Email Received January 24, 2012

Hi Family,

Thanks, Mom, for the Idaho Spud candy bars.  I brought them to the Harters and gave them out. Everyone had the funniest expression on their face and the bars were a weird type of chocolate and gross. But I really enjoyed the Mentos and I am really sorry that I haven’t emailed in a while. I’m going to send lots and lots of pictures today just for you to enjoy. You should check on Garry if he has leprosy or something. [Garry recently had a light case of Chicken Pox]. You should put him in a bath of Oatmeal and then have him eat it. Fear Factor style.

Here’s a simplified version of what my 9 days of fun were. I love the scarf Its really vibrant.

Monday-Thursday: We went to see S. Seeley’s son, Mark. We taught him the Restoration on Monday and on Thursday we taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ and then we set him for baptism on Feb. 18 which is pretty cool. Other than that, me and E. McDermott from an exchange drove all over the area trying to get in touch with some people. They weren’t there and things fell thru, but it was fun being with another companion. We tracked near our branch president's house and this big black dog followed us and started barking at us when we went to a door and E. McDermott was freaking out. 

I took him to see one of my favorite less actives, the Millers. The dad is very active; it’s just the rest of the family that has trouble. He is the nicest guy on earth and he drills wells for a living. We also helped people in the old folks home to get to their church (not ours) to listen to the preacher.  He had confidence but no authority. I hated going back into that room wheeling a person who deserves the gospel, but is getting something less.

Friday-Saturday: We met with Oscar Parker who has founded some stuff here. He lives in the oldest house in Wakefied. It’s like a plantation house. We went to Lawerenceville for E. Carter to do a baptism interview. Also got my license finally and it will come in the mail soon. We went to an investigator’s house and he gave us ties to pick from and I got this really eccentric one.  Then we interviewed a guy named Woody. Me and the other elders played Horse and we would bounce it off the walls and do a spin or something off the floor or a podium. It was fun. Then we went to a Brunswick game where it was Brunswick vs. Greensville. It was full of black people and they would get up and start dancing when someone dunked it. It got awkward for us being squeezed into these tiny spots and one of the elders got sort of grinded on because he’s a bigger guy and had to spread his legs for the lady in front and she started dancing and it got weird. The Brunswicks won and they were really good. Erik should go to a game sometime. The cheerleaders there are like stomp the yard and the band is like Drumline by dancing a bunch. Greensville had one white cheerleader -  it was funny. When we went to bed we couldn’t sleep so around 12 at night we got up and had a DiGiornos pizza and it helped us fall asleep.

The next day, we went to Woody’s baptism.  He’s like a pro-fighter from all the martial arts he has learned and he was in the Army. Weird thing, when he got out of the Army, he and his buddy checked out a church called the Water Moccasin church. The halls had pictures of everyone that had died in the church and they were pretty young. Woody said that in the chapel, the preacher would grab out of two buckets two handfuls of Water Moccasins and spread them out in the crowd and if you live from the bite, then God has chosen you. And if you don’t then, that just happens.

Woody taught us some fighting moves and the baptism was awesome from the dunking to the testimony given by one of the members. Then we went to a place called Pinos and I stuffed myself with food. Then we went back to Wakefield and had dinner with Trey and Sheena. Turns out they both have opinions about their different religions, so that’s why they aren’t married. They want to be married by the pastor in their church but they can’t agree which one.  It is hard for them to change their faith away from the false teachings of other churches.

Sunday: We had lunch at the Fly’s and it was fun because they are all joke tellers. And we went to the Harter’s and got our transfer calls there. Elder Carter is going to Goochland area which is a new area for the last transfer. It’s west of Richmond. And I’m staying in Wakefield with my new companion, E. Kun. Don’t know if hes Asian or what, but it will be fun. Everyone is upset over E. Carter leaving since he has been here forever.

