Monday, October 28, 2013

I love you ALL!

October 24, 2013

Hey there! First off congrats Emma on your baptism!! I'm so happy and proud of you for taking this step. :) You are so loved!! Thanks for the invitation! It is on my desk. And I also heard your birthday party was so fun!! Happy Birthday!!
 
So I meant to write on Monday but the library we went to had horrible internet connection and so I just sat at the screen for 30 min and then gave up. BUT we had a miracle from that! So for some reason the computer that I had was double-booked but I got there first so the kid left to find another computer, but because of that I started talking to the man next to me with an Italia sweater...but he was actually from Chile. So I started trying to talk Italian with him...fail. haha. He was very open and we talked about life and about missionaries and about his family then as we were about to leave I find out that he is actually a member that is very less active in the church. He smiled really big and and felt like he had fooled me. So we kept talking and I found out that he had been baptized in Utah a long time ago because he said he felt that the Lord guided him to do so. Then he was active in Hawaii but when he moved to DC he just stopped. He didn't really have a reason why though. So he talked about how he hasn't read the Book of Mormon in a long time and I handed him one, then he said he didn't know where the church was and I gave him the mormon.org card  with info how to find his church. I couldn't help but smile and he told me that he knew that it wasn't a coincidence that we had met that day...His name is Luis. Keep him in your prayers that he gets back on track.
 
Also another really cool miracle that happened from the visitor center. So we give "tours" or lessons to missionaries and their investigators (those wanting to learn more about the Church) and not to long ago I had the opportunity to teach Monica (an awesome Spanish lady) about Eternal Families. I taught her that day and that was it. Then about 2 weeks ago I ran into her at the baptism of Edwin (from Glenmont) and she hugged me and told me that she was getting baptized with her husband and that they were so excited! Then this last Sunday we were able to go to her baptism and she had me sing. At the end of the service she pulled me aside and started to tear-up. She thanked me for that tour and for changing her heart. I did nothing, I know it was the spirit, but it is amazing to see how one lesson, or even one moment can influence a person so much. :) She said I have to come back in a year when they get sealed. :) I'm so excited for them and so humbled to see how much the gospel of Jesus Christ changes lives.. I love you!! I hope that you are excited for Halloween! We are carving pumpkins with the young women. Good times! Take care!
 
Sister Corrinne Clement

Monday, October 21, 2013

Muchos cambios!!!

October 16, 2013

Wow, a lot has changed her! 3 Spanish Hermanas (including my Hermana Schoemaker) are going home today and we didn't receive any new Spanish sisters...but we got 7 new English. This is going to be a little crazy because we only have 10 of us. 10 is not a lot, BUT 10 means we are also really close so it's fun. I don't want to lose Schoemaker because she was the most amazing comp and I have never had so much unity, hard work/fun before. Luckily her parents came today and she's going to tag along to our appointments this week with them. :) So that makes the goodbyes less hard because she's pretty much going to be with us the whole time. haha. I am now with Hermana Graff, she is awesome! From Cali and was switched from English to Spanish about 2 transfers ago and She's picked it up crazy fast. We have so many people that we are teaching right now and a lot of them are amazing part-member families. They too are sad to see Hna Schoemaker leave so they threw a Family Home Evening to have a "party" to thank her for all she had done. it meant a lot to her.
Other change (as MacGyver mentioned in his email)...I am now a trainer at the Visitor Center....no that that means much to anyone that doesn't serve here. :) But I am one of the 3 leaders in charge and it is going to be an adventure that's for sure! It seems like just when we start getting a little comfortable, the Lord gives us another opportunity to grow. Yay growing!! It will be a great experience because my focus is the new sisters coming in and preparing them for the big festival of lights and helping them not run away from people when they come in. haha. Funny but true. I love this mission it has made an impact so deep on me. I can't even begin to say how much I have learned from the Latino people here. They are such hard workers and they have so much love! I love them. I love you all! I hope that as things change in life you are able to withstand the blows and just know that I'm doing my best everyday.

Love Hermana Clement

p.s. P-days are now switching to Mondays so I will be writing now every Monday! Love you!

October 9, 2013 Pics

Epic Jump 2 (Francis and I)

Epic Jump 1 (Engman and I)
 
The Butterfly Gardens!!!
 

Hello Hello!

