Mission Experience - 3 August 2015

Dear Mom,

I'm so glad you were able to read the Old Testament! It's SO GOOD!  And you did it in 60 days! Whoa!!! The youth are going to benefit greatly from your dedication! I'm so sorry Sister Salmon is moving-I know y'all have been friends for years. Fortunately you still can keep in contact with her. It won't be the same but it will still be good.

Thank you so much for your prayers. I know a lot of people are praying for me and honestly it helps. It comforts me to know that the Lords hears all of their prayers and it overwhelms me to think that they are in my behalf.

Something that I keep learning and re-learning on my mission is that the Lord knows what we are going through. When I was called to be a missionary He understood the things I would go through-BUT he also knows what I need to learn from these trials. He knows what I have learned about sharing the Gospel and who I am, bearing my testimony, teaching, being a woman, communicating. He knows that being a missionary is EXACTLY the trial and learning grounds that I need for whatever my next step in life is. All that I have learned I wouldn't have learned if I had never served.  He also know what I need if I stay. Whatever happens He will continue to guide and direct me if I stay close to Him. Even my patriarchal blessing says that as I stay close to my church leaders it will be as if He is leading me by the hand. I know that the Gospel is true. I know it like I have never before known anything. I truly KNOW that I can do ANYTHING. That I can struggle and overcome and learn. I KNOW that He loves me. That He loves everyone- regardless of who they were/are, regardless of their circumstances in life, regardless of if they are members who aren't active, regardless of if they love Him. He loves and He cares and I want to be like Him. I strive to be like Him. I feel a passion for the Gospel and a love for others that I wouldn't have developed any other way.

This week we taught 17 Less active members/ recent converts. We taught 3 member present and 4 lessons without a member present. And the Love I felt for them wasn't any different. It didn't matter if I was in a nice home or a shabby apartment. If the person we were talking to was interested or uninterested, what their struggles were, who they had been. In each discussion we invited them to come unto Christ- whether it be through prayer, learning from us, or attending their church we invited them to draw closer to the Savior and Redeemer of the world. And yeah we haven't seen a lot of success in our area-we haven't gotten new investigators or retained many of the ones that we had we no longer teach, but it has been good.

I love you so very much,

Sister Erika Kremer

Mission Experience - 27 July 2015

Dear Mom,

I knew as I was reading the letter from Kristina that it was something just coming from her heart.

Thanks for giving Marissa my info! Is LeAnn still there? Katie?

You and dad would be great missionaries!

I have used the Essential Oils you sent with me and they are working well. 

I'm learning that everyone loves people differently. 

Of course I don't mind my name being in the temple! It is a GREAT place to be!

The Hancocks (my new Mission President and his wife) are freaking AMAZING!!! They are awesome and cool!!!

Spiritually it's been a great week! I got to testify of Christ and His love for all! We taught a couple of great people.

I love you tons and buckets,

Sister Erika Kremer

Mission Experience - 13 July 2015

Dear Mom,

Thank you for your email this week. Y'all did fine in regards to the temple. You have nothing to worry about or regret. Honest.

I'm so glad you are enjoying being a seminary teacher. It is a good fit for you and you truly are growing a lot.

I look forward to the possibility of letters from the Primary. That would be cool to read. I've thought about writing to the Young Women, but I'm not sure what I would say.

I'm really glad you put my name in the temple this week. I'm sure that that was inspired.  But I'm going to stay here and keeping going forward. As hard as it is and as much as I want to be with the family I don't want to stop serving the Lord. Hopefully the effort I'm putting forth is enough. I'm doing the best I can- all I can handle doing. I just hope He continues to understand.

There have been miracles though! In the last 7 days there were 2 and a half days were we didn't proselyte at all because we were just too sick and we still managed to teach 13 lesssons. It's the least I've ever taught but they were all good and effective lessons.

So even though it's a struggle I'm still hanging on and trying to look for the miracles and blessings.

I don't have much time to email today-my companion has a lot planned (she said we need to do things that make both of us really happy today- I suspect ice cream will be involved). I will try to write a letter with more uplifting things.

I love you so much!!!!! For real!!!!

