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