Christ is important to Me!

This week has been so crazy! I realized how much I missed my family because when I saw them on Skype I just started crying. I am SO grateful for my family!! I am also so grateful for the chance I had to talk to each of you! Sorry I didn't have much time to talk to each of the McNinch's or the McClary's but just know that I love you all so so much and it meant so much that you were there for me.

I didn't realize how much food Chileans ate until it was Christmas Eve. We ate so so so much carne. I didn't know what to do with myself. Christmas night I got so so sick. I think I ate too much food because I ended up throwing everything up. I haven't felt so sick as the time I was on my way to Disneyland my the big RV that we rented holding the big metal bowl. I just remember wanting to die. Well that is kinda how I felt Christmas night. I felt so bad too because my companion was sick too and her birthday was the next morning. We ended up staying all day in our beds not being able to move for her birthday. I was so so sick I was told not to eat anything for 12 hours. I just slept all day. It seems like a dream now when I think about it. I had lots of fun though. It was hard to be away from my family but I was grateful to be with members that were able to share their love with us.

Tuesday before Christmas all our district went and sang for a community of people with mental illnesses. We all had our Christmas hats and sang hymns. They were all so grateful for the wonderful spirit that was there. I was so happy to be apart of that wonderful experience. They didn't need much to feel so much joy.

I have been thinking why Jesus Christ is important to me. And Jesus Christ is important to me because He was THE perfect example for all of us. And he did everything out of LOVE! He is important to me because without Him I wouldn't be able to change and become a better person. Without Him I wouldn't have a purpose. I know that on my mission badge my name is next to His name and I feel so honored and at the same time so inadequate to be his representative. I know that Jesus Christ really does know each and everyone of us personaly because of the Atonement. I know that if we really apply the Atonement more we can be so much better people and be so much happier.

This week has been hard because lots of people have been out of town and lots of our investigators haven't been progressing. For instance we have one family that is PERFECT! Alejandra and Edwin they are a cute married couple and they have one daughter. They are SO ready to change. They are just so nervous to commit to going to church. This week they told us that they will not go because they have to choose visiting their parents on Sunday or going to church. It is such a hard thing to deal with. But I know that if we do all that we can they still do have their agency. Agency is so hard as a missionary...because sometimes I just want to take it away and help people come unto Christ. But everyone has their time to accept or reject the gospel and I know that that is true! Hermana Ramos and I are on the hunt for new investigators! I cannot wait for this next week!

I hope everyone had a great Christmas! Happy New Year! BE safe and follow Jesus Christ!

Hermana McClary

Christmas Feast before I got sick!

I made Lemon Cream Pie!

Momita next door, Hermana Ramos, me

We sang at a mental illness center

Christmas 2014 in Chile- Skype

Merry Christmas Day 2014, Hermana McClary and Hermana Ramos is singing the First Noel, on You tube!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbQurbqnq-M

McClary's house in Las Vegas, Henderson of course!

Christmas day in Chile via Skype 2014

Conference with Elder Vinas

Elder Vinas of the Quorum of the Seventies, came to Chile to speak, October 10, 2014
Bryce is the front row on the left

FELIZ NAVIDAD

"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have tribulation:but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world" John 16:33 

I LOVE CHRISTMAS! This week has been so crazy but so much fun. I was in 2 different choirs and I was busy sings all the time. But something I realized is that when we sing we bring the spirit with us. We performed in Rio Negro and it was so cold we didn't sound very good but it was super fun and we sang in the plaza in the Centro part of Osorno. It was awesome to feel the Christmas spirit. 

Also this week I have realized that food is so much better when it is made with love. This little old lady in our ward has been feeling super lonely because her husband died a couple months ago and she now lives with just her crazy daughter so the Relief Society president asked us to go check up on her at her house. Well Hermana Ramos and I went and shared a sweet little message with  her and then as we were talking with her she was making lunch. But she is so little and fragile. I was trying to help her but she wouldn't let me do anything. She is so strong! Anyways I was just watching her prepare her nice lunch and as we were getting ready to leave she invited us to eat with her. She was so sweet. She lives in a humble little house and doesn't have much of anything but she was wanting us to eat with her. She finally forced us to stay and had lunch with her. The lunch was so simple...just pasta and hotdogs (the usual here in Chile) but it was so yummy! And I realized because she had made the food out of love it was so much better. I hope I can be like this little old sister one day. 

