Sick in the VC

 September 25, 2013

First of all, JACOB,EMMA, CAMYLLE, CLAIRE, and GREYSON!!! I LOVE YOU
ALL SO MUCH!! I'm getting something special ready for you so I hope
you can be patient and I hope you'll like it. :)

Secondly, WELCOME TO DANA RANCH MANN FAMILY!!! :) haha. I knew that
you were moving close, I didn't realize it was the same ward! ha. I'm
so excited about that!!

So I have been sick the past couple of days and so while at the
visitor center I would be sitting there on the bench and literally
fall asleep...so they put me in the "sick room" (which is like Harry
Potter's cupboard under the stairs). I was there 2 days..FREEDOM at
last!!! But this transfer has been so good. Since this is Sister
Schoemaker's last transfer she doesn't care what she looks like AND SO
she liked my idea of matching everyday/ :) :) A lot like high school
again with Taylor Aiono, we literally look like twins everyday. It
makes getting ready in the morning a lot more fun and challenging.

So right now we are teaching an amazing man named Miguel, his whole
family are members and now after like 13 years he has a desire to
learn more. It is really neat because we are the first missionaries to
ever teach him and because of that he has a lot of trust and is very
honest. We are also trying to get permission to baptize Paula
(Aswald's girlfriend) in our ward because she lives in a different
ward but comes to our ward every week. She is awesome and it is a lot
like teaching a best friend when we are with her because she is so
crazy and random. But everything has been really great and everyday we
have been seeing miracles.

We had a funny family home evening the other day where we invited a
member named Jovino and he came late. So the teen daughter answered
the door when he came and looked at him and then shut the door. As she
sat down we asked her who was it? She said, "je...je....Jehovah".
(Jesus in the Old Testament)  We all looked her and said, Jovino? And
she nodded. We asked why she shut the dorr on him and she schrugged
and opened it up again. It was so funny and awkward and Jovino came in
and one of the people said, " you shut the door on Jehovah"....funny..

Well love you all!!
Hermana Corrinne Clement

Hey!

September 18, 2013

Hey!


Hope you all are doing well!! If you didn't hear there was a shooting here in DC but we weren't there. We were at that place 3 days before to go to the Nationals Game (as a mission) but just know that it was really sad here but we are all safe. We got to go to DC today and run the 4 mile stretch of the mall as the Sisters in our mission. It was a lot of fun. We also went to the American History museum and the old time pictures and music reminded me a lot of swing dancing with MacGyver. It was pretty cool! Sister Cooke (the President's wife) came with us this morning and mapped out her own route and had stops where we listened to patriotic music to get a full American expericene. :) The international sisters were less than exccited but it reminded me a lot of Heritage. i enjoyed it.


So this last week Aswald took that step and got baptized. It was a really special day and he was so happy. Even days after he still had that glowing smile. It is amazing what the Gospel does to those that are wanting to change. It literally heals them and helps them see more clearly that even through the darkest times there is still hope. We have been so blessed with amazing people to teach. We are still teaching Maria from Brazil and so we are working on a few words in Portuguese. It is really fun. :) We also are teaching part member families and the Acevedo Family is progressing so much and is really open. One thing that Sister Schoemaker and I have been continually trying to do is match everyday. ha. I sent you a picture of our grandma sweaters that a member gave to us to all wear. :) I love the members in this ward, they love the missionaries so much and it makes a big difference in finding people. When we are able to work with the members and not against, the Lord can show us miracles!! So I challenge you all to invite the missionaries over and find someone for them to teach. It's easier than you think it is. Love you all!! And congrats on the ZOnies!!!


Love you!
Hermana Corrinne Clement

September 18, 2013

American History Museum...strong women during the wars.

Hey!

September 18, 2013

Hope you all are doing well!! If you didn't hear there was a shooting here in DC but we weren't there. We were at that place 3 days before to go to the Nationals Game (as a mission) but just know that it was really sad here but we are all safe. We got to go to DC today and run the 4 mile stretch of the mall as the Sisters in our mission. It was a lot of fun. We also went to the American History museum and the old time pictures and music reminded me a lot of swing dancing with MacGyver. It was pretty cool! Sister Cooke (the President's wife) came with us this morning and mapped out her own route and had stops where we listened to patriotic music to get a full American expericene. :) The international sisters were less than exccited but it reminded me a lot of Heritage. i enjoyed it.


So this last week Aswald took that step and got baptized. It was a really special day and he was so happy. Even days after he still had that glowing smile. It is amazing what the Gospel does to those that are wanting to change. It literally heals them and helps them see more clearly that even through the darkest times there is still hope. We have been so blessed with amazing people to teach. We are still teaching Maria from Brazil and so we are working on a few words in Portuguese. It is really fun. :) We also are teaching part member families and the Acevedo Family is progressing so much and is really open. One thing that Sister Schoemaker and I have been continually trying to do is match everyday. ha. I sent you a picture of our grandma sweaters that a member gave to us to all wear. :) I love the members in this ward, they love the missionaries so much and it makes a big difference in finding people. When we are able to work with the members and not against, the Lord can show us miracles!! So I challenge you all to invite the missionaries over and find someone for them to teach. It's easier than you think it is. Love you all!! And congrats on the ZOnies!!!