Monday- Wedsnesday (this week)- Monday, we played basketball and spent time with the elders in our zone up in Colonial Heights. E. Hopkins, one of the zone leaders, can really dunk. His two companions, E. Carpenter and E. Huskinson, are the best and they love my Office quotes. I think E. Huskinson wrote Tessa a letter. Then we went to the Harter’s with the Idaho Spuds and they had fun with that. Then we went to the Terry’s who are less active and tried to commit  S. Terry’s husband to baptism. We’ll see how it goes. Then we had banana splits at the Harter’s.

Tuesday, Elder Carter went on a packing spree and got it mostly all together. We helped the retirement home with Bingo by calling out the people’s numbers and helping them. Then B. Gruber took us on the ferry across the James River to a place called Berlissimo which is a pizza place and is like the old style pizzas and we had canolis and they were really good. I will send some pics of it.

Wedsnesday (today), we finished the packing and got on the tower to our church and it was really cool and we had to duck so people wouldn’t see us. The rest of the day will be E. Carter saying goodbye to the members and tomorrow will be transfers.

I love you all so much and thanks for the letters – I love them!

Elder McClure

Letter Recieved January 14, 2012

Hi Family!

Hey!  This isn’t one of those letters where I sum up my week, but it will have a little of Tuesday.  So how’s life in Idaho?  I need some juicy updates on my friends and family.  All the letters and packages I have gotten brighten my day!  I got a big package of cookies from Molly and Allison and they are great!

Two things I want to know extremely bad:  1.  How are the little cousins doing?   2. How is my lemon tree doing?  I know that these questions are easy to answer, but I need to know how my family is doing.  I miss you all a lot and most days I will look up at the ceiling and think of ya’ll and all the good times.  Two families here remind me how a mission helps and how missionaries in other areas are feeling.  One, the Harters.  They have a son, Jason, in Washington.  He has his ups and downs.  He baptized a lady, but he also had 15 rejections for lessons right after.  The second, the Irwins.  Their son, Jeff, went to Nevada and loved it.  He’s back, now.  He and his family went on a cool cruise for 5 days when he got back.  When I come back, what should we do that would be fun as a family?  [On our budget, a cruise down the Payette River.]

The mission is fun.  Basically, we spend a lot of time with the Harters.  We try to reinforce our less actives and are still trying.  We try a lot to get in touch with our investigators.  They all have two problems:  1. They are not around when we come by to teach a lesson.  2.  They can’t keep committed.  Good thing we got Mrs. Nan baptized, but it has been awhile since then.  I have to admit that this is the mission with a lot of perks and a lot of hardships.  The perks are free food at La Hacienda, the beautiful church, nice members, the beautiful countryside, and a pretty good apartment.  But the area is really big.  We don’t get a lot of people to church.  The stereotype of crappy house, but kick-butt car is very real here.

I’m always trying my hardest to do the work.  The cool thing is that everyone notices the fire of my passion for this work.  Well, Tuesday we got up, studied, and went with our Branch President to see some people but they weren’t there.  I love our members and President Irwin.  We went up to Surry to try and visit an investigator named David, but he was asleep.  We then went to La Hacienda.  I keep ordering fries because I don’t like Mexican rice, just Chinese rice.  Then we went to tract through an area and then went to the beach.  We helped someone move into a house that belongs to one of our investigators who is going to Waverly.  Then we went home and Sister Dayton had left us some banana bread.  E. Carter has become a better companion since we had our long talk.

I talked to Erik and he loved it.  I will try to get to talk to him more.  I love you all and I want you to know that Heavenly Father has a plan for us.  Please all of you write more letters to me!  I love them!

-Elder Max McClure

Email Received on January 9, 2012

Hi Family!

