Vicente's Baptism

This week has been kinda long. It was really good! We had another baptism! Vicente (the child of Marcelo and Karina) was baptized!! It was amazing. I loved seeing how happy he really was. Vicente is super smart just like my little brother Boston! (Shoot out to Boston, you are taller than Blake now...sorry Blake!) It is awesome to teach him and learn so much from that family.

Also this week we are going to have an Easter activity. We are going to paint eggs and have an easter egg hunt and have a devotional with the bishop. It is going to be SO much fun! We are putting this activity together to get more references. I cannot wait!! This week is also GENERAL CONFERENCE. It is like Christmas in the mission! We get to hear from our prophet! I cannot wait. I am preparing a list of things that I need help with. 

Also the video Because He Lives came out this week. It is AMAZING! We have been showing everyone! Yesterday we knocked some doors and a man came out and started talking to us. He wasn't very interested but I said "Do you want to see a video" and right before he was about to shut the door he said SI! Everyone has iphones here in this area so he pulled up the video and we just were on his porch step watching this video. It was such a special moment. I love technology. He was so receptive after watching the short video. I was so surprised. Anyways this week we are just going to invite people to our activity and to general conference! 

Thanks for your prayers. I love you all! 

HAPPY EASTER!! 

Hermana McClary 

I know that He lives and that He is with us today and always! 

p.s. watch and share the video Because He lives! Share it with EVERYONE! 

HIGHLIGHT: I found a J.Crew peacoat today at this American clothing store. SUPER GENIAL! It was only $12! I love good finds...even in Chile! haha

Vicente's Baptism 

I got my Easter fix!

another day being a missionary...

Many houses look the same at Puerto Montt

More Random pix

I turned Hermana Smoot into a small person

McClary and Smoot having Kabobs

Hermana Smoot and Random Houses in Puerto Montt

Windy hair

Paisley Companions 

Random houses in Puerto Montt

Random houses in Puerto Montt

Barney vs Statues

Barney is in the ward!

Puerto Montt with these freaky statues

The statues are really big by the Port

Invasion in Fresia!

Hola,

Well this week was my 9 month mark and one of the traditions is to take pictures as if you are having a baby so Hermana  Smoot and I took pictures. haha.  It was super fun. She made my HUMP DAY super special. We ordered pizza when we came home and it was such a blast! I love the fact that Hermana Smoot goes out of her way to really make each day special. She is the best.

Anyways we had interviews this week and our President was really happy with us because we are the only ones in our ZONE that is teaching close to 10 families. Our President has really been stressing on trying to have us teach families! It is AMAZING! The love President Obeso has for us is incredible. He really is always  worried for us but expects us to work hard. I really appreciate the way that he has been trying to help  us. 

New news, we have  more investigators this week and Pamela attended church yesterday! She came with  her two sons. It was so awesome! 

We also went to another area this week for a whole day. It was called an invasion! The Elders that are in that area don't have ANYONE to  teach. So the President told all of the missionaries in Puerto Montt to go to their area for the day and find people. Hermana Smoot and I walked and  talked with TONS of people. We had more contacts in Fresia  (the little pueblo  is called Fresia) than  in our own area. But it was so great! I had the idea to fast before we went so we could  have  success. We  fasted all  day Friday  and got there Saturday. We ended up finding a member and she came with us  to knock doors and talk to  people. We asked people for  water and to use their bathrooms just so we could get in their house to  teach them! It was EXHAUSTING! But so good. I  grew lots just teaching  on the  spot and not having any  plans. I know  when we teach with the spirit it really  makes the difference. 

I bought a new camera this week so Hermana Smoot  and I took advantage and took some sweet pictures! We also celebrated St. Patrick's Day. But I missed the corn beef and cabbage  that Grandma usually makes! haha. I hope you  all are  having a great week! Keep reading your scriptures! I cannot  be preaching the gospel and telling people to read their scriptures if my own family isn't. haha. I love you all SOOOO MUCH! 

Have a great week! 

Hermana McClary

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Puerto Montt District

Lord Is It I?

Best day of the mission! 

Hermana Karina came with us to TWO appts. It is amazing to really see that the gospel really changes people. She was bearing her testimony about how much the gospel really has helped her in her life. She was so grateful for Hermana Smoot and I that we were able to come all the way to CHILE to find her and to teach her family. It was such a great experience to have her testify of the truthfullness of this gospel. 

We have a great investigator that is really progressing! Her name is Daniela! (just like my last convert. haha) She tells people she is single but we know that she is living with her boyfriend. haha. Super weird but we are teaching her lots! We met her 2 months ago watering her flowers outside. She and her boyfriend aren't that religious but we started teaching her about God. She liked what we taught her but then she just fell of the planet. She wasn't ever home and she stopped answering her phone. So we dropped her. BUT we passed by her house because we were in the neighborhood and she was HOME! She said that she has been praying lots and that she started opening the Book of Mormon and just reading what she feels and each time she reads something it is about how she needs to listen and open her doors to listen to the gospel. It was SO cool! I cannot tell you enough that this work is really the work of the Lord. We invited her to come to church and she said she has been thinking lots about it! So yesterday SHE CAME TO CHURCH! We have been praying lots for her. She is amazing. We will be teaching her this week. We are going to teach her the Law of Chasity! It should be fun. haha. :) 

UPDATE! Hermano Marcelo received the priesthood this week and now has a calling in the Young Mens! I cannot even believe it! He was in our ward council yesterday talking about how we need to strenghten the youth. It was MIND BLOWING!! Hermana Smoot and I just grab each others arm and just smile so much because they are INCREDIBLE! Their son Viciente is going to get baptized at the end of the month! His mom Hermana Karina is teaching him all the lessons again just to make sure he is READY! haha. I love her. 