LOVE,

Sister Erika Kremer

MissionExperience - 6 July 2015

Dear Mom,

Something that I thought about when I read the last part of your email about the Apostles dying. (What a week this has been. I don't know if you have heard about President Packer but he passed away on Friday at 2 pm at his home. That makes two apostles in two months- another one that has been there my entire life. There are only three left of the original ones from when your dad and I were growing up into our youth days. Elder Nelson is now the senior Apostle according to date sustained as and Apostle and Elder Oaks is after him. These great men have been giving us counsel and instruction from the Lord for so long that they almost seem like family.) . . . . In my personal study this morning I was reading in 3 Nephi chapter 3 about how Gidgiddoni was chosen to be the chiefest among all the chief captains- it was because he had the spirit of revelation and prophesy and was a prophet among the people. Sister Hunt and I discussed this for a while and talked about the last days and how there will be many battles and something we wondered was if at some point our armies will be lead in the same manner. Obviously we don't know this for sure, but it is something that we talked about. Food for thought at any rate.

Have I told you how much I love studying the scriptures?? I really really really love studying them! There is so much to learn...especially when one thinks about the fact that for every word in the Book of Mormon, for every story in the Book of Mormon there were thousands of other possibilities. The things that we read are what God needs us to know and understand. They are things that will bring us closer to Him and allow us to progress in the way that He desires for us to progress.

Something else that is really standing out to me- Every person on Earth accepted the Gospel and Plan of Salvation in the Pre-Earth life.

Something else- we knew our ancestors before we came to Earth. We knew our children. Isn't that cool?

About the parade: Only in Idaho and Utah would people cheer when they saw the missionaries...and you could tell who wasn't a member or was REALLY anti by how they reacted when they saw us. It was REALLY funny! And so cool!!

I finally gave in and asked my companiera Hermana Hunt what the names of the candies were ::drum roll:: Tootsie Rolls!!! Did you figure out what candy I was talking about?

 

You would think that as a missionary I would be one of the first to know that an apostle had passed away, but I didn't know about President Packer till 1 pm yesterday (Sunday). 

I love you and the blanket you made is a hit with everyone who sees it. Actually, Sister Hunt was wondering if you have any fabric left over from the skirts you made...she thinks they are really cute...

I love you and think of you every day.

Love Sister Erika Kremer

Mission Experience - 4 July 2015 (Special Edition follow-up from Monday the 29th)

Hola mi familia!

Donde esta?   Yo bien. Feliz quatro de Julio!  (Happy Fourth of July)

Today has been awesome so far! We (my zone) were in the Idaho Falls Fourth of July parade (which was awesome!). The Zone ran around handing out the little chocolate candies (that are kind of rubbery and I think start with the letter "t") out to those along the parade route. I stood on the float smiling and waving because I'm awesome like that ;)

Then we watched 2 movies...Big Hero 6 and Space Jams....that one was a bit of a weird movie.....

And now I am emailing y'all! Because I love each of you and miss each of you!

This has been an alright week. A lot has been going on but I'm hanging on, smiling, and doing the best that I can. I know that missions are not easy and if there is anything I'm learning it's that the phrase "not easy" is an understatement...however I know that Heavenly Father is helping me along and that all of the hard stuff is going to help me out in the end. So I am (reluctantly) grateful for it.

Sad news...our district leader is probably getting sent home early because he has been really sick for months now and they can't figure out what is wrong with him. It is hard to watch a missionary go home early...it's hard on them to see what they might have done and know that they won't accomplish it...it takes a lot of faith in Heavenly Father to leave - to trust that leaving is what is best for you. My heart hurts for him.

I'm sure I say this a lot, but it is weird how much I am loving people. I still don't like being around most people, but those that I meet I just LOVE almost instantly..I overlook their faults or flaws and just see children of God. I remember some missionaries describing this and me thinking "yeah right, you just have to say you love them because you're a missionary" but it's not true! It is so strange though!

I love y'all so much! 

Love Sister Erika Kremer     by the way....my first name is starting to sound really foreign...

Mission Experience - 29 June 2015

Dear Mom,

Your Facebook post:BRILLIANT 

I am so proud of you for standing up for what you believe in. The Gospel is true and as we bear testimony of it others are given the opportunity to learn and feel the Spirit.

Today is only a 3 hour p-day because we have all day Saturday off-so I will be writing letters to everyone then.

We are having a lot of success in our companionships!