We had an awesome Christmas activity with our zone this week. We had a devotional about Christmas and about what we can give Christ this Christmas. I have been thinking alot about what I can give to Christ this year and I want to give my agency...I want to do what He would want me to do. I want to give more of myself to Him. I know that sometimes I am resentful to do everything but I know that I can grow to know the Savior more if I really give my whole self to Him. I have decided to memorize the Living Christ this year. That way I can really study and ponder the Lord's life throughout the year. I encourage you all to do the same! The Saviors life was so selfless and He didn't come to this earth with lots of material things. He was born in a manager. His life was very modest and very selfless. That is what I want to strive to be this year. More like the SAVIOR. 

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas! We have a member that we will be eating dinner with on the 24th but we still don't  have any plans for Christmas. I just want to sleep and of course SKPYE my family!!! I cannot wait to see my family in just 4 days!! 

See you soon! 

Hermana McClary

Twin jackets

Hermana Ramos from Bolovia

p.s. here is a picture of me and a palm tree I found! It is the first palm tree I have found in Chile!! 

#Share the Gift

Hola!

This week has been very interesting, we have had lots of cool experiences and lots of weird things happen too. 

We started the 12 days of Christmas with our neighbor who is a less active! It is super fun! But it is super hard to translate everything in Spanish and to find all the cute little things to leave on her door. I LOVE Christmas and I know that she will love it and at the end of the 12 days we are going to sing her the song "12 days of Christmas" I cannot wait! 

We have lots of appointments this week to make sugar cookies! I am super stoked! Oh and a member in our ward had an extra Christmas tree so she is letting us borrow it for Christmas! Here are pictures of her and her family and me with our Christmas tree! 

Something weird that happened this week was an appointment with a new investigator his name is Pablo. It was so crazy. We were in the appointment for 2 hours! He and his wife were just trying to convince us that their church was right. I came out of the lesson so lost...feeling so bad because I couldn't feel the spirit at all. The lesson started good but then it just went into how they believe Jesus Christ is God and The Holy Ghost. It was so intense. They just kept trying to convince us with all these Bible scriptures. I felt so bad because we had a member with us too and she is preparing to serve a Mission. haha. So that was really rough. But today during my studies I was reading a WONDERFUL talk about our spiritual light and I loved this quote "If you want to give a light to others you have to glow yourself" President Monson. I love that because I felt so spiritually down and drained but this morning I realized that I cannot let this get me down. Just because I feel like I failed in helping them I know that this isn't their time to accept the gospel and I know that if I keep thinking about how I could have done things better I will let other people who need the gospel pass me by. We cannot let our light go dim. We must work all we can to continue to have our light shine! I am so grateful for this gospel and the Atonement because I know that I cannot do this work alone without The Holy Ghost.

I taught my first Relief Society lesson my first Sunday in this new ward! It was so crazy. I was super nervous but I was able to speak in Spanish...it looked like people understood me but I have no idea really to be honest. It was hard because I wanted to talk about the 10 virgins and how we need to be prepared but I totally couldn't explain it really well.I was grateful for a cute little lady in the front helping me explain the story. My companion had no idea what I was trying to say. haha.The ward here in Rahue is a lot bigger and it is actually a good functioning ward! Everyone has a calling and most of everyone actually fufills their callings so that is exciting! 

Remember Daniela? The girl I helped prepare for her baptism and then she moved?? Well, she is in my ward now! So that is such a sweet blessing! I love her so much. We went to go visit her and she has grown so much, she is really preparing to go to the temple and reading her scriptures and has SO much love for the gospel. 

Christmas is in the air! I am in 2 choirs here and we are preforming on Friday and Saturday. I cannot wait to sing!! I will have lots of pictures! 

Thank you for your prayers and keep thanking Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ for all you have! 

Until next week

Hermana McClary

Hermana Romas & Bryce

#Share the Gift

BBQ in Overjeria

Elder Warren, Sister McClary, Sister Vega with Steaks??!!??!

Good Bye, Overjeria!