On Monday, we had the most lazy day that could ever exist in a mission. We had nothing to do because E. Carter isnt really creative with our time and we just stayed home. We went to Mrs. Nan's and we talked with her for a while and she fed us hamburger meat and beans yuck. Then she offered us these treats on the table for dessert but it came to her attention after we all ate one and Carter had two that they were dog treats. It wasn't bad but that is nasty. The main thing today was that we had an interview with the President Perry. So that was fun. He told me how mature I was and that he was grateful for me serving in Virginia. At the end, President Perry didnt fool around with me by joking where i would be transferred because its honestly where ever the lord needs me most.  We also had a lesson with an investigator named David and I explained to him the Joseph Smith story. And all he got out of it was that Joseph brought back the need of prayer. I think it went a little over his head.

Weds, nothing special. Thursday, Me and E. Carter tried to visit some people but we couldnt get a hold of them so we went tracting in the ghetto area behind the peanut factory and we found some people to invest some time into. Then Friday, We had a zone meeting and it was very good and afterward, we all went out to lunch. On the way out, a car full of people hits the edge of the exit ramp. Then we had an exchange with the zone leaders. I got to take Elder Carpenter to Wakefield and we tracted whenever we could. He said that I have a fiery passion about me for the work. I feel a little held back by Elder Carter and i want someone new so we arent as relaxed in the area which 10 months here can do for you. Elder Carpenter interviewed S. Seeley. On Saturday, We switched with our old companions and we got S. Seeley baptised. Elder Carter did it and kind of flung her into the water and when she came up she was very astonished.

The Harters now have 7 puppies from a dog that this man had them take care of. It could have been 12 but the vet made a mistake and now they are gunning for his license being taken away. The puppies are adorable. Tula should have puppies. These ones are German shepherds and they suck on your fingers when they are hungry. I got a picture but ill send it next time. Still breaking the camera in. On Sunday, We confirmed S. Seeley and we went to a members house that we hardly talk to. Its the Joines and they are a black and white couple. The man is small and white and the wife is big and black and has small dreds. They were hilarious and they loved my fun personality which hardly comes out because Elder Carter hogs the conversation and is bland and has the sarcastic jokes that only he laughs at. Today Im going to look for whale bones in this area and go to the Harters. If you ever really miss me, call her or listen to my ipod for comfort. Or sit on tessa. It worked for me. Well love you all and thanks for the package of my gs and I finally got a package of goodies from Allison and Molly. I love them to death. I already have so much candy I dont know what to do with it. Next email I will send the best sunset ever. I will also send the package to you. I love you all and please send more letters because I want to feel special at the post office. I like to show them off a lot.

bye yall,

Elder McClure

Letter Received January 5

Hey Family!

Really bored and wanted you to know how I’m doing.  Well, to quote specifics, I loved all the Christmas stuff people sent me.  The candy amount sort of excelled from all the packages and I was a little afraid of getting diabetes.  Well, I went over the calling time on Christmas, but it was worth it even though I had to call from a bathroom.  I love you all and here is how my week went:

Monday

We went over to the Harter’s early to meet up with the Elders in Petersburg.  We played pool mostly while children were everywhere from the families who had come down to visit.  Then we did an exchange where we and E. McDermott changes areas so I went to Petersburg with E. Smith.  The most fun thing we did after we got dressed in our suits was we went over to a lady named B.B.’s apartment.  So it was her and a member from church and their little one named Maryan.  So started by climbing these stairs to her apartment and it was pitch black.  She suddenly opened the door and screamed.  It was funny!  We had dinner and talked about stuff. One of B.B.’s friends came over and she is really funny.  So BB got out her electric keyboard and goes with the instrumental tab and hits all the keys and starts chanting like African music, but she was being funny.  Then she offered us these cool Army coats, but she needed to get them from a friend.  Then we went back to the apartment and slept.

