Santana-Reyes family is baptized!!

Well this week was so good!! We had lots of things to do to prepare for the baptism. 

I gave a talk yesterday in sacrament and I felt way more confident this time around. Hermana Smoot has really been helping me with the language. She has been working with me and helping me not just be able to talk but she is helping me perfect my Spanish. She is THE BEST! And guess what!! We are going to stay together for ANOTHER transfer!! I AM SO EXCITED!! We have tons of things to do to help this ward! 

We had great lessons with the family Santana-Reyes. They are AMAZING! We went to another baptism to prepare them for their baptism. They were really ready to be baptized. Yesterday for the baptism program Hermana Smoot and I both sang "I am a child of God" but it was BEAUTIFUL. The spirit was so strong in the chapel. I loved it! 

Then we had the baptism and Hermana Smoot and I just stood in the back squeezing each others arms because we were so HAPPY! It is amazing to really see the progress of their testimonies. Then Hermana Karina bore her testimony and her husband did too. It was so powerful everyone felt the spirit so strong and I was in tears (figures!) I love that family! And another awesome thing is that their son Viciente wants his dad to baptize him. We are going to be preparing Vicente now so he can be baptized! I cannot wait!! 

We have had a great transfer and this next transfer is going to be even BETTER! We have lots of plans and things to help us become better missionaries! I love being here in Chile. I completed my 8 months just a couple days ago! I cannot believe that I have been on my mission and next month will be my half-way mark. I still have LOTS to learn but I know that with Heavenly Father I can do ANYTHING! I know this church is true! :) 

I uploaded lots of pictures on Dropbox so you can look at my photos! 

The best Valentine's day

This week was AMAZING! I am going to give you guys a short play-by-play.

Wednesday we had intercambios (we switch companions for a day with our sister training leaders) I was with Hermana Baker in my area. I had to lead the area because she had no idea where we were going. It was good....we got lost alot since I haven't been in this area for that long but I learned lots. We were looking for a members house for an hour! It is worse because I always feel like the sister training leaders are judging my every move. haha. Because they always report how we are doing to the President. But it was good. she helped alot! We had a great lesson with the Santana-Reyes family. The mom was there and I was studying all day how to have the spirit with me more. During this lesson she felt the spirit so strong and started crying. I bore my testimony of the gospel and promised her that if she would pray with her husband she would help him gain a testimony of the gospel. It was amazing. I felt the spirit work through me so much in that lesson because I know that those words were NOT my words. My spanish was perfect too! MIRACLE!! 

Thursday, we had a lesson on the Word of Wisdom with her husband Marcelo. He always has doubts so I studied lots so I could be prepared to answer his questions. Well he had lots of questions about why we couldn't drink tea. He was so focued on why we couldn't drink tea that it was hard to have the spirit there. He was very upset but we tried to help him realize the blessings...but we challenged him to pray. I felt impressed to ask him to pray with us about the Book the Mormon right there. So we knelt down and prayed together. He prayed silently and I was just praying so so so hard that he would feel SOMETHING! 

Friday, we had our soccer activity and the Santana family came and played with the ward. It was really great!! They all feel so much more comfortable in the ward! We even bought watermelon for all the people there!! Side note: watermelon here in Chile is AMAZING!! So yummy! 

Saturday, VALENTINE'S DAY! I had this brilliant idea to heart attack our investigatores houses. So we cut out hearts and heart attacked Marta (a new investigator. She is from Conception Chile! She is AMAZING!! But she has a problem with smoking. But I LOVE her so much. She is truly wanting to change) then we also heart attacked the Santana Family. We had an appointment with them so Hermana Smoot was sneaky and went to the bathroom and put hearts on their mirrors. It was so so cute! The lesson was really good. We have been planning for their baptism but we had to remind them that their baptism was this next weekend. So we focused our lesson on baptism and we asked them the interview questions and finally I asked Marcelo if he would be baptized on the 22nd of Feburary. And he looks at me and says SI! I FREAKED OUT!! I was sooo happy! He grabbed his wifes hand and they both just smiled and testified how much the gospel has helped their lives. It was a miracle!! I l love this gospel! I cannot even imagine where I would be without the knowledge that our message brings TRUE happiness. True joy. It was the best Valentine's day!! I told Hermana Smoot that I am going to have to tell my children that my best Valentine's day was on my mission. :) :) :) :) 

I have LOTS of photos to send to you guys but I don't have time but I want you to know that I went to the beach last Monday and we went hiking up Volcan Calbuco today and it was breath-taking! I am so BLESSED to be in the most beautiful part of the world. Although I do have problems with fleas again! The bugs love my sweet blood! ;) 

Have a great week! 