I'm sorry this is so short.

I love you beyond words,

Sister Erika Kremer

Mission Experience - 22 June 2015

Dear Mom,

Transfer calls happened the day you talked with Debbie (which she told me about, you are SO SWEET!) and I will be staying in the Ammon West Stake and will be joined by Sister Hunt (who came out at the same time as Sister Kolbo). Sister Parker will be going to Afton and Sister Kolbo will be coming to Ammon. So I will see her at least once a week!

I'm glad dad's talk went well. I was nervous for him. I also talked yesterday about Enduring to the End.

YES! I LOVE THE OLD TESTAMENT SO MUCH!!! It great that you have this chance to study it and learn all that it has to offer. One of the things I love doing in lessons or talks is talking about both the Old Testament and the Book of Mormon. Especially the parts that both talk of Christ.

I know that you can accomplish all of the reading you've been asked to do and that as you do so you will learn things that will help you as a Seminary teacher. Often when we talk with members or recent converts about different aspects of the church I talk about you. Especially when we discuss how the Lord is the one who extends callings and that even if we feel incapable of accomplishing a task if He has asked us to do it then we can.

It truly is amazing how wonderful the Gospel is. This Friday we saw Debbie baptized and Sunday she was confirmed. She had so many people supporting her at both occasions, both members and non-members. As missionaries when the person baptized is changing we do a presentation. For Debbie's baptism we showed to videos, Are We Christian? and He Lives-Testimonies of Jesus Christ. In between the videos we shared our own testimonies of the Gospel and the Atonement of Jesus Christ. In all honesty my favorite part of baptisms is bearing testimony. The reason is because if there is a non member there that may be the only opportunity any missionary has to teach them of the Gospel and there is no better way to do so than by testifying of the Atonement of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Something unique that we did at her baptism is Sister Parker and I performed a special musical number A Child's Prayer. Debbie loves this song and wanted it to be one of the hymns sung, but she also wanted the round effect so she asked us to sing it. I was really nervous to do this because I've had a really bad cough for a few days but Mom, when we sang the Spirit was SO STRONG. Dave (Debbie's step dad who is anti) actually wiped tears away a few times. It was such a powerful experience.

Then Sunday Brother Peterson received the Preisthood and that evening he baptized his daughter Bailey Peterson.

It has been an amazing week. And after I invite someone to be baptized today Sister Parker and I will have invited someone to be baptized for 46 days in a row. I am so grateful to have this opportunity to serve the Lord!

Love,

Sister Erika Kremer

Mission Photos - 25 April 2015 Star Valley Temple Groundbreaking

Here are the photos Sister Kremer send me in an email from the Star Valley Temple groundbreaking.

The group of missionaries that participated in the groundbreaking.

The shovel Sister Kremer used to shovel some of the dirt.

Sister Kremer and her district shoveling.

Mission Experience - 15 June 2015

Hello Friends and Family! This is Sister Kremer....you know, the person who said she was going to send group emails every week and hasn't?

Some truly wonderful things have happened and I want to share some of the most recent things with y'all. 

This past week my companion and I planted a flower bed for one of the people we have been teaching. He is 73 years old and wanted to brighten his yard up. It was probably the only time I have ever said I would love to plant flowers, have done so, and have felt overwhelmingly happy about the effort that was put forth. Not only did the flowers look great but Tom was so happy when he saw what all we had done. When we had first started planting he said, 'I'm not quite sure how to go about planting the flowers or where things will look right, but I know you Sisters will know what to do." and later he compared us planting the flowers and cultivating the ground to the lessons we have taught him and how his testimony of Jesus Christ has grown. This truly happened and I'm not making it up in the least.

Something else that is really cool: There is a woman that we meet a few weeks ago and started to teach about the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ...we left her with a pamphlet and have been unable to make any contact with her since because she has been ill. We were able to see her this week and she had read the entire thing and asked for another pamphlet.

Because summer is here and it is much warmer outside we have been doing more walking. This past week we were walking in an apartment complex looking for people to talk to and we met a woman who wants to be baptized and took the discussions years ago but had life drama happen and was unable to be baptized. We will be able to start teaching her soon but she is struggling with getting work off. 

This Friday we have a baptism happening for a wonderful young woman. We started teaching her the week I arrived in Ammon and it has been amazing to watch how the Gospel has changed her life. It isn't only helping her but her step sister as well.

