvation; and they are encircled about with the matchless bounty of his love; yea, and we have been instruments in his hands of doing this great and marvelous work.

D&C 18:10-15

10 Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God;

11 For, behold, the Lord your Redeemer suffered death in the flesh; wherefore he suffered the pain of all men, that all men might repent and come unto him.

12 And he hath risen again from the dead, that he might bring all men unto him, on conditions of repentance.

13 And how great is his joy in the soul that repenteth!

14 Wherefore, you are called to cry repentance unto this people.

15 And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!

Love and miss you guys.

Elder McClune