week 66: so very grateful

Before I forget for the 4th week in a row... sorry... I did get your package and it made me unbelievably happy! (Editor's note - I included this so everyone knows it is safe to send mail again!)

Well, before I say anything else, I have to say that I love you guys. A lot. These last few months have been pretty darn hard for me and I'm positive that I couldn't do it without all of the love, prayers, and encouragement being sent from home. I can't put into words how big of a difference an email or a letter makes, and it is also pretty darn nice to see who actually cares. After a year and a half I only have a handful of people still writing, but that's okay haha.

This week was full of ups and downs. The first 4 days we were on track for a record breaking week in this area (for this year at least), we had an amazing Zone Conference, and we were able to make some awesome contacts! Then... the sickness happened. I spent the last 3 days in bed, I'm pretty sure I was about to die. Not really, but it was terrible. Especially when you remember there is not a single fun thing in a missionary flat. I spent hours fiddling with my ukulele... and I wrote about 20 letters... but then I accidentally spilled stuff all over them. Also, on that note, during the mail strike a few months ago I'm pretty sure a lot of the letters people sent me were destroyed... so if you think I'm ignoring you... I'm not. They just dun got burned. So yeah. I do take the time to respond to every letter I receive. Also, I think some of the contact details I have for people are incorrect, so If you haven't heard from me in months that's why.

I realized during Zone Conference that I'm kinda short timing it here. I only have five transfers left...and it seems every time I think about it, another month or two has passed. The work here in Selcourt is quite hard, but wow I'm loving it. We spent a few hours last week knocking on doors. Every single person told us to get lost, but it is at times like that when I seem to be the happiest for some reason. It is pretty darn hard mentally to spend hour after hour knocking on gates, behind which a dog the size of a black bear is ready to eat you. I've found that when you're doing all that you can, and when there are no options left (in my mind at least... which is fairly narrow) the Lord's presence can be felt and He leads and guides you to something greater. For example, after three hours of rejection on Tuesday we decided to try another part of our area. While riding over to it I stopped, looked at a street, and chose that one. The very last house on that street was an inactive member we had been searching for, but no one could find.

Another amazing experience was on the Friday before last. We were riding our bikes from Selcourt to an area called Denottar, (about the distance separating Manson and Chelan) and it began pouring down rain. As far as the eye could see there were dark clouds hanging over and within seconds we were soaked. As we were pedaling up the first of the hills I took a short moment to pray. For two things specifically. First, that the rain would stop. Second, that the warmth of the sun would return and dry us. Literally within seconds the rain had stopped and there was a warm breeze on my back pushing me up the hill. I'm sure someone will be willing to argue that it was a coincidence. Personally I saw Heavenly Father's hand in my life that day.

Basically, everyone we are teaching is seemingly getting no where. However, the less active work is amazing. Eight people have been reactivated in the four weeks I have been here. Are they converted yet... no. But they are coming. And that's a start. Not bad if you ask me; personally, I see bring those who have strayed back equally as important as bringing someone new into the Gospel.

While I was sick I was reflecting back over the past few months and I couldn't help but think of how amazing it has been. There have been baptisms, reactivations, and adventures the like of which I never thought I would participate in. I've seen the best and worst humanity has to offer. I've played with a full grown cheetah and sat on the edge of a 1000 foot cliff. I've gone to a remote village to play with children and returned two weeks later to find that they have starved to death. It hasn't been easy, and only maybe half of it has been fun, but I'm so very grateful for all of it. And to think, I almost didn't come. That would have been the worst decision of my life.

I'm coming up on the 4 year anniversary of my baptism and wow, it has been awesome. Even just this past sixteen months. Its crazy haha, and I'm not exactly sure what I'm trying to get at here.

The Gospel is definitely the path to improvement and happiness in this life.

I'm about all written out. Please send me that snail mail letter. It will literally make my week... whenever it gets here.

Love, Elder Kelly McClellan

 

week 65 (this Elder needs a hug and some new pants!)

Well, this week was about the same. The last three weeks in a row we have only managed twelve lessons per week. We are trying to start working with the ward a lot more, but yeah. 

I'm really sorry but I'm so tired of emailing. It literally drives me crazy.  I always have all this stuff I want you guys to know, but then I get here, look at the key board, and lose all care. 

I gave a talk in sacrament yesterday about my conversion and related that back to the work done by the members, not the missionaries. It went pretty well, everyone came up to me afterwards and told me how wonderful it was. Most of the young ones were just fascinated by the fact I ate a snake... how that worked into the talk I'm not so sure... but they think I'm "awesome" now haha. 

We are not finding much success in tracting. We only contacted one person in all of last week.

All of my clothes are dying haha. I kinda look like a hobo. It will be pretty awkward, on Wednesday we have zone conference that is going to focus on dress standards. They are going to start getting after us apparently if our clothes are worn out, but hey what can I do.  I've been on bikes three weeks now. One pair of pants was torn. My thighs are already too big for another pair, so I'm just left with the third. On the bright side, I'm losing a lota weight haha. My belt is too lose on the lowest hole and I already added an extra 4 to the originals. 

