December 27, 2010

Hello again!

 

I hope that everyone had a safe and fun Christmas with your families (or whoever you spent it with). I know ours down south was very nice filled with some good memories. Allow me to fill you in!

 

I won't go into a ton of detail on the first part of the week. We had a couple of meetings that we went too and had some administrative things to get taken care of in preparation for tomorrow's transfers. Most of our lessons happened in the first part of the week seeing that the latter half would be a little more difficult to find people at home. We are working with this really cool part member family that referred themselves about 3 weeks ago. She is a member but her husband and her daughter aren't. SO, they are showing tons of progress and hopefully with be baptized by next month.

 

Christmas eve was spent at the mission home with President and Sister Beck. They had their son Tyler and his wife Sarah there, a family  they knew from Ohio, the Clark's (one of our awesome office couples), and the English Assistants. We had their traditional Christmas dinner and participated in some of their family Christmas traditions ranging from a live nativity to Christmas bingo. It was a lot of fun and I'm very grateful for the chance I had to spend my Christmas Eve with them. We also went to one of our recent converts and had a small Christmas dinner with them to end off our night.

 

Christmas day was a busy day no doubt. Elder Bingham and I did some Secret Santa deliveries to a few families in our branch that wouldn't really be having a good Christmas. It was an incredible start to the day...to give rather than to receive. I also had the chance to call home (Funny story I don't think I mentioned....I actually forgot that we call home on Christmas day until a week ago). It was awesome to be able to talk with them, to hear of the spiritual progress they are making, and the see the blessings that our Heavenly Father has given them. We had a breakfast with a member family in our ward and played a good couple of hours worth of soccer at the church. I tell you what, after not playing for a while...running becomes a little hard! :) But we ended our day by going to a baptism for some of our spanish elders out in Surprise. It was a great service and a perfect capstone for our Christmas Day.

 

I am so very grateful for a loving Heavenly Father for sending us such a precious gift to us. I know that Jesus Christ is the son of God, the Savior and Redeemer of the world. His invitation is extended to all those who desire to "come unto him" and find rest in these the last days. I know that as we follow Jesus Christ we will be lead back to live with our Father in Heaven again. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

December 20, 2010

Well, we only have one computer to work on this week so it will be BRIEF!

 

We had and INCREDIBLE week this past week. We had some awesome spiritual experiences, every one of my personal studies was unbelievable and everything went out with a bang.

 

This past Saturday we had 4 baptisms for our area. I've attached pictures of the baptizees. For Hno. Cruz and Hno. Arellano, it was the first time that they have baptized someone and for Hno. Cruz (a convert of about 6 months) he did his first confirmations yesterday. It was AMAZING!

 

God will never cease to be a God of miracles. We have seen many of them this Christmas season. Let us remember the true meaning of Christmas this holiday season. Ponder on the powerful and precious gift of the Atonement that we have received. I pray that each one of you has a fun, safe and spirit filled Christmas day as we celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ.

 

Merry Christmas!

Elder Klemme

 

 "Do you believe in miracles?" We found Samantha after we caught her runaway chihuahua Nuki. We have been teaching since I first came in to the area, almost lost her a couple of times, waited for 2 months for a marriage and then *BAM all at once things started to roll. She is absolutely incredible.

 

 

"Waiting Game": The only thing that kept us from baptizing these two little girls earlier was the little sister. When the three of them decided that the baptism for the older two was ok, it happened fast!

 

 

"All you need is love": Like the other three this family has a miracle story behind them and they are very dear to my heart. Their next step: TEMPLE!

December 13, 2010

Hey everyone!

 

Well, thus ends another fantastic week in the Arizona Phoenix Mission! And boy was it a busy one!

 

I guess to emphasize the most important events of the week, we are seeing incredible progress in our area. We are seeing the Lord's hand in our work as well as seeing the effect of the Christmas season. People are a little bit more open to hear from you :) We had the opportunity to go up to Prescott again this past week and work with the Elders up there. I was expecting it to be freezing cold and snow everywhere. I was COMPLETELY wrong. It was a balmy 70 degrees or so during the day and not a speck of snow to be seen. Oh well, maybe next time. It's been really interesting this year. We had about 2 weeks of cooler weather but now it is staying a consistent 75 or 80 degrees. Don't get me wrong, we are enjoying every bit of it but I get this nasty feeling that this coming summer is going to be a Hot one. For the meantime, we'll take what we are given.