Hermana McClary 

We went hiking up Volcan Calbuco 

LOVE

I love being a missionary!!

This week was good, we had lots of opportunities to serve! It is summer here so there are lots of people preparing for WINTER.Everyone is buying wood for the winter months so we have to help load lots of wood and help members put their wood in their sheds. It is very interesting how people live on wood here. haha. I have gained lots of muscle in my arms from hauling wood...and it is just the beginning! But I really love giving service. 

WE also helped Hermana Santana-Reyes with her wood creations she makes. She is very talented. We painted these wooden boards and then she fed us lunch. I LOVE getting to know our investigators and reallying seeing how the gospel really has changed them! 

We had a soccer activity this week and it was amazing! The family Santana-Reyes came and Susan came too. It is easier to get people to come play soccer than it is to get people to come to CHURCH! hahaha. But it was great! The bishop came too and we all had a great time. It was a great way for the families to feel more comfortable in the ward. I love it! 

Also in Relief Society yesterday Hermana Karina Santana was so much more comfortable with the sisters she was offering to say the prayer! Everyone introduced themselves to her and it was good because she was able to really meet all the sisters. I love this ward! 

Hermana Smoot and I started to think of 2 things that we did good in the day and 1 thing that we can change each day. It is awesome because we are really trying just everyday to become better! I love her so much. I know that I say that every week but she is truly the best! 

I don't have much time today because we are headed to the beach today! WE have a member that has a house on the beach and we are going to hangout with them for a couple of hours. Puerto Montt is INCREDIBLE!!! I love you all.

Happy Valentine's Day this week! Remember that Jesus Christ died for our sins and for our faults...that was the true action of LOVE. 

The family Santana-Reyes are going to be baptized this month! I cannot wait!! 

Love,

Hermana McClary

Susan and Santana-Reyes, Hermana Smoot after the soccer game

Wood Creation from Santana-Reyes

Bryce with Hermana Smoot

Puerto Montt with Hermana Smoot

Running...Running...Running

Well this week has been good. Hermana Smoot and I are starting to really work out and eat really healthy because we both feel so fat so we started running every morning and she has gotten me to eat lots of fruit and healthy shakes! She makes this green shakes with tons of veggies and fruit every morning and it looks disgusting but it's pretty good! Anyways we started running the other day and I totally fell on my face. I scrapped both my legs and all we I had these gashes on my knees. Normally it wouldn't have been a problem but I pray lots everyday on my knees so it was so uncomfortable but Hermana Smoot told me that it will be okay because people won't be able to see my big gashes on my knees on my wedding day because I will have a long dress covering my knees! hahaha. I died laughing!!

We had a very interesting lesson with the family Santana-Reyes. We taught them the law of chasity and the dad Marcelo asked us straight up why Joseph Smith had more than 1 wife. It was such a deep conversation we finally ended up getting to the point that he NEEDS a testimony of the Book of Mormon so he can know that the church is true. It was AMAZING. We finally know what his needs are and we are so excited to help him really recongize the Holy Ghost. I cannot wait! We are planning to have lunch with them tomorrow and everyday we are going to have some form of contact with them whether call or have an appt that way they can be ready to be baptized THIS month!! I cannot wait! Hermana Smoot and I are trying to be exactly obedient to everything so we can be together to see the baptism!

