Hey All,

Just a simple spiritual thought to talk about my week.

It's been an awesome experience to be a missionary. You have the opportunity to experience the highs of highs and the lows of lows. I had a friend recently ask me what the saddest happiest experience of my mission was. As I sat pondering the question, I decided that it would be very hard for me to pick just one experience that could envelope all the joy I have experienced.

I have found that the only way to be happy as a missionary is to give it your all. Every day out among the people talking with everyone and doing all you can to help them receive the restored gospel. Truly, diligence and work is the key to the happiest moments as a missionary.

This past Saturday I had the opportunity to go on an exchange and be on bike in the southern part of the mission. It also happened to be the day that the sky decided to rain...and rain....and rain. As soon as we stepped off the bus in our area it started to drizzle, the wind started to blow, and the temperature started to drop. The missionary I was with has not been out very long and I could tell that neither one of us were looking forward to getting wet. Just before we got on our bikes I looked at him and told him one of my most favorite quotes of all time:

"If your eye was single to the glory of God, you would not worry yourself with anything that was apart of sharing the gospel."

So we didn't worry about anything apart from sharing the gospel.

It rained hard for most of the day and a lot of our appointments fell through but we worked through it. At the peak of the rain, the wind, and the cold we pulled onto a patio of an abandoned house and offered a prayer asking Heavenly Father to give us the strength to make it through the day...to be able to endure the cold and the wind, and if at all possible stop the rain. We jumped back onto our bikes and rode to our next appointment, determined to complete our priesthood responsibility. Exactly one hour later the rain stopped and the wind ended. I truly saw a miracle at the hand of the Lord.

I know sometimes that life throws us curve balls and unexpected bumps in the road. However, the Atonement makes it possible for us to overcome those obstacles and become better people followers of Christ. I know that happiness is found in being diligent in doing the small of simple things. Reading our scriptures daily, having personal and family prayer, family home evening, going to church...ALL of those things really help us find true happiness in life through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I invite each one of you to review our position and to put in order those things that are really important. I know it may not always be easy to make the change but because of the Atonement everything is possible. I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior. He loves each and everyone of us and is willing to lift us higher if we simply take his hand and put our trust in him. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Sincerely,

Elder Klemme

February 14, 2011

Hey Everyone,

Well, from the last e-mail I sent not a lot of crazy experiences happened but we saw huge blessings from the hand of the lord. I feel very grateful for the opportunity I had to witness so many different miracles in my area.

The biggest piece of news is WE HAVE ANOTHER BAPTISM. We have been teaching this lady, Teresa, since the first part of November. When we first found her she was in a bit of an emotional disaster. She had a bit of a past with depression issues, "might" have gotten involved with some black magic 20 years previous, and was in bad shape to say the least. She has been coming to church now for 3 straight months now, paying tithing, basically being an active member. Long story short, we scheduled an interview with Presidente Lopez and her yesterday and SHE PASSED! She is going to be baptized on the 26th of this month. When she came out of the interview she was just beaming with joy and we could tell that the spirit had confirmed to her that she was ready. We are very excited for her and know that she will be an excellent member of the church.

Elder Bingham and I started teaching a family that we dropped about 2 months ago. They have been coming to church, on their own, for the last 2 weeks and are showing that they are ready to be baptized. They were in a waiting process to get their marriage license but now things are looking to be all clear so hopefully by the middle of next month we should be having three more baptisms.

I have grown to love my area. I thought in the beginning it would be hard to love another ward besides Montana del Sur. One thing is for sure, I still love that ward and the converts that are there. However I know that I have seen growth in the area and the branch I am serving in now. It has been the most incredible experience to work with the people up here. I have seen a lot of miracles....more than I could possibly count. I know that the Lord blesses us when we are obedient to his commandments and when we seek to magnify our callings. I know that as we diligently strive to become more like Christ we begin to see the world in a new light. Being a missionary is an incredible experience and one that I am very grateful to have. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Sincerely,

Elder Klemme

February 9, 2011

Hey everyone,

When the new year started, we have been reading the entire Book of Mormon in 60 days with an emphasis of finding references to the Doctrines of Christ (ie. faith, repentance, baptism, etc.) It has been a very powerful experience for me to see, once again, just how Christ centered this book really is. It seems that every day we find new insight to the way we should live and (as a missionary) the things we need to teach to our investigators.

