Letter Received on October 26

Max is leaving for VIrginia on November 2.  The Virginia address to use is listed to the right of this letter.  Thanks to everyone who has written to him!  I think letters/emails distract some missionaries, but for Max they help motivate him, so thanks for helping him in that way. 

Dear Family,

Got your package and I’m happy you didn’t weigh me down with too many goodies that I would have to get rid of when I leave for Virginia.  I get more than enough to eat from the cafeteria and I always try to eat in moderation and I stay away from the soda.  It’s tough to find all the time I want for both studying Preach My Gospel, lessons for investigators, and writing letters home.

I will be leaving for Virginia on November 2 in the morning so make the last letter count!  Please send me letters every day because I feel happy on the days I get a letter and sad on the days I don’t get one.  Knowing that your hands took part in the creation of that letter makes it all the more special. I will be calling you sometime in the morning on November 2, maybe really early, so keep a phone near you on that morning.  This will be my last letter from the MTC; the next one will be from Virginia!

Here’s an overview of my week:

Monday

We taught at TRC [I don’t know what this is] and taught a man named Arnold Young who was whittling a spoon while he was raveling his own long story and it was hard to get a word in.  Sister Evans is one of our teachers and she helps us team teach.  Today I ran 1 ½ miles and worked out during gym time.

Tuesday

Richard G. Scott came to speak to us and the topic was missionaries.  J  He asked missionaries to come up and he would ask them questions or read scriptures into a microphone.  I went up, but it was already ending so he didn’t ask me a question.  At the very end, he gave us a blessing and said “I love you.” He couldn’t shake hands with anyone.  We got to see him off when he drove away.  It was really cool to see him here in person!

Wednesday

Today was our first P-Day and we kind of slacked off and chilled.  We got a sack breakfast and lunch so we could stay in our regular clothes.  I wrote a ton of letters!  Someone easy cheezed all the remaining bathroom toilet seats and shower handles.  The entire floor got a talking to.  I did my laundry and it was easy except the machines took forever.

Thursday and Friday

Don’t remember much except Arnold was more free for listening and not talking.  He liked everything we taught him except prayer, which he has to work on.

Saturday

Went parcouring [I don’t know how to spell this, but it’s that free running stuff people do] late that night and had fun with it.

Sunday

We did Priesthood meeting on inviting the Spirit and how it works in lessons.  Sacrament meeting was about the Restoration and two Elders had to get up and give a talk about it. Then we had a temple walk – I was diligent in taking a lot of pictures.  During the walk, Elder Godfrey went off and was a loner on a hill most of the time.  He’s having a hard time and doesn’t know what to do because he only came on a mission because everyone expected him to.  He hates people telling him what to do.

Brother Allen talked at today’s fireside about how hymns can reflect how we feel or what we should be doing.  He also explained his experience with food as a missionary:  he thought brown beans were chocolate pudding and ate a big spoonful and got a shock.  It was the last time he ate brown beans on his mission.  I shook his hand and he wanted to know where I was from.  He was one of the people who created the PMG [I don’t know what this is].

It was a good week, but I’m nervous because next week is my last full week.  Don’t send anything back but a letter until I write to you from Virginia.  I love all of you and am so happy you sent a letter back.  Thanks for the package and please have more people write me and give me a family photo to hold dear. 

Love you,

Elder McClure

Finally got a letter!

Max’s First Letter – 10/19/2011

Note:  The following transcription doesn’t begin to do justice to Max’s quirky (and nearly illegible) handwriting and grammar.  I added a couple of my own comments in square brackets and italics.

Dear Family,

I could not wait to use the computer in a week and I have so much to tell you that I couldn’t wait.  SURPRISE!!  I bet you have been very sad lately.  Well, don’t be because I’m the one supposed to be sad.