We now just joke and say "I want to see the baptism" and it's a reminder to be obedient! haha. I love Hermana Smoot so much. We have been having lots of success and this week we had Zone Conference. It was good to see President Obeso and to hear his council. We are planning to work really hard with the sisters in the ward to get them excited about visiting teaching. NO ONE does visiting teaching here and it breaks my heart because visiting teaching really is a secret weapon to get people excited and to grow in the gospel with only a little visit!! I know that when I go home I will be more faithful with my visiting teaching because it really does have a HUGE impact on the ward members! 

In this area we eat with the members now and it's really fun! I am getting to know lots of the members here in Pichi pelluco! I love it! But it is also so hard to always be obedient with the hours that we have lunch because the members take FOREVER to make food. I love the Chileans but they just take forever to prepare food. We waste so much time just waiting...but we are going to try to be better this next week!

We have been inviting lots of people to be baptized this week! We invited 8 people but only 3 people accepted...haha. But I know that we need to focus on getting the family Santana-Reyes ready for their baptism! I am so happy for this new month! It's summer here and everyone is traveling but it's lots of fun to talk to lots of different people that are visiting from different parts. 

Have a great week! Thanks for your prayers! 

Hermana McClary 

p.s. here are pictures of Hermana Smoot and I eating pizza because we didn't have any lunch with members one of the days so we ordered pizza! It was good...but I miss USA pizza! hahah

Chile Puppy- so cute!

Chile pizza not like USA pizza, but still good!

Weeks of Miracles!

Hola,

Well this week has been so amazing! It was literally a week of MIRACLES!

To start off the week our lessons with members all fell through. Either the member couldn't come with us or the investigator wasn't home when we had a member with us. (that's the WORST) But Friday we had tons of appointments set up so Hermana Smoot and I prayed all Thursday to find members to come with us to every appointment. We called lots of members and at the last minute we had appointments with all members and our investigators. I was praying all day that the appointments wouldn't fall through. And they didn't! All the appointments with the members were AMAZING!! We had 2 Family Home Evenings and we had two other appointments with a new investigator named Marta and Susan. 

Another miracle we had this week was on Saturday. Hermana Smoot lost her agenda. We looked everywhere. We started fasting for our investigators and we fasted to find her agenda. Anyways I had this feeling to look in the big trash can outside our house so we got the broom and started digging through the trash can. It was awful but it wasn't there. I felt super lame because I felt like I received revelation that it was in the trash can! But it wasn't...then I rememeber the talk from Elder Holland about how sometimes we think we make the right choice but it actually turns out to be wrong. My companion cheered me up and said "well at least we know it's not in the trash can." We started walking to the bishop's house to return the church keys. Hermana Smoot was so sad about her agenda and I felt pretty lame too but I felt like we needed to keep walking. Anyways we dropped off the keys at the bishop's house and we were standing outside his house when all of the sudden a taxi just came by and held out in his hand and there was her AGENDA!! It was a MIRACLE!! We took the taxi that morning and she left her agenda in the back of the taxi. It was a miracle because the bishop lives far far away from everything but the taxi driver dropped off someone else in the area.

Also another miracle, the family Santana-Reyles came to church again! The husband and son came to church without his wife because his wife had other commitments. It was AMAZING!! Usually they won't have come on their own. 

Gosh I love this gospel! I know that when we fast we really do recieve revelation. 

This morning our mission leader called us and gave us PERFECT advice for our other investigator Susan. She has a bapisimal date but she is having a hard time keeping The Law of Chasity. But this morning our mission leader called us and told us that he felt like he needed to tell us that we need to teach her about Repentance and she needs to gain a real testimony of the ATONEMENT! It was amazing. I felt like I totally forgot about the fact that she really hasn't applied the Atonement in her life to really change. 

This week we have lots of plans to help our investigators! We have plans for 5 people to get baptized in Feburary so we have LOTS of work to do! 

I love you all! 

Keep working hard and remember that personal revelation is real. Prepare this week for fast and testimony meeting and I know that it will be so much more special!

Hermana McClary 

McDonald's in Chile

Chopping more wood!

Hermana Smoot & Hermana McClary

Stop and smell the roses (dandelion)

Puerto Montt...I'm lovin it!

Wow, what a crazy week! 