This email probably seems really disjointed, but I want to let all of you know that I am so grateful to be a missionary. I am so glad I have the opportunity to share this message of joy, hope, and peace. When I left on my mission I was told that it would be the hardest thing I will ever do and it certainly is. However the lessons I am learning from my trials are worth ever hardship and struggle.

I love each of you.

Sister Kremer

Mission Experience - 8 June 2015 Kristina's 1yr. Anniversary

Dear Mom, 

Thank you for the pictures! The house and mailbox look so different but they look so good!

The horseshoe shape is fantastic!

Thank you for all the wedding info and the address! 

This week was better. It was a lot better! 

We had Zone Conference this week which was AMAZING!! It is so sad that the Brinkerhoffs will be leaving soon, but I look forward to meeting the new mission president and his wife. They arrive the first Wednesday in July.

Thank you for fasting for me!

I want to write you what we talked about in Zone Conference, but I don't have my notebook with me right now so I will write you a letter all about it today and send it to you.

While we were at Zone Conference I saw Elder Hales. It was really really weird to talk to him and know that he only has about a month left of his mission. And Sister Parker only has three months left and has already received her trunky email (when they ask if you are flying home or driving) and yesterday she received her trunky phone call (where they ask if you were flying home what airport would you fly home to?).

I learned that we use the word trunky because it is short for " wanting to pack your trunk/bags and go home" weird, I know. But mission lingo is weird everywhere. At first I disliked it, but I am becoming use to it now.

Because of the mission president switch we are having transfers a week early. Which means that I will know if I get transferred or not on the 17th and the actual transfer day is the 24th. This transfer is 5 weeks and the next one is 7 weeks.

I love you so much mom! Stay cool!

Love, Sister Erika Kremer

Sister Kremer and Sister Parker at a dinner appointment in Ammon, ID

Mission Experience - 1 June 2015

Dear Mom, 

About the woman who texted you...she is AWESOME!!! She doesn't live in our area but she and her family are fellowshipping Debbie (the 18 yr old getting baptized on the 19). What is really awesome is that it's her high school daughter who started the fellowshipping! It's so cool to see teenagers converting other teens. I wish it's something I had done in high school and I regret not doing it, but I look forward to teaching my children the joys of sharing the Gospel with those around us!

photo goes with above paragraph

With the changes in leadership for our zone and district Sister Parker and I have struggled. Serious struggles. We got a blessing from our district leader (who was actually one of my zone leaders in the Soda Springs Zone) earlier this week. It was really cool for both of us. I really want to share part of the blessing with you though because a HUGE promise was made to me. Last week I wrote dad about how I plan on inviting someone to be baptized every day for the rest of my mission (today will be day 25) and by the time I go home that will be 475 invites. In the blessing I was promised that if I invite someone to be baptized every day than every month I will meet the Standard of Excellence. That is HUGE! That means every month for the rest of my mission I will see two people baptized! That means that the Lord will work through me to bring 36 people closer to Him. And that isn't even taking into account the peoples lives that they will change. Honestly I am blown away by this promise. I heard it and I just thought "wow. That is HUGE". I've already met The Standard of Excellence the last 3 months and it was HARD work. And I know that it isn't going to get any easier, but through the Lord all things are possible.

When I look at the situation we currently find ourselves in (we are struggling with finding ways to get the members involved) part of me wonders how we can possibly do everything we are asked to do. The last week has been very hard. Our pool of people to teach has dropped significantly and people that we thought were solid and progressing have dropped us or started going in reverse as fast as they can. Our nightly planning sessions for the next day are long and taxing-we often find ourselves staring at the board for long minutes wondering who to teach, who to see, where to go. But at the same time as the trials we are seeing MIRACLES.