After we had said our goodbyes at the front of the MTC, I went with my host missionary to get my ID, name tag, book, etc.  Then we go to my dorm room, and it’s pretty cool because it has all manner of desks on both sides and two bunk beds too.  (The pictures I’ll send will tell all about that).  Then I go to my classroom 8M-105 and met my companion, Elder Beck, who I’ll send pictures of, too.  He’s from Burley, Idaho and going to Virginia, too.  He also plays the guitar, is an artist with watercolors, and has a sense of humor.

So I meet the rest of my district, which is:  Elder Donovan, E. Godfrey, E. Call, E. Myers, Sister Jones, Sister Pribsbey, Sister Crandal, and Sister Huber (who is very funny, Tessa would like her).  After that we have an MTC welcome which is fun and unbearable because of the talks and unbearable because of the HEAT of the suit.  Fast forward, get back to the room with my companion and go to sleep.

DAY  TWO

Woke up early from my alarm clock and did a little workout and got ready for the day.  Weird thing is that the shower rooms are bright yellow.  It is weird showering in flip-flops, but the hair that collects on the floor is disgusting. Well, then I went to breakfast and got what I wanted so I wasn’t starving.  From a lot of missionaries, I have learned that everything gives you gas, especially the ORANGE JUICE!!!  The chocolate milk is so good and I’ve heard that it’s from a special shipment from a dairy farm so it’s especially for us.  Then we went to a class workshop on our “purposes.”  It was one of the better classes of my day.  Then I went to get my immunizations filled out.

I went to the classroom and almost fell asleep because it was tiring to just sit in an oven-baked room for three hours.  Then after, I went to the dorm room and met some new roommates that were suddenly moved into our room so currently it’s 6 to our room.  The new elders names are:  Elder Sampson, Elder Kennedy, Elder Wardberry, and Elder Fasor.  They are hilarious and have fun jokes.  They are leaving Tuesday.

After dinner, we went to see the Branch President and see who our district leader is.  It’s Elder Myers, but that’s cool; he seems very organized.  Then we went back to our dorm and suitcases are everywhere.  Elder Beck and I are pretty organized, though.  After that, I got to sleep okay and kudos to you for the blanket.  [I guess he liked the blanket I bought him.  J]

DAY THREE

Woke up early from my roommates going to do a service project.  Elder Kennedy gave us donuts, so pretty good.  The fun thing is that many missionaries get food and can’t eat most of it at the MTC because there is so much food at the cafeteria or they don’t have enough time to eat it, but they share their candy with others if they leave.  I got a bag lunch and held a conversation with some sisters while in line.  I went to the service assignment, but it was cancelled so I was free for two hours, but it ended too soon.  Had to get ready for a district meeting and then got the suit off for gym time.  Got showered after that and went to 2 classroom instructions both for a separate three hours.  We then went back to the dorm and had fun with the Elders by playing jokes and playing Space Commander, which is two people facing each other saying “Space Commander” until one of them laughs.  I went to bed and dreamed of saving a bus full of children, then woke up.  I talked in my sleep, also, saying “elder. . .ELDER!”  So that’s funny.

DAY FOUR

Having fun so far and found out how to stop myself when nodding off (totally out of focus) – keep my hands away from my head.  It’s a work in progress.  Writing during PST (Personal Study Time) right now.

I couldn’t wait a whole week because it’s so terrible to wait to tell you guys everything that’s happening,  so I prefer to send letters and I’ll email pictures to save money.  I got the stamp for 20 cents instead of 40 cents, so I saved some money there.  Please email and write back!  Tell everyone I love them and to write to me and send me food so I can feel special.  Having a little bit of a rough time planning and studying, but it’ll pass.  Write me back how you’re doing and I love you all.  Mom, I am staying clean compared to the other Elders and will always try to be a good example.  [I had told him to practice excellent hygiene because there are so many people in one place there at the MTC.]  My dormmates like the picture of me and Tessa and now want my address.

I know that I was meant to do this and I hope you get a good example from this.

Your son, brother, step-son, grandson, nephew, cousin, and comedian,

Elder Max McClure

October 12, 2011

Elder McClure's emails and photos will be published to this location every Thursday, so check back next week!