I just want to start off and say how much I LOVE my mission! I love being able to really feel like I am making a difference in peoples' lives. I love being able to talk about the gospel with everyone. Hermana Smoot is my new companion and she is AMAZING! She really knows what is means to be a missionary. She understands her purpose and why she really wants to serve a mission. I love her. She is from Highland, UT. She went to Lone Peak and she is friends with Madison Reese. We have LOTS to talk about since we both went to Lone Peak!

The missionary work here in Pichipelluco is progressing lots and we are having lots of families to teach! I am in a VERY rich area. My area is right by the OCEAN. The area I am in is breath-taking! It is a cruise port stop town. I wish I had a better camera to show you just how beautiful it is! Oh and they have a McDonald's here!! Everyone has cars too! It is a miracle! People don't have the excuse of not being able to get to church because they all have cars to drive! 

We are teaching 2 families right now that are really progressing. We have 2 family home evenings tonight! One of the families came to church yesterday, it was their second time at church! The dad has an iphone 6 and let me just hold it. I was so amazed! haha. His name is Marcelo, he is really awesome. He has one friend that is LDS and the whole time he has been investigating the church he has been super skeptical but his friend sent him a text message about the church and about how much it has really blessed his life and how families can really be together forever. It was amazing. The lesson was so spiritual and it was awesome to really be able to see that his opinion of the church has changed so much. I am so grateful for the testimony of his friend. I know that this work cannot move forward without the members. WE NEED YOUR TESTIMONIES!! I love this gospel! 

I am so happy because I am in a new area with an AMAZING companion and we are just so happy. 

Hermana Smoot's voice is beautiful, she loves to sing! She is really a blessing to the missionary work here in Puerto Montt.I am so grateful to be her companion! 

I know that Heavenly Father answers prayers because He has answered my prayers. Have a great week! 

Hermana McClary

Hermana Smoot

Transfer- Senior Companion

So this morning was crazy! The President called me and told me that I am being transferred...again! I just got to this new area but I am getting transferred to a new area now. It is more south. It is called Pichipelluco in Puerto Montt. It is 2 hours south from Osorno so it is going to be COLD! And I heard it rains alot. But I guess the interview with the President went well because I am going to be Senior Companion! My new companion is Hermana Smoot. I think Madison Reese said she knew her. I am SO excited!! I cannot wait to see another place in my mission. For 6 months I have been in Osorno so I am ready to see more parts of Chile!! I know there is a McDonald's in Puerto Montt. I cannot wait to go to a McDonald's in a different country! (not that I even like McDonald's but hey it's American :) hahah) 

This week we had interviews with the President and it was amazing. I haven't prayed to much to prepare to talk to the president. But I prepared myself to talk to President and it was amazing. I know that he is called of God to help me. He  told me to tell my family that I am a good missionary. Well he said it in Spanish. He said "Hermana McClary usted es un buena misionara" I just started bawling in the president's office. It was so simple but I felt that those words were coming from Christ. I could feel the love as he said that to me. I have been struggling a lot with feeling joy and happiness just in my personal life. I feel like I preach that the gospel brings joy and I know it does but I was lacking the faith to really feel that I was doing what The Lord wanted me to do. But this week I know that you need to have faith and you need to have hope to continue. It has been so hard with my companion but I know that Heavenly Father is refining me. I have felt his love. I don't have much time and the internet is not working in the centro parts of town. 

We also had a great lesson with Alejandra and her husband. We are focusing on the Sacrament and why it is so important to partake of the sacrament and why it is so important to go to church to renew the covenants we make with our Heavenly Father. They were so excited and they really have testiomies of the gospel and they said they were going to come to church this week but we called them Saturday night and they said they could not come. It was so sad but I know that we just have to continue to work with them. I love the people of Rahue Bajo, the members are always willing to come out with us and work with us. One sister came out with us in her high heels and she was walking with us for 3 hours! It was so crazy but she loved it. haha. The members are awesome and I know that the new sister that comes here will love it. I am so grateful for the opportunity I had to be in Rahue Bajo. I am off to Puerto Montt! 

With love, 

Hermana McClary 

                                 here is a cool black and white wall I found and I had to take a picture of course!