October 9, 2013

So today is going to be short because it is my companion's last week on the mission and she wants to do as much as possible and see everyone we can. But it was a really great week! It was sad because Paula, our investigator from Columbia hasn't been answering us and said she's not ready to get baptized this Sunday. Same with Oscar in my old area (Glenmont) I've seen him quite a bit at the visitor center but during his interview he got offended and left. The sisters ran after him and talked to him and he said he needs more time. So a few sad things but I feel at peace because I love them both so much and I know that it will all work out when they are ready. But on a high we had a lot of fun watching conference with families. haha. I made bingo charts and we brought snacks and it got a little intense in the Morales home because the boys are competitive but it was still good and they watched conference for the first time ever! Then for one session we went to the Glenmont chapel and I saw all of the members there! It was so much fun and a few of my close friends there were screaming and running up to say hi! One, Cynthia is putting her mission papers in soon. So good!
Conference was really inspiring. I loved Holland's talk about depression and also Christofferson's on the equality and complements of men and women. It reminded me of all of those blogs on women and the priesthood I read before the mission and I just loved the message that he shared. I stand by it. So cool news. We now get to got to the Temple whenever we want!! You would think we would be able to go more than once a transfer because we work at the vc but until no...

Life is really amazing!! I feel blessed and watched over everyday. And everyday that I'm here my testimony grows about the Gospel. I know that the truth is here, in this church and not just parts of truth but the fulness. I am grateful for you all and to all of my nieces and nephews your surprise is going in the mail this week!!! Love you!!

Love
Hermana Corrinne Clement

Monday, October 7, 2013

Miracles part 2

October 2, 2013

We want to change from doing the usual pageant feel to be more centered on the international cultures that we have here and how the Savior is the Savior to ALL nations so we are looking for cool music that can be performed in different languages (Italian, Japanese, Russian, German, Spanish, Dutch, Estonian, French, and English) so if you happen to come across Christmas music that is of these languages I hope that you could send a copy, or a link to it...sisters and mom that is directed to you... :) This is such an amazing opportunity and I just hope it is what it needs to be...if you know what I'[m saying.
Sooooo... When it comes to our fasting miracles, we fasted on Sunday to find people who are prepared and yesterday we decided to fast from our car and walk the streets instead of driving from apt to apt. We taught this cool guy named Melvin from Honduras in a park, and then we found lots of knew people that we genuinely interested and we have apts with them this week. Then we stopped by this apt and taught an amazing family and the mom said that she wants all of them to come to church with us. he best thing is that they are our neighbors and we are going over for a birthday party there for the little boy and the little kids are pretty much our best friends. :) It's the best! We have been so blessed. And even though I've been asked to do lots of different projects in the ward and the VC and on top of that we are teaching, I know that the Lord will provide a way, and the best thing is that I just have to do my best. Super good bargain. ha. I love you all soooo much and I thank you for your love! Remember who your are- "He lives in you"-Lion King

Love
Hermana Corrinne Clement

mom-thank you for the boots and clothes :) they are perfect!!

Fasting always brings miralces!

October 2, 2013

Hey!

So the government is closed today, that's pretty crazy. I don't know all of the details but I hear some things about obamacare and such....lots of pros and cons. BUT luckily we aren't supposed to get involved in all of that stuff. But the Temple is still open!! haha. Maybe they'll take there break here and come feel more peace. Also, more people will be home and probably a little humbler. There are definitely positives to all of this. 

We had really good highs and lows this week. Sister Schoemaker and I did some good manual labor (ripping up tiles super glued to wood...ouch) I only hit my hand with the hammer 3 times, the elders hit their hands more so I felt pretty good about my construction skills. :) Also I'm getting assigned to be the primary pianist in this ward because literally NO ONE plays. So I hope all of the help I got from you guys pays off and by some miracle I can play these songs with the little practice we get. I'm actually pretty excited because I love the primary, it just came as a shock because she needs me to help with the music for the Primary program. ALSO, so every Christmas Eve during festival of lights (christmas lights at the Temple and concerts at the VC) there is a night of music that the Sister missionaries do and usually an elderly missionary couple puts it together and directs it. Well...I volunteered to help and in turn they asked me to do the whole thing! So I'm really excited and I'm co-planning it with Sister Lavrentyva from Russia. W