We were running very low on miles this last week so we did a lot of walking to conserve miles in case we had a day where we needed to do a lot of running around so we had several opportunities to approach people on the sidewalk which was really cool. Friday came and we had a lot of miles left over so we planned on doing less walking and more focusing on trying to meet with people we haven't seen for a while. At noon we had 3 set appointments, but after we went to our first appointment the 2nd fell through. Which turned out to be a blessing because the car started making a TERRIFYING sound. It didn't feel safe to drive so we parked it in a neighborhood and went to see a recent convert who lived nearby. She gave us a ride to the other side of our area where we ate lunch, and then had the 3rd appointment cancel on us. We ended our dinner break with no car, no appointments, and 3 hours of proselyting time left. So we prayed about who we should see and started walking. We did a LOT of walking that night and only saw three people, but I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that we hadn't been walking we wouldn't have seen them. We would have tried, but the way it worked out was that by walking we were being perfectly timed to see the people we saw. And I KNOW that they needed to see us. I KNOW that Heavenly Father KNEW they needed to see us and that is why our car made those weird noises. When we got back to our car that night it was working perfectly and hasn't made any noises since. We walked at least 6 miles in those 3 hours and every step was worth it. I don't care how blistered my feet get our how tired I feel. Every ache is worth the joy I feel that I get to share with others!

I love you so much mom! And I hope you have a fantastic week!

Love, Sister Erika Kremer  

    

                                   

 

                  These two photos were taken at the Rexburg, ID temple the Wednesday after                  
                                                   the above photo was taken.

Mission Experience - 25 May 2015 Memorial Day

Dear Mom,

Some of the baptisms are on track.

We had one this past Saturday for a 23 yr old named Jerad (I spelled his name correctly). He actually served in Iraq. He joined the Army when he was 17. 

We have one coming up on the 13th of June (maybe, we can't get him to commit to lessons but he is attending church every week) His name is Tom and he is 75. He actually owns a delicious pizza shop in town.

Then we have one on the 19th of June. Her name is Debbie. She is 18 and graduates in a week. She tried to get baptized when she was 10 but her family forbid it so until a week ago she hadn't told her parents she was meeting with us, but now they know and even though they aren't happy they are supporting her.

Then we have Bailey. She is 10 and set to be baptized on the 20th of June. She wasn't progressing at all till two weeks ago because she wasn't reading scriptures or praying so she didn't really want to commit to being baptized. She had a few different dates but they all fell through because she just wasn't ready. Then we made her a reading and prayer chart and told her that if she did both every day for two weeks we would give her a candy bar. And she has done so ever since. So even though we bribed her it is working REALLY well. She is so much more involved than she was before and seems excited to be baptized! At our lesson last Thursday the first thing she asked us was if we could read from the scriptures!

Next is Bud who is set to be baptized 18th of July. He has Word of Wisdom issues and lives with his fiancee though...there is a lot of work that needs to be done, but he knows that the Gospel is true so that is the first step.

Tandy had a baptism date, but we had to drop it because she isn't attending church. She is going through a lot of things right now so our struggle is keeping her focused on the blessings that can come.

What was really cool was how excited and happy I was after Jerad's baptism on Saturday. The other baptisms weren't like that.Not because I loved them less, but because I just couldn't feel happy about it.It's so cool to see the changes! 

I love you so much mom!

Love, Sister Erika Kremer

Mission Experience - 18 May 2015

TRANSFERS! I will be staying in Ammon West with Sister Parker(who will have been in the area for 9 NINE months at the end of the transfer) and Sister Bradshaw is going to the Visitors Center. So no more Visitor Center training's .:(

ALSO! We will meet the Standard of Excellence!!!!!!

His name is Jared and it is frankly a miracle that he is our baptism.  He is 23 and has been interested in the church since he was small (he actually has wanted to be married in the temple since he was a child), but his family is VERY anti. Well, when he was 17 he joined the army and at some point he was serving in Iraq. During that time he was baptized, but for some reason records were never filled out for him and if they ever where they have been lost. When he got back for Iraq he was living in Utah where he learned about not having his records in the church. So he started taking the missionary discussions. Then something happened and he had to stop. Then he moved to Montana, where he started taking the discussions again. Then he had to move to Rexburg. Where he started taking the missionary discussions once again and had a baptism date set. But the zone leaders there said since he actually lived in Idaho Falls he couldn't be baptized in Rexburg. Then one of our ward mission leaders talked to us about him since he is the ward mission leaders future grandson in law. And we met with him! And now he is getting baptized Saturday at 5pm!

MIRACLE!!!!

Let's see....what else happened this week? 

OH! We were walking to contact a referral yesterday and ran into a woman who was referred to us but has been avoiding our calls for some reason. But we set up a return appointment to see her! And she actually seems really interested!