This week was super crazy! I had to pack everything I have into suitcases! I was super stressed but I folded all my clothes nicely with my folding board so that was fun! So we went to the stake center and there was my new companion waiting for me. Her name is Hermana Ramos, she is from Bolivia! She is a really hard worker and she has the sweetest heart! I really do love her but it is hard to think of things to talk about because I am limited in Spanish. But she actually understands my Spanish so that is a plus! She has helped me a lot! My whole district is full of Latinos. So I literally speak Spanish all the time. Which is good but it is hard not to get discouraged. I still feel like I cannot be my complete self speaking in Spanish but I feel more confident now. I am slowing starting to love it. It is hard though, just because I was so comfortable with Hermana Vega but I know that the mission is constantly changing and that is what helps us grow. I love this scripture 1 Thessalonians 2:17 and I have been thinking a lot about change. We don't grow in a state of comfortable WE have to strain ourselves. Just like our muscles don't grow unless we get uncomfortable with more weight. I think that is so true. I have been having to stretch but I have been in a state of comfortable just because I was getting so close to the members in my ward in Ovejeria but I have learned that I need to move and grow. 

Did you watch the Christmas Devotional last night? We got permission to stay up late and watch it!! It was 10pm here so we went to the stake center and they had it on the tv broadcasted so we could watch it. I felt kinda homesick though. I miss all the pretty temple lights in SLC but it was fun! 

I loved the talk that Elder Richard J Maynes gave about the different characteristics of Mary and Joseph. It made me really reflect and think if I would be even able to be qualified to be the mother of the Son of God. That is an overwhelming task but the fact that Mary was so humble and out of all the women she was chosen to be the earthly mother of Jesus. I also love the characteristics of Joseph, he had to be so humble and strong for both Mary and to be the father of the Son of God. Heavenly Father had so much trust in them. I cannot imagine. It just makes me so grateful for this time of year. I love Christmas because we can share the gospel so much easier! 

Here is the video "He is the Gift" in Spanish! I love it!! I just watched it today and I am in love. 

http://www.mormon.org/spa/navidad?cid=HPFR112814529 #comparteladádiva 

I hope you all remember the true meaning of Christmas. I love Christmas and I love feeling the Savior more in my life. I hope you all can feel more of the Saviors love this Christmas season. 

Hermana McClary

Momita in Overjeria

Good Bye, Overjeria

Thanksgiving in Chile

This week has been super swell! We had a competition with our district on contacts. Ever since being on a mission one of my weaknesses has been stopping people and contacting them. I hate it. I just feel so awkward but I have really been praying to love it. Anyways this week we had a competition with our district to see who could do the most contacts. It was AWESOME! We were able to see so much more success this week. The contacts weren't necessarily the best but the fact that we were talking with everyone made us feel better and Hermana Vega and I had lots more appointments! Funny how that works. haha. 

Also this week was Thanksgiving. We told our momita that we celebrated Thanksgiving in America and that we eat Turkey and had lots of food on that day. So on Thursday she surprised us with TURKEY! It was amazing! It was the best food I have had since I have been here...because it reminded me of home! This Thanksgiving I am so gratful for my family and friends. I don't know where I would be without them. 

Then on Friday morning I made pancakes so we could enjoy the "Black Friday" holiday too! 

This week I got attacked with the fleas! I think they are all in my sleeping bag. So I took our whole room apart and sprayed everything and even vaccumed the bed and mattress. I think that I am just going to have to deal with bug bites throughout my mission. I am going to get home with scars all over my legs and back. #missionprobs

Hermana Vega and I bought a Christmas tree this year! It is super cute! ButI  just got a call that I am moving areas! I am going to a new area that is pretty close to where I am now but I have a new companion. She speaks only Spanish. She is from Bolivia! Which is super sweet. I know that Heavenly Father will help me. And I feel that this is my time to prove myself. I have to step up and learn Spanish. I am actually really excited because she doesn't know any English. I know it is going to be so hard but I know that I can do it.

Here are some pictures of the Elders that are also in our Sector. Elder Warren (he is leaving to go home this week) and Elder Hettinger. They are super chill and it has been a blast working with them in Ovejeria! My new sector is called Rahue Bajo! I cannot wait for this next adventure in a new area! :) 

Until next week! 

Hermana McClary 

p.s. here is a picture of me and my Christmas headband. I cannot wait to sing Christmas songs to everyone and wear them! I joined the choir here so we can go sing Christmas carols! I cannot wait! I LOVE CHRISTMAS! I get to speak to my family this month!! I am SO stoked!! 

Hola,

Hermana McClary

 Here is a picture of me and my Christmas headband. I cannot wait to sing Christmas songs to everyone and wear them! I joined the choir here so we can go sing Christmas carols! I cannot wait!

Elder Warren (he is leaving to go home this week) and Elder Hettinger. They are super chill and it has been a blast working with them in Ovejeria!