Love you!
Hermana Corrinne Clement

comidaaaa!!!!

September 11, 2013

 Hello!

So yesterday was Sis Schoemaker's birthday (my companion from Canada) and she is the craziest sister missionary here...we have so many funny experiences! She has no shame when it comes to food so she just asks everyone when we can go eat with them, so we have a fridge full of leftover Latino food. :) She is the best. But I did eat something weird yesterday that caused an allergic reaction of a bad itchy throat..so I kept making faces in the lessons as I was scratching my throat with my tongue. I tried to play it off as if I was just smiling weird but I got a couple looks. haha. But we decorated the apt. and made her a cake and did the whole birthday thing. It was so great and she was excited all day. 

We are teaching quite a few people right now in the area and Aswald is getting baptized this week. He is from Columbia and very sarcastic, so teaching the commandments were fun as he kept cracking jokes...oh Latinos. ha. But he has come along way and has changed his life completely to follow the Gospel. We are also teaching his girlfriend and she has pretty much become our best friend. She is in the navy and buff but really funny. It's way cool to hear from the other sisters that are still in Glenmont last transfer. Three of them are getting baptized this transfer and I get to go to two of them. Sister Schoemaker and I have talked and pondered a lot about the mission (since she reflects back a lot-but in a good way) and we both agreed that the greatest joy we have both felt on the mission was hardly ever the actual baptism. While that special day brings so much joy and excitement, it was always in the preparing of the person to take this step that brought those  indescribable moments of happiness. We get to be a part of so many people's lives, we get to testify of Christ, and truly help them see that there in a plan and path to peace in this life. I love the Gospel, and I have grown to more fully understand the Plan of Happiness. It's more than a bunch of little cut-out pieces and circles, it is a blueprint of our lives before and a basic understanding of what we are meant to be. I didn't have a firm belief in the 3 kingdoms of glory before, but now as I study and truly meditate it in my mind and heart, it has brought me so much peace and respect for our Father in Heaven. 

I love you all! I'm taking in all of these amazing miracles everyday (Like Elder Mann's...way cool! :)) 

Till next week!

Hermana Corrinne Clement

ps..I almost forgot, my one yr mark is tomorrow! ahhh...apparently the tradition here is to "burn something"...I've had experiences with that in the past (I burned a heritage shirt with Marissa and Ben after graduation. Good times) So we'll see what happens. I'll wear an oven mit. ha. Love you!!!

VC TOUR!!

September 4, 2013

Okay, two words... Muslim Tour! We randomly had this very prestige group of Muslim Clergy come to the VC without any tour setup. Sister Burnham (a senior sister) comes into the call room and asks who wants to give a tour to a large group of Muslim clergy. All 3 of us looked at each other (Sis Bullock, Word and I) They looked terrified. hahah. So I volunteered and Sis Bullock cam with. We walked into theatre 1 and the room was full of gentlemen in turbans. Elder Burnham (senior missionary) was in front giving a basic overview and answering questions with the help of their Arabic translator. IT WAS SO COOL!! We sat in the back and talked with the only woman that came with them and she was very Americanized because she was raised Baptist but changed to Islam later. After the O & A. I was approached by a Muslim man who asked me a lot of questions. He had read the Book of Mormon 2x and he felt something different, but he was very sure to point out that they prove their beliefs with reason and he was hoping I would do the same. He asked me why I was here, if I had been forced, if I was being paid of receiving something. I honestly had no words, I mean he hasw studied religions for his whole life. All I could do was follow the words that came to me. I just simply testified that I felt the love of God and I know he asked me to do this because this Gospel is true. He just smiled at me. It was a really tender moment and then is tour was leaving so he asked to stay in contact and gave me his email. How cool is that? When am I ever going to have an experience like that ever again?? He is a leader in Islam and I just talked with him one on one. I fell so privileged to be here at this time in this mission, I know that I have learned so much about the importance of putting what matters most first..and that is people...and it turn we are putting God first. I love you all! I got transferred out today. I'm going to miss Glenmont like CRAZY and last night the members were so kind and gave me little presents to remember them. :) I always will. But I know that change is also a crucial part of life and I'm excited for what is ahead in Olney with.....HERMANA SCHOEMAKER!!!! She was my roommate when I first got to the mission and now I'm with her in her last transfer. :) She is super fun and new age and from Canada! It doesn't get better than that. haha.

Love you all! I hope that your aren't dying of heat there and you are all in my prayers! 