I know this church is true! I was thinking about something funny that happened this week and I couldn't think of anything. Lo Siento! 

But I was reading the talk, Lord is it I? By Elder Utchdorf and I love the part that says "Those who want to improve and progress, those who learn of the Savior and desire to be like Him those who humble themselves as a little child and seek to bring their thoughts and actions in harmony with our Father in Heaven, they will experience the miracle of the Atonement." 

I LOVE being a missionary! Tell me about your favorite scriptures that you have studied this week. I would love to hear! :) 

Love,

Hermana McClary

Picnic outside for lunch on saturday with Hermana SANDRA, She´s fantastic.

Chilling in Chile

The miracles of FASTING

Well this week Hermana Smoot and I  played volleyball in skirts! haha. It was super fun. We have a "soccer activity" every Friday night. But us sisters are not allowed to play so we always just sit on the side lines and watch our investigators play. But this week we all played volleyball. It was super funny. I forget how short these Chileans are sometimes. I AM A GIANT! But we all played and it was so good to be with the family Santana-Reyes. The parents Marcelo and Karina were confirmed yesterday! It was AMAZING! I love being able to see the joy the gospel really has given them! 

Fasting really does help with the mission work. So we have been praying to find more families! Our area is FULL with families so we have been praying to find the ones that are prepared to hear our message. So yesterday was Fast Sunday here since we had Stake Conference the other week. We started our fast and we have been praying to find these families right? Well yesterday right after we had an appt with a new couple. Their names are Marta and Benjamin. They are THE CUTEST COUPLE! Seriously, they got married a year ago and now they are both studying and looking forward for more "peace." They don't know exactly what the want but I can tell you THEY NEED THE GOSPEL!! I cannot tell you how much I prayed for Hermana Smoot in that lesson. I prayed for the spirit so much. I have no idea what I even said in that lesson but I know that it was not me! It was the spirit. I am so grateful for the spirit!! I know that when we fast we really do see miracles in our lives! 

We also found another family yesterday that have been through lots! The mom has had 2 of her children pass away! It was so sad to hear about that but I shared Alma 7:11-12 about the ATONEMENT. I love this gospel because literally every principle can be applied to our lives. They are super humbled people that really are looking for help. I feel really honored to be able to meet them and to even be an instrument in the Lord's hand. 

We have walked so much this week. My body is ready to DIE! All my tights have holes in them. Hermana Smoot and I took some great pictures of our feet. haha. Good memories! But it is SO worth it because this gospel really does change lives!!!

Best part is that Karina Santana is going to come with us to an appt!! I CANNOT tell you how happy I am to be able to go teach another investigator with our new convert!!! I feel so much LOVE for that family! :) :) :) 

p.s. my cousin Rebecca McOmber who is serving in France sent me THE cutest postcard that I wanted to share with you guys. I love her so much!! Shoot out to BECCA! :) 

We walk so much that we have holes in our tights!

MARCH! Halfway mark!

Well this week was good. We have had LOTS of wild fires here in Chile....well in the South of Chile. It has been horrible. Hermana Smoot and I have been working to find NEW people to teach. Since the Santana Family got baptized lots of our other investigators have lost interest or have been too busy for us to teach them. Yesterday we had lots of time and we were close to one of the families we met back in January. Each time we got visit them they aren't home. Well yesterday we were right by their house and Hermana Smoot and I had the feeling to go and see if they were home ONE LAS TIME. We went and knocked on the door and they were HOME!!! The lady's name is Ana and her boyfriend's name is Julio (or July in English. haha.) They have 2 REALLY cute girls! We taught them the Plan of Salvation. We sang them "I am a Child of God" and they were fastinated...mostly because Hermana Smoot's voice is like a voice of an angel! But it was AMAZING!! 

We also had stake conference yesterday. It was REALLY good!

One of the speakers shared a story from Elder Nelson. 

Elder Nelson's daughter came up to her father when she was 14 years old and said "Dad I want to smoke." Elder Nelson said that in that moment he had 3 options to tell his daughter. 

1.He could tell her NO! And tell her that if she lives in his house she has to obey his rules.

2. He could give her a diagram of a lung (since he is a doctor) and show her what would happen to her body if she were to smoke. 

3. He could give her a hug and tell her how much he loves her and share a scripture with her. 

Well he decided to show her love. Show her how much the gospel really helps and protects us! The next day his 14 year old daughter came to him and told her that she didn't want to smoke and that she wanted to do good and live the gospel. 

I was really thinking about how I LOVE this story. The Gospel really does protect us! In Ephesians 6:13

"Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand."

I know that this armour will help us when we have hardships or trials. Reading the scriptures, saying our prayers and partaking in the sacrament really help build our armour. I love being a missionary!! Even though the food makes me sick and we all have bad days. Seeing the joy that the gospel brings into the life of others is WORTH IT!! 

Love you all 

Hermana McClary