Tuesday

We got up and had study time and E. Smith made it really fun.  We went to Colonial Heights for Buffalo Wild Wings.  I got a medium of boneless wings and they were a little spicy.  We went to JC Penney for a tie rack and there was an electronic one for 20 bucks, but it was huge so I got a smaller one.  I also bought a purple-bluish tie from Sears.  Then we went to a place called the Ghetto Shop and its run by a lady named Mrs. Lee.  I bought a cool VA hat there and it’s really cool looking.  Then we went to this trailer and the lady wasn’t there.  It was raining hard by then.  We got hot chocolate and then went to Chad’s.  He’s a wounded soldier.  He had a lot of questions concerning dinosaurs and UFOs.  E. Smith said that dinosaurs were for fossil fuels for our use.  Funny, right?  Then we went back to Wakefield and I was so annoyed with E. Carter and we had a long talk and learned more about each other.

Wednesday

We did more tracting today.  We went to the Harter’s after a really good lesson with a lady named Michelle.  She wants to quit smoking and is really open to our beliefs.  We taught the Plan of Salvation.  At the Harter’s, E. Carter emailed his family.  Then I emailed you all.  We then went to a city called Claremont.  Some elders call it Outer Darkness.  We couldn’t find any referrals or members there and we accidentally knocked on a pastor’s door and his house was the richest on the block.  We went back to the Harter’s and hung out and played pool for the remainder of the day.  V. Harter’s pregnant dog had its puppies. 

Thursday

We had a district meeting that day.  So I was training today (which is like giving a lesson).  The meeting started with E. McDermott bearing his testimony.  I gave the lesson on a talk by E. Carmack of the Seventy.  It was on increasing faith.  I talked about the parable Jesus gives on a master and his servant.  It is basically that throughout all we do on the Earth, we are still in debt to Heavenly Father.  That we must trust in him.  After, E. Buckley taught on repentance.  Then we went over our numbers for the weeks and also talked about miracles.  Our example was a lesson with Michelle and a lady we found tracting named Shawanda.  They both had been to church before.  Then we went to Pizza Hut.  When we went back to the church building, the ride for the Lawrenceville area had a flying squirrel and it was cute.  Then the zone leaders took us home and there was this funny riddle called the Valley of the Green Sheep.  It basically is where the only things in the valley are things with double letters (like sheep).  Then we went to Mrs. Nan’s and burned the remainder of the leaves.  I took a picture of the sunset.

Friday

Got up to do situps and felt really sick and hurt my abs.  Then we planned for the week.  Then we went and did a little teaching and found a couple of people.  The first said they were Methodist and the other was interested in the message.  She has a husband who had had a stroke, a daughter who has brain cancer, and a son who is losing his sight.  Then we went to the Virginia Diner and it wasn’t really all that.  I got Mom and Dad cool gifts.  We finally saw the ghetto part of town.  Now I’m sitting on my bed trying to get over stomach pains.

I love you all and want to say Happy New Year!  This letter is from the last of 2011 to the first of 2012.  Well, I’m going to spend New Year’s at the Harter’s and play games.  I’ll update you in an email and send all of my cool pics. 

Elder Max McClure

Letter Received December 12, 2011

Dear Family,

I love and miss you really bad!  To answer some of your questions, Leadership Training is where a bunch of elders gather, new and old, and the assistants teach us on the fundamentals of preaching the words of the gospel.  Sister Perry [she is the mission president’s wife] taught us a lesson now and again.  The lessons were like Revelation through Prayer, Revelation through Church, and Teaching People, not Lessons.  Around lunchtime, we were fed by the sisters at the mission headquarters.  Then after 5pm, I went with E. Eborn and E. Carlson.  Together we went to a referral’s home and got them to come to church and she loved our message.  Another time we went to a missionary-friendly house and had a ball fight.  It was in Colonial Heights.  It’s a more rich part of Virginia.  It was a fun place to be during the 4 days.  Then on our last day Pres. Perry talked to us.  It was really inspiring to me.  Then I went back to Wakefield.

