"There is a purpose to every trial"

​Forgot to mention it last week but the LDS that I'm posted up next to is actually a gang here, but for our church it stands for Latter Day Saints hahaha

Here’s a picture of our house.

This is the Bolivian version of the Space Needle (actually a water tower)

Found Bolivian Dutch, he's a homie.

Like I said, Bolivia is a lot like Louisiana. But I think the storms here are more frequent and a tad more violent. Biggest storm I've ever seen came out of nowhere. Streets were flooded in seconds.

Learned how to make empanadas. Super rico!!

It’s pretty common for us to see these cows in the streets haha.

Reading the Book of Mormon again, 4th time since I left home. Came across a verse that I love, 

Nephi 20:10

For, behold, I have refined thee, I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.​

Its comforting to know that there is a purpose to every trial, pain, or problem in our lives. God is refining us, making us more perfect and pure so that we can live with him some day.

Love and miss you all!

Con amor,

Elder McClune

"Gracias Senor por un dia mas en la vida" (Thank you Lord for one more day in the life)

Last P-day when we were buying groceries I saw a stand with Playstation 2 games for only 8 BS (About 1 US Dollar). Apparently, they can adapt games from other systems to PS2. I doubt it works but I'll send it to Landon to test hahaha

I'm re-teaching myself how to play the piano. So far I can play Ye Elders of Israel and Be Still My Soul.

Took a Zone picture because cambios (A mission is divided into 6 week units called Transfers.  At the end of 6 weeks a missionary location and companions may be changed,) are this Tuesday. I'll still probably be with Elder Silva for the first 3 months but we'll see.

I have like zero energy hahaha. I'm stuck in a vicious cycle of when I eat I get sleepy and when I sleep I get hungry. It never ends.

One thing that I love about Bolivians is that almost everyone when they pray says : " Gracias Senor por un dia mas en la vida" (Thank you Lord for one more day in the life). I feel at times we get so focused on what we don't have or our problems when we need to be grateful to just be alive. I know I can work on that.

Love and miss you guys

Con amor,

Elder McClune

"Know that God loves you, that he knows what you're going through, and he'll help you"

January 9, 2017

Lots to talk about!

Last p-day (One day a week missionaries are assigned a “preparation day” to do laundry, shoping, and any other chores needed.  They also e-mail their families and friends on this day and rest a little from their normal proselyting schedule) I got the fastest and cheapest haircut of my life. The guy did it in under 7 min and it was only 15 Bs (about 2 US dollars).

I was feeling a little homesick so I whipped up some no-bake cookies (Thanks Aunt Diana and Mom!) I didn't measure anything I didn't have any vanilla but hey, still rico!!

Seconds after I took that picture of the goat he charged me hahaha aggressive lil fella

I DUELED A TARANTULA. Albeit a smaller tarantula but still. I was doing some push-ups and I look up and that sucker was like 2 feet from my face. I was taking a picture when he lunged (that’s the blurry one) Ended up smashing it with my shoe, it was either me or him.

We were helping a mom carry her kids home during the middle of a storm. And I realized: I'm in a foreign country, learning a foreign language, I have a native companion (well Chilean), and nobody can pronounce my name. I'm living "The Other Side of Heaven" hahaha.

One of the families that we are teaching thought my name was "McFly" from "Volver al Futero" hahaha

On a more serious note, this week was rough. We didn't have a ton of lessons, I was super homesick, and a family that was going to be baptized told us that she didn't believe what we were teaching was true. And a little Hermana that I knew passed away. One of the toughest times of my life, but with lots of prayer and scripture study, I made it through. One scripture that helped, its God speaking to Joseph Smith while he's in jail:

Doctrine and Covenants 122:7-9

...All these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good.

 8 The Son of Man hath descended below them all... 9 Therefore, hold on

Life is full of problems and trials and at times it's hard to understand why. But know that God loves you, that he knows what you're going through, and he'll help you. And you'll come out of those trials stronger and better.

Con amor,

Elder McClune

January 2nd:

I have like zero time to type today so I'll have to tell you more next week but:

There's always chickens, cats and dogs out in the street. and occasionally there are these weird chicken duck hybrid looking things. I call them dickens. What the DICKENS??? I have no idea what they are actually called haha

Elder Silva and I did a service project for Hermano Alexander, a recent convert. We moved a lot of bricks, built a wall, cleaned up the yard etc. . While I was I moving bricks I found a new friend, Larry the lizard.

Hope everyone had a Happy New Year! Love and miss you all!

Con amor,

Elder McClune