We have 5 baptism dates set for June. I hope all of them go through. Some of them are really shaky. The investigators are having personal struggles. It's a sad but true fact that Satan works as hard as he can to keep people from coming into the church.

So when I first started serving I began to read the Book of Mormon page by page and marking everything that stood out. Then I got distracted and started jumping around. Well I'm back to reading it in order and I LOVE it! One of these days I will have to take a picture of my copy and send it to you. The pages are so colorful, but it is REALLY helping me remember where verses and stories are.

Love,

Sister Erika Kremer

Mission Experience - 11 May 2015

Since I have been out I have been part of 5 baptisms.

Being in Ammon/Idaho Falls is really nice. The weather is very mild and without humidity which is always a nice bonus!

It's weird being in a different area because I am truly learning that every missionary goes about doing missionary work differently. And works with members differently. Something I want to do when I get back is be more involved in missionary work. It's crazy that most of our work comes from members but it is also such a blessing! President Hinkley said that every new member needs 3 things, a friend, an assignment, and (something I don't remember right now) and I have seen that investigators REALLY need that member friend (or fellowshipper) as we call it because it is the investigators with fellowshippers that get baptized more often than those without that fellowshipper. 

Even as members we need to have friends surrounding us that are strong in the Gospel/have  similar beliefs. I remember growing up and not having many friends which was really hard to deal with. BUT because I made the choice to be picky with the type of people I hung out with I didn't have to deal with being tempted to do things that would break the commandments of God.

Now I'm not saying that I made all the right choices. I definitely regret not knowing more people and not being more vocal and active about what I believe, but I'm super grateful that I had you and dad as well as church leaders who were always guiding and giving council.

I feel like this is sort of turning into a journal entry, but it's what I'm thinking so I'm just going with it and typing what comes into my mind.

Something I've noticed is that the lessons I'm learning as a missionary are actually lessons that I've already learned the basics of. Things that y'all have taught me are  the foundation for what I am learning now. I now that without you and dad I wouldn't be having the same experiences I am currently having and I certainly wouldn't be learning as much.

So thank you. And I love you.

Love,

Sister Erika Kremer

Mission Experience - 4 May 2015

I have officially been in the Ammon West Stake for 1 WHOLE WEEK!

I've quickly learned that this stake is called Ammon but it actually covers part of Idaho Falls. Which is super exciting for me, because the parts we cover I have memories of from when I was living in Idaho before my mission. It's rather exciting.

Fun things: We have 5 baptism dates!!! 3 of which we set this week! They aren't all for this month, but it is so exciting to see them progressing!   Also, our zone (the Ammon Zone) is holding a Luau on the 30th! And since it is hosted by 3 Polynesian Sisters we are being taught some awesome things! Like the Hula! That's right, I'm learning the Hula! And some other thing I don't remember what it is called but it involves sitting on the floor and clapping... I realize that that is an awful description, but I don't know how else to saw what we do. Maybe I will record it at some point.

Saturday an investigator named Diana got married at noon and baptized at 2! It was such an exciting and beautiful day! And watching her happiness I thought a lot about investigators in Star Valley and so many others that I've yet to meet and how the Lord is mindful of each one of them and has a plan for each of them that will allow them to hear about the Gospel and if they are willing experience the same joy.

The past 10 weeks have been wild, crazy, emotional, and trying. So so so trying. But I KNOW that everything I am experiencing, every trial and every joy, is helping me to learn, grow, and form a deeper relationship with my Heavenly Father. Not only that, but when I talk to investigators about trials I mean every word I say and I feel comfort as I speak that Heavenly Father is deeply aware of not only me but those I speak with.

I love this Gospel so much and am so eternally grateful for the chance I have to serve the Lord here in the Idaho Pocatello Mission.

I love you all and hope you have great weeks!

Love Sister Erika Kremer

Mission Experience - 20 April 2015

Sister Kremer had a very busy week with several personal things happening.

They did schedule 2 more baptisms.One for a 9 yr old boy and the other and 11 yr old girl. Both for May 16. Both were in the Afton area we just started to cover. 

Looking back on our numbers from this week and knowing how hard each day has been I can see that the Lord is still blessing us and is still SO AWARE of the needs of the people in our area. This includes our own needs.