Love,

Hermana Corrinne Clement

PICTURES!!!

 

Sis. Clement in her cookie monster jammies and the Uke

AWESOME WEEK!!

Wednesday‎, ‎August‎ ‎28‎, ‎2013

Hey Family!

 

So our mission has just started implementing random Car fasts (cannot use car) on random days and we get the opportunity to walk and appreciate our cars..:) It's great.

So this last time we just decided to walk the city of Laurel in a loop and talk to every person in the path. It was really fun and we found too really awesome prepared people (people that are looking for the Gospel and you are put in their path and they tell you that they had been waiting for you). Oscar and Edwin! They both also came to church! And they understand the scriptures!!! It makes the lessons so much stronger when they have that desire and understand what we are sharing with them.

 

Also we ran into this Blue and White house that had a cute little old man out front cutting his grass. So we walked up to him and turned out that he was very Greek and declared he was athiest.. so we offered to cut his grass and he said no, he is athiest. It was just really funny because he is Greek and lives in a very Greek house and we walked away smiling. YAY car fasts!!!

 

So we also both got really sick this last week and Sister Aldridge is still sick. So we stayed home from going to the visitor center and she slept while I watched movies (Together Forever, and God's Plan-the 80's one with the guy on a horse talking about the plan of salvation...classic). Then we wrote a song together, in our delirious state, about the visitor center. Apparently it is good and I get to play it for the new sisters coming in this next transfer. so that is fun! Transfers are next week!!! ahh... I know where I want to go but I'm trying hard not to think about it and enjoying this last week with Sister Aldridge. She's so good and I have never worked so hard! She also likes running so we run the nearby lake every P-day. :)

 

Good things are happening and every once in a while I look back and realize how much I have grown and how much the Lord is a part of our everyday life. I truly am realizing that my role here  in the visitor center is different than a lot of other missions and we get to teach people that come from all over. I know that the majority of the people I teach, I may never see again but I wouldn't trade those tours/calls/chats for anything. The Gospel truly changes the lives of those that apply and love it. I love you all and I hope all is well! ALSO congrats on the theatre!!!! I'm so excited!!! :) hasta luego!

 

Hermana Corrinne Clement

Lesson Learned!

August 21, 2013

Hey Everyone!

 

So this week I realized something that has taken me a very long time to learn. The difference between Sympathy and Empathy. I feel that is so tempting, when we see people go through horrible things, to sympathize and literally climb into the hole with them and try to feel what they feel and then leave super down and depressed...I don't know, maybe I'm the only one that has this problem. haha. Well, it all reminds me of the stuff we learned as a family before my mission with Helen. BOUNDARIES. I  am truly begining to see the danger of not setting boundaries when helping people. I could go and sit in the hole with them, but what good would it do? Not much. I see that I can empathize and realate with those around me that are struggling withought making myself go through what they are going through. THIS IS A BREAKTHROUGH!! This small thought process change has made a large impact on my mission. I can now leave people with more hope than they had before and walk away with a smile knowing that that is all that the Lord has asked me to do, "feed his sheep" not starve with them. Soooo ya, this has been really great and it's just funny that it took more than half of the mission to relearn it.

 

On another note, Margarita is lady we are teaching (going through horrible circumstances) but she is preparing to get baptized. We have been working so hard with her and she can feel the Spirit so strong when she truly seeks and acts. We also met somee crazys on the road...that is always fun! Well I love you all, sorry it's short, I just wanted to share with you that I'm doing good and I'm truly loving every minute. :) Thank you for your emails and love!

 

Hermana Corrinne Clement

Woo!

August 14, 2013

Hello everyone!

 

The weather is perfect here! I hope it lasts for a little while before it gets super hot again. Sister Aldridge and I are doing really good. Her dad is a chef and so we bond with food. :) Every chance we get we make a special dish or find good eat out places, and in return I'm teaching her hymns on the ukulele. She is great!

 

We had another night of music and inspiration and I got to sing again. It was a really special night and I got to sing with Sister Mendenhall (who went to Heritage Academy as well). The day before that we had a group of opera singers. :) I smile because they personified opera singers and they were really serious and funny, BUT the music was beautiful and they ended with "America" from West Side Story. We have been making changes in the visitor center and they asked me to organize a program for the new sisters that come to the center. All of us older sisters had a lot of confusion when we first started at the vc and we felt like there was no one we could ask for help. So I am really excited because this will be extra training for them and help them learn their purpose in the vc a lot faster than it took us. It's crazy, I love being at the vc because you are always at the right time and place there, and the people come to you asking questions. That is definitely not always the case on the street. :) But I really do love both aspects of the mission and I love helping people I hardly know come to realize their divine potencial and who they really are. Thank you for your love! you are all in my prayers!

 

Hermana Corrinne Clement

 

Thank you mom for the letters, I'll see what I can do about that picture...ha