 

Two of our investigators, Tino and Samantha, had their wedding this last Thursday. It was awesome! They asked to sign as witnesses, tons of members showed up, there was a party for them afterward...The ward definitely earned top marks for this one. Now they completing all of the commandments and Samantha is getting baptized this Saturday! If I had any pictures I would put them up but...I haven't gotten them yet. I'll be sure to post some as soon as I get them!

 

This week is looking to be another busy one. We have our interviews with President as well as our four baptisms this coming Saturday. I tell you what, when you have a lot of progressing investigators you have your work cut out for you! However we would not have it any other way. Along those lines, we found a couple more awesome part-member families that are showing lots of promise. We are excited and look forward to working with them a little bit longer.

 

Well, that about wraps it up for this week! I hope that those in school did well on their finals and that everyone enjoys the next couple of weeks free of worry and care. I pray that each of you remember the true spirit of Christmas. Have a great and safe week!

 

Sincerely,

Elder Klemme

December 6, 2010

Hey everyone!

 

Well, message wise this will be pretty short BUT, I have pictures this time. I hope you all enjoy them

 

This past week was a busy one. We had our Christmas Zone Conferences this past week that included a special endowment session in the Mesa Temple. It was a very special experience for all of the missionaries. We were also able to see the Christmas lights around the temple. They are one of the largest religious lights displays in the world, second only to the Salt Lake temple (I believe). It was a fun time for sure!

 

Elder Bingham also had the opportunity to set two more baptismal dates this past week. Next Saturday, the 18th of December, we are planning to have 4 baptisms with 4 more coming very soon (If not this month, in January for sure). We are being incredibly blessed.

 

Being a missionary is the absolute best. I am so glad to be here in this mission at this time. My experience as a servant of Jesus Christ has in all aspects changed my life.

 

Have a great and safe week!

 

With love and Christmas greetings!

Elder Klemme

 

Pictures 1&2: Cottonwood: I saw snow!

Picture 3-6: MESA TEMPLE!!

 

 

November 29, 2010

Hey Everyone,

 

This week I had the opportunity to go to the temple again. We received a call from one of the spanish missionary companionship's in our mission telling us that one of Elder Bingham and My converts was going through for the first time. It was a very special experience for both of us. Actually, she was the first lady I ever baptized on the mission...Hna. Margarita Coronado. When she saw us there she just started to cry and as we left the temple we could just feel her joy....literally it was so thick you could have cut it with a knife. It was a great day.

 

Moving on to the rest of the post, I hope that everyone had a great Thanksgiving day and spent it with those you love. We had the opportunity to go the the mission home and have dinner with the Becks. It was a fun time, they made a lot of food (which means: LEFTOVERS!) We also had the opportunity to sit down and talk about the spanish work and other cool things like it. All in all it was a good experience!

 

On Thanksgiving day I centered my personal study on the doctrine of Gratitude. This last General Conference President Monson gave a fantastic talk on the subject. I would encourage each of you to pull it out and read it. As I sat pondering on the subject, I began to realize that it is IMPOSSIBLE to name every blessing that we have been given. As I named one blessing I discovered that beneath every blessing are other blessings, and other blessings beneath those. To keep a long story short, there is not anything that we have been given as a blessing.

 

It is such a blessing to me to be able to be a missionary, be take the gospel to every person I see. It is a blessing to see the hand of the Lord in our work, to be guided by him to say and do the right things at the right times. It is a blessing to have knowledge on the Atonement of Jesus Christ, to know that each and every one of us can change and become better people. It is a blessing to have a living and modern day prophet, someone who is guiding us through the difficulties of today. I am so grateful for a loving Heavenly Father. As we approach Christmas, I would challenge each and every one of you to reflect on all the blessings, all the gifts that you have received and to share them with others. I know that as we focus our thoughts on the Savior this Christmas will become more meaningful and we will find true joy. Have a great and safe week!

 

Sincerely,

Elder Klemme