Love,

Sister Erika Kremer

Mission experience - 13 April 2015

Dear Mom,

Elders Hales and Grace were Emergency Transferred out of the district last night. Two Elders had their visas come in. Which means that Sister Kolbo and I are now covering their wards. 9 wards in all. Gina and Ruby are no longer our investigators because our area boundaries have changed. They are now Elders Thomas and McTavish's investigators. Elder Mctavish is the new district leader.

We still have Kim and Joe though! And Gina's son Ian has agreed to take the discussions! Since he is YSA we can still teach him!

Because of the transfer we will probably be moving soon. So if you send me anything please send it to the Mission Home. They will make sure I receive it. Did you ever sign me up for an Ensign? If not that is ok. I am just curious.

I am looking forward to telling you about the Temple Groundbreaking too! Elders Grace and Hales have been given special permission to attend! 

I'm still not sure about the Skyping...everything is up in the air right now. We are not sure where will be be anymore. As soon as I know I'll let you know.

We are so excited to have new wards to cover! It will be a great experience for us! 

I'm going to try to write y'all another letter this week. But if I don't it's because we may be packing and cleaning. We are trying to move ASAP so we don't live so far away from our area. Right now it's a 15 min drive...

Did I mention that the speed limit is 65 for most of that drive? It's so weird how quickly I've become accustomed to driving so fast!

I love you so much! 

Love Sister Erika Ann Kremer 

Mission experiences - 6 April 2015

Dear Mom,

YOU ARE AMAZING!!!! You were such a great example and you have NOTHING to worry about!             
     Sister Kremer, Sister Kolbo,                         The missionaries
    and a couple Elders with a group                cleaning the baptismal
         in a chicken coop.                                  font at the church.

             
    Looking down the ladders from               The top of the tabernacle
  the tabernacle.                                          with the Elders. (Sister Kolbo
                                                                   is taking the photo)

I love Jonathon's comment! I'm not sure if I've mentioned this but Brother Hamilton(a ward mission leader) has nicknamed Sister Kolbo Satan and myself Lucifer...so during that whole talk he kept texting us and telling us it's not too late to repent. It was kind of hilarious. It may not seem this way, but we have a REALLY GREAT relationship with their family. they made us Easter baskets! I really want y'all to meet them, you would get along really well!

The empty mailbox on mail day.

                                                       

Sister Kolbo says that normally we email a time to Skype the Monday before Mother's Day ...Are you wanting to try Skyping Kristofer and myself at the same time or different times?

WE ALL SURVIVED TRANSFERS! We have another 6 weeks together! And we will be at the Temple Groundbreaking!!!!

The emails this week are going to be shorter because we are in IF for shopping. I PROMISE I will write a letter this week. I have a 2 hr drive in which to do so! I love you so much mom!!!!

Love Sister Kremer

Mission Experiences- 30 March 2015

Dear mom- 

Did you get a chance to see the womens broadcast saturday night? It was really amazing!

This past Sunday Sister Kolbo and I taught a Gospel Principle class on prayer. It was SO WEIRD to teach for longer than 15mins. We try to keep our lessons with investigators really short and to the point. We also gave another talk. Mine was on Continuing Revelation and missionary work.....but I'm not sure what I ended up saying when I got up to speak. I'd had a rough morning so I kind of started to read what I had prepared and then was led to tell additional things. I shared my experience as a ward pianist and how I know that the bishop recieved that revelation. Even though I was really uncomfortable doing it I trusted in the Lord and His chosen leaders. 

I definitely appreciate the prayers. I know that I would be lost without the support of so many people.

The teaching is going REALLY WELL. In her training to be a trainer Sister Kolbo was told that if we do 12 Week (a guide for integrating new missionaries into the mission field) every day we will meet the standard of excellence. And we REALLY do do it every day. Even the days we don't have to we do at least a little bit. And not only are we meeting the standard of excellence we are seeing miracles almost every day. The Spirit truly has led us to people who are ready. Just yesterday we went to apartments to meet someone we thought would be open to hearing a message, they weren't home though so we decided to tract the apartments. We don't usually tract because there are SO MANY members here it is kind of ineffective. But we felt like we should so we did. We met a woman who most of her family is LDS and were able to set a return appointment. And we met a woman who isn't ready yet, but I think she will be in a few months. And we wouldn't have met either of them if we hadn't been following the Spirit and doing what we are here to do!