That's about all I got

Love yah lots

Elder Kelly

week 64

Well it sounds like you had a better week than I did. Nothing is working in our area. We have two investigators. Hours of finding a day has gotten us nowhere. I'm tired. Really tired.  I really don't know what to write haha.

Let's see, the best part of the week was probably dinner with the De Villiers family on Sunday after church. The father of the family is the Bishop of our ward (yes, I'm finally in a ward!) and that was pretty great. After dinner we wrote a letter and the bishop examined our hand writing. He was taught by a former FBI analyst and wow, he was pretty much able to read me like a book just by the way I write, so that was cool.

My bike broke the last 2 times I rode it. The mission refuses to give us a car (we cover an area larger than Manson and Chelan put together) and they refuse to buy new bikes. Yeah. I just wrote to President about that, hopefully we see some improvement in the bike system some time soon.

We are going to fast three times this week to petition the Lord for some help. We really need His help. 

Anywho, I'm not sure what else to say.

Our internet shop stinks so I probably won't be sending pictures the whole time I'm here in Selcourt. but yeah.

Love yah lots.

Elder McClellan

week 63: new area

I've been transferred to the Benoni Zone in the area of Selcourt which is a town! I'm out of the ghetto. My companion is Elder Haynes from Australia, the same one I shared a flat with for 6.5 months when I was up in Polokwane. We already know each other and get along great haha, so that makes me happy. We are on bikes. They broke two times in two days. I have spent hours working on them, stupid African bikes. 

I had a miracle occur this week. Yesterday my scriptures were stolen. Got a call this morning, a lady found them on the side of the road and we are going to go pick them up after email! Woo. Can't put into words how happy I am about that. Heavenly Father loves me. Not going to lie. I was mad when we got home last night. Second pair gone. I refused to pray.... "that'll show Him all right"... and yet He blessed me even when I chose to be a fool. 

The church is true. 

Love, 

Elder McClellan

week 62: getting transferred

Well first off, I'm glad people liked the poem. I have no confidence in my writing and I was worried all week someone from home was going to run up and kick me down. Not really but yeah.

We got the news on Friday that our area is closing. Today will be our last in Hammanskraal, and it is a bit more than extremely heart breaking. We did some good here. The Saints in this area are pretty darn secluded from the rest of the church, so we got pretty close to them. In a way we were their link to the Church. It sounds like the Stake has a plan to strengthen them though, so we are no longer their "anchor."

Keamogetswe Makwela was confirmed on Sunday and it was the cherry on top of an awesome four months of work. We reactivated a few, taught a lot, and baptized just one, but all in all it has been a wonderful experience. 

For our Family Home Evening groups, Elder Silvester and I performed "God Be With You 'Til We Meet Again." He played the uke, I played the harmonica on the second verse. On  the last verse the whole group joined in singing, it was hard to hold back tears on that one. With every area it gets harder and harder to leave, I'm not really a fan of it to be honest. It is crazy to think I'll most likely just have two areas left. I take comfort in the hope of seeing them again one day though. 

The church this side is a lot different, so it is probably hard to understand why the missionaries and members get so close. At home we saw the missionaries once, maybe twice, a week? We see the members here most every day. I don't know, it is hard to explain. Missionary work in Africa is quite a bit different than in the Chelan Ward, believe it or not. 

Elder McClellan and Brother Washington

I was and am still sick. Unfortunately my medical knowledge is only as follows, "Head hurt? Take advil!" So yeah haha. I kinda just make my body fight off what ever it is when I do get sick, I don't have money for meds anywho. They are crazy expensive this side. It didn't make for a very fun day Tuesday. It was 105 degrees and we walked 25.5km's. Worst thing ever. We literally walked from 11-6. The worst was every time I needed to puke there were people around so I just had to swallow it. Gross. I figured, people who are walking around puking all over probably won't look like servants of Christ. Probably should have stayed home that day. Oh yeah, we also got robbed. But got it back. I was about to beat a dudes head in. Powerful.

Our car is being a bit of a bother. It was in the shop for about 9 hours total this week. We need a Backie. Well, did need one, haha. 

Two Kudu we saw in the area

But yeah, that's what I have for this week! The package isn't here yet, hopefully it arrives soon, it will serve as a much needed boost. 

Love, Elder McClellan

week 61: so much awesome

This week was awesome. I went on another exchange to Sunnyside (Pretoria) and we ended up tracting and contacting for 5 hours. It is really nice to be at this point on mission, things such as that no longer feel overwhelming. What once made me want to jump off a cliff kinda just happens naturally now haha. Believe it or not, walking up to strangers and talking about the gospel (even in Africa) is not a very easy thing. 