We had our transfers yesterday and I had the opportunity to speak to the newly called trainers. It was my responsibility to speak on their expectations as trainers, the things they need to be doing, as well as give them encouragement and advice for their new assignment. I focused my talk around the 2,000 sons of Heleman and what made them so strong. I focused my thoughts around the fact that: 1) they were a covenant making people and 2) they were taught by their mothers the righteous way to live. As I gave the talk the spirit began to make itself present very strong in the room and I knew that I had followed the Lord's council to address the new trainers on this subject.

For the past few days I have been pondering on this same story of their preparation, their life, and the profound effect they had on the Nephite armies. I just want to emphasize how important it is to teach our children the right ways to live. I look back on my own growing experience and realize that I was taught by goodly parents, I was taught the right way to live, I was taught the standards I need to follow, and I was taught the importance of serving a mission. When we took the departing missionaries to the airport and brought back those who were just arriving I could see the profound effect of good parenting.

Being a missionary is the best decision I have ever made. I have had the opportunity to rub shoulders with some incredible men and women and to have a difference in the lives of others. To those who maybe on the fence, if you are willing and able in all facets to go on a mission, GO. I once heard that we will never know the profound effect we will have on people while we are missionaries but as we grow older and look back, we will see the fruits of our labors. Then comes the fulfillment of the promise given in D&C 18.

As part of that profound change, Elder Bingham and I had the opportunity to witness the baptism of two of our investigators this past Saturday: Luis and Lupe Urrea. We had received them as a referral from HQ and were ready to be baptized from the very first visit. They were baptized 3 weeks after our first contact with them. This is a binding testimony to me that the Lord is always preparing us for bigger and better things in life regardless of the position we are in. I know that this is the work of the Lord. I know that because of my service others can have the happiness I personally have in this life. I know that our Savior lives and that he knows each and every one of us. If we don't know him, his invitation will always be available: "Come, Follow Me." In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Sincerely,

Elder Klemme

January 31, 2011

Hey Everyone,

Due to time constraints I won't be able to send a long letter home this week but I do want to bear a simple testimony about this past week.

I had the opportunity to serve in different areas of the mission on exchanges this past week as well as devote part of my morning to excellent personal studies. I have come to discover that excellent morning studies is key to having a spiritual day. I have been working on teaching the "true doctrine" meaning that with every teaching opportunity I have I either quote or reference a scripture. I cannot begin to describe just how strong the spirit is when we teach from the scriptures.

As a result of the goal, I have been putting major emphasis on becoming more familiar with the scriptures, memorizing references, studying the content, and more specifically finding how they relate to our investigators. To help me in this process I had the opportunity to have a personal study with President Beck this past week. My mind was opened to the spirit and I left with a greater desire to truly understand and live the gospel. We may not learn everything while we live here on this earth however we are taught that the greater knowledge we obtain here on the earth will give us greater advantage in the life after (D&C 130:18-19).

I had some incredibly spiritual experiences this last week. Experiences too sacred to share but experiences that have helped me understand the healing role of the Atonement. I saw the powerful changing effects of the gospel as I saw one of my recent converts perform a baptism. I saw the Savior's hand at work in our area as we found 3 new families to teach. I KNOW this is his work and that he loves each of us. There is no greater calling in life than to share the gospel. I will follow the council in D&C 123 and will work and waste out my life in the service of my God to bring more of his sheep back into the fold. I encourage each of you to share the gospel, to open your mouth, and participate in the work of God. I know that as you do so Heaven's blessings will shower upon you and you will find true joy and happiness. 

It happened to me. I know the Savior. I have seen his hand. I am eternally changed.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Elder Klemme