Back in Wakefield, E. Lloyd had put all his stuff and suitcases on the ground to pack.  We found out he was leaving Monday which would be last Monday.  The funny thing is I got 2 big packages for him after leadership and 2 weeks earlier he was complaining about not getting a package.  The Sunday he left, the ward’s 2^nd counselor was crying because he made a big impact on his life.  They got a cake for him and presents that were overly wrapped.  On Monday, we dropped him off at mission headquarters to be taken to the airport.  Then me and E. Carter went to visit some families.  Mrs. Nan is really progressing and wants to be baptized after Christmas. 

It’s been really annoying being a duo companionship again and things about E. Carter just ANNOY me and I can’t escape.  It’s just this dull look he makes when he’s thinking or other things.  I’m trying harder to speak up when I should be teaching.

Yesterday we just met a bunch of less-actives or investigators.  Sister Harter came to us and told us about how her son, Jason, is struggling.  [He’s on a mission in Washington state].   His confidence has been shot down and he is suffering with just wanting to go home really bad. 

I am so grateful for every letter you have sent me and I really want to come home too, because around this time of year I have the most Christmas spirit and get everyone to have fun.  I also usually spend an enormous amount of time with you.  Please send me pictures of the snow [yeah, like we have any] and y’all and the tree being decorated.  Mom, I know that you miss me lots and lots, that’s why I gave you my iPod.  Each song represents a part of me, so just listen to my soul in music form and feel better that you know I love you.  Your Christmas present is full of love and all that.  A funny thing just happened:  a fat cat jumped into our car randomly and just sat there, no joke.  Weird stuff.

Thank you for the letter and the presents.  I’m glad you liked the autumn leaves.  I got made fun of for them, so enjoy.  I will always love your letters and my companion is jealous a little about all the different letters I get.  Have fun and talk to Grampa Guy every now and again.  I love you more than bedbugs love beds!  By the way, they are a huge epidemic here.

Love,

Elder Max McClure

Email received on December 12

Hey mom I sent a letter telling you about my week. It was a fun week. We got to do service for this really fun lady S. Campana who has a lovebird that is just the cutest funniest bird ever. At the end of the day, it gave me a peck on the cheek and wanted to be pet really bad. The weather here is alright and it has suddenly got colder but my cool jacket keeps me warm. Something fun that happened last week, we went to an investigator's house and we are on the porch and about to knock on the door when a girl opens it and lets out the funniest shriek that i have ever heard. It was fun. We were sad that E. Lloyd left and we got a new temporary companion named E. Smith. Hes ight and is funny. E. Lloyd was kind of bullyish, but it was all in good fun. We have a baptism set for Mrs. Nan and she will be baptised on the 7th of January. Really fun. Mom you cant get the music off my ipod because i downloaded it in a special way but my dad can from his laptop. He hasn't contacted me a whole lot which makes me a little sad. Oh well the Kynastons mailed me a fun letter about their stuff and enjoyed my cotton to them. I really miss you all and hope you have a good time without me being there this year. Here are some pictures of me and some of the places ive been. Thanks so much for sending me a package and the notes on it freaked out the postal worker. I gave a talk last Sunday on Being Holy and that Jesus set an example of being holy and i used the bible dictionary on Holiness and it was cool. I am ever so greatful for all on how much love you have and give me everyday. I will sort of ask you to please send out one of my cool hoodies and a shirt like the Red Rango navy shirt that i love. There is more leniency out here than i thought for clothing and i have a cool pair of knock off allstars for my service stuff and my other shoes are for sports. I bet you wont ever guess what is in the christmas box i sent you, but you'll love it. How is the tree decorating going along? I really need you to go on Facebook and tell Madi Hardy my address so that she can send me a letter or two on my mission and tell everyone else on facebook too. I love letters!! They fill the empty void of not having enough freedom here.