Keamogetswe was baptized yesterday! It was amazing, 4.5 months of work finally paid off, and wow is she a quality convert. An hour before the baptism the Soshanguve missionaries let us know that the baptismal cloths were still at their flat. Flip. We had to drive to the Mabopane chapel, then to Pretoria, then back to Soshanguve to get baptismal suits. Somehow I did an hour and a half of driving in and hour. While keeping the speed limit haha. There was just no traffic. The baptismal program was flawless, and after she was baptized Kea bore her testimony. At first she kinda just said the standard "I know the church is true" and such... then she paused for about a minute, started crying and bore one of the most powerful testimonies I have ever heard. I have only helped with one conversion in this area, but she is worth about 10 regular ones. I've only seen two other people so converted when they were baptized. Powerful. 

I talked to the APs  (Assistants to the Mission President) Friday night, and it sounds like this will be our last week in Hammanskraal. Not for sure, but probable. We are apparently having the problem of 10+ people going home, and 3 coming in... so naturally some areas will need to be closed.

This picture is with Tiego.

The FHE groups are doing okay. The Kekana group is still thriving, but Temba is struggling. The guy that was supposed to lead it didn't even show up yesterday. Ahhh. It's a bit rough, but we are going to keep trying and hopefully get it sorted out this week. 

My spiritual though is Mosiah 1:16. "And moreover, he also gave him charge concerning the records which were engraven on the plates of brass; and also, the sword of Laban, and the ball or director, which led our fathers through the wilderness, which was prepared by the hand of the Lord that thereby they might be led, every one according to the heed and diligence which they gave unto him." The Lord has prepared a way for us to make it safely through this life, if we give heed to His directions. We just need to be diligent.

This little girl is just about as cute as can be, all I know is her name is Johanna. She doesn't speak any English; every time she sees us she runs up and hugs us. 

Hope you all have a great week!

Love, Elder Kelly McClellan

Editor's note: the following was from Kelly's letter last week; originally, he said not to put it on the blog because he felt shy about his writing. I thought it was very inspiring, so I asked him for permission to share it here - I know all of you who read this blog will also be uplifted by his words. He is an awesome guy!

I wrote this in sacrament meeting yesterday...

The bread is broke, the water blessed

I partake in hopes my soul may rest. 

His body lifted, His blood shed

that His mighty mercy may extend.

Amongst the trees He suffered all,

of the cup He willfully took,

He did for me what I could not.

In humility He bore it all,

that if I so choose I may not fall.

Upon the cross He hung in scorn.

Pierced were His hands, feet, and side.

He gave His life a ransom for many,

for His friends His love did show

that by obedience we may return to a Heavenly home.

Wrapped in cloth and placed in stone,

many thought the great Jehovah was gone.

Briefly He sojourned in the world of spirits. 

A light gone out, returned eternally brighter.
For me He died, yet for me He lives,

that in the arm of flesh I need not rely.

A Perfect Man suffered, bled, and died

that I, perhaps, may choose to be sanctified.

The Savior's love knows no bounds.

By His works we can be made at one
and the imperfections of mortality over come,

that our celestial home may be within reach.

The bread is broke, the water blessed

I sit here wondering, "Am I doing my best?" 

week 60

Well, if you were to look at this week on paper it would most likely be considered to have been worthless. Lessons and such were low; but more important than the stats, luckily, is what we accomplished. The FHE groups are thriving (alright, well one is haha and the other two are on the way.) We contacted the last two members on our roll that we had never seen before. And the Spirit was super strong. 

Keamogetswe passed her interview! It will be the first baptism the area has had in many months, and I'm so very excited for that. We got her to pick one of the local members to baptize her, though at first she would have none of it. We figure it'd be better for her to have that experience with someone that will be staying, rather than us who are going to get the boot it seems in just two short weeks! 

Last Monday we drove an hour to a church property way up in the mountains. After an hour hike we were at the top of a ridge overlooking a beautiful lake and farm lands. At the top there is an old abandoned British military outpost that dates back to the Boer wars and all the way up there were a number of hand cut  stones that once had constituted a barricade around the base. It has been vacant for hundreds of years and the baboons have now made a habit of destroying the walls, but it still made for an awesome experience! The Church bought it for hosting camps. Normally after a hike to the top there would be a spiritual message and stuff put on by the missionaries taking care of the property, but apparently we are already strong enough and the experience was not afforded, haha. 

That pretty much sums up last week. Oh, we also had an exchange on Friday. I went to Sunnyside (Pretoria, the country's capital) and had quite a blast with Elder Benge (from CA.) Man, this country is, uhm... immoral. Once the sun went down all the weirdos came out. We passed a lesbian hair salon and all the hair cutter people were naked. Awkward. We also some how found ourselves in the club district of the city while trying to track down a member, and well, needless to say, that led to a few interesting experiences. 

Awesome week. 

Love, Elder Kelly McClellan