Friday night we made contact with a newly married couple and scheduled a return appointment to teach the wife (MaryRose) who is from the Philippines and is Catholic. We had been trying to see them for weeks now, but when we were out on our way to meet a different couple we suddenly couldn't remember were they lived and saw that MaryRose and her husband were home so we met with them instead.

Wednesday we tried to meet with Eli (the little boy who got baptized my 2nd week) but he wasn't home. However his brother was so we talked with him a bit. I joked around and talked a bit about Christ. And afterwards Sister Kolbo said that that was the most relaxed she has ever seen him. That is just such proof that the Lord works in small ways!

And monday night we did a YSA game night and got 3 non-members to show up! One was our April 25 baptism date (named Kim) the other 2 were the sons of our March 2 baptism date (Gina).

It was so cool!

That is a bit about my week! I love you so much!

Sister Erika Kremer

Dear Dad,

I used our umbilical cord story about prayer in the Gospel Principles class we taught yesterday. It went over really well.

And I was talking to the Sister Training Leaders (like district leaders without the priesthood) about how you don't sugar coat anything and ended up telling them about the temple trip where you taught us about the law of chastity and compared it to eating ice cream. They told me they were never going to eat ice cream again...I said as long as they got the point that it was their choice! It was so funny because they were blushing SO MUCH. But they appreciated the analogy. I can't wait to teach the law of chastity to youth! If that ever happens it will be so awesome!
The work is going really well. Every day we get home exhausted!

I love y'all so much! I'll try to send a letter this week!

Love,

 Sister Erika Kremer

Mission experiences - 23 March 2015

Dear Mom,

You are welcome for the card. I knew that you would enjoy it! :) I'm glad you were able to go bowling with Bug. Congrats on your scores! How is the bowling league going?

How is your hand doing now? Was the cut really deep? I've used you being a seminary teacher and studying the scriptures as an example of the blessing of studying the scriptures to a few different people the last few weeks. I hope you don't mind. I'm so glad you share the experiences with me! 

The house looks great! Happy birthday!!!

Thanks for sharing the spiritual thought with me! It was so neat! Did you take any pictures of the handouts you made?

 

Thank you so much for holding on to the clippings for me!

I love the pictures of Kristofer! So creepy to be holding a snake! 

My companion and I have had a couple good discussions this week. Our relationship is stronger.

We set two more baptism dates this past week! One of them was a girl we had just met named Kim. Her family is innactive and she had been thinking about taking the discussions for a while. She want's to be baptized, but was scared at first because she didn't want to feel alone. BUT GUESS WHAT!! She has A LOT of friends in the YSA branch here! It's so cool to see the Lord directing us where and when we are needed.

The second date is set with a woman named Gina. Her husband is less active with a crazy strong testimony. The only reason he is innactive is because he feels uncomfortable at church(he was WoW issues.. but he's working on them). We met them two weeks ago and have had 3 discussions and 1 lesson on how to make no bake cookies(Gina is a cook). She has attended church twice! The first Sunday she was given the Gospel Principles book. When we taught we that Wednesday she told us she had read the entire book in one day! Saturday we took her on a church tour of the Thane Tabernacle. 

The whole time she was talking about what she had read in the book and the importance of baptism. When we got to the room with the font (the last stop on the tour) we talked about how Jesus was baptized and read about baptisms in the Book of Mormon. Then we asked if she would be baptized on May 2nd. She and her husband were hestant because they want him to baptize her and they both smoke, but we assured them that we and the church could help. And they will be getting blessings to help them as well. It was so cool what she said after that! She told us that when she had been reading the book she hadn't wanted to smoke at all. We promised her that if she read the Book of Mormon daily that she would continue to have that blessing.

It's so cool to be out here. And those are only two of the experiences we have had!

I don't think I will be sending any letters out this week. The Elders had a baptism earlier that we helped with a lot. So I haven't had any time to write. 

I love you so much mom! 

I gave a talk on acting on our faith in Jesus Christ this past Sunday. I'm going to send it. It has A LOT of errors. Just to warn you.

The pictures I included are the first 4 flights of our six flight trek up the tabernacle.

Love you!

Sister Kremer