Letter Received on November 29

Dear Family,

I got all your letters and I love them!  I’m sorry you had to endure Thanksgiving without me there.  Just remember all the funny times we have had on that specific date.  Thanksgiving here was fun.  We played football on a sort of pro training field with all the other missionaries.  On our team we had me, E. Carter, E. Lloyd, Jeff (an RM and President Irwin’s son), Tammy and Kit (daughters of the Harter family), E. Hopkins, and E. Lambo who scored the most.  We played really good and one of the funny things was there was an Elder Hilton there.  He was a lanky, tall kid with glasses.  He wore jeans while we all wore shorts and on the first play of subbing someone out, he got a little hurt with his leg and shook it to make it feel better.  I ran the ball once, but since we had a lot of good guys on our team, me and Jeff didn’t get the ball as much.

Thanksgiving dinner was fun and delicious with turkey, stuffing, cornbread, mashed potatoes, etc.  Then after, a couple of us played Phase 10 and E. Carter was stuck on Phase 2 for seven rounds.  We played for around 2 hours and I got 4 letters written in the process.  I sent one to Molly and Allison, Caitlin, Amanda, Kynaston family, Erik, and Nana.  I gave them a brief summary of my days.  I also wrote to some other missionaries.

Now to the good stuff:  my adventures here.  Well, Monday through Wednesday the most we did was visit homes and there was this one house that smelled terrible of pig outside and smoke inside.  The guy there talked about all kinds of hillbilly stuff.  It was really gross. On Monday we went to the Harter’s to rake up leaves.  We tried to burn them with fire, but they were too wet even for gasoline.  It only made tiny explosions like the one Dad made in South Carolina.  Victoria (the Harter’s daughter) started training her dogs how to bite and regrip with an arm sleeve.  So I tried it and the dogs were really strong.  I had to walk backwards and stand tall so they had to pull me down and regrip.  E. Carter tried it, too, but E. Lloyd wouldn’t.  The dogs were being trained for police dogs.

Wednesday we went to a district meeting and it on fasting and prayer.  After, we went to Pizza Hut and Rico (the member who picked us up) paid for everyone.  E. Smith keeps calling me Elder McQuiver.  We went tracting around for people to teach and then went to Brother Gruber’s and he fed us.  We get a lot of good food here.  We usually eat breakfast and lunch at the apartment.  The only fast food we eat is at a place called La Hacienda, a Mexican restaurant, where we get free food.  Rico owns it.  He’s a member.

Friday, we were stuck in the Franklin area for 3 hours in the morning getting the tires aligned.  We went to Walmart and I did some Christmas shopping there.  Then we went to the Harter’s and burned leaves and Brother Harter threw gas directly on the fire.  It blew up like crazy.  I think Sister Harter talked to Dad on the phone that day and I had hoped that she could have talked to Mom also.  [I miss all the good calls!  Apparently, she called to say that they really like Max and he’s a nice young man.]  Then we went and taught some people.

Saturday, nothing much this day, but we went to have dinner at the Gibbs.  Their cat is monstrous and sheds like 4 cats puts into one.  It seriously is the grossest cat on earth.  I held it and it almost gave me a hernia. 

Sunday, we got 5 of our investigators:  Mrs. Nan, David (a guy with no kidneys), Elizabeth, Lucy (a waitress at La Hacienda), Jaclyn and her kid Carter.  Us elders sang “How Great Thou Art” and we did awesomely and most of our investigators came to hear us sing.  Then we went to Gospel Principles and I taught the class and the topic was repentance.  After, we watched some district videos to help train me.  Then we went to the Harter’s.  We all went to Rico’s to talk to him.  He’s a nice guy who also went on a mission.  He lost all his hair when he was 21-23 so it would be really freaky if I started to lose my hair now. 

Well, I miss all of you.  I just want you all to know that I’m doing fine and loving every second of it.  Angie’s letter surprised me that Jonas wants to go on a mission just so Angie will cry.  Weird!  Stay strong and know that every day I think of you all the time.  Remember that I love you all and I care for you.  Always remember me and my funny jokes to brighten your day.  Always stay strong in the way of the Lord.

Elder McClure