Mission Complete

The Beginning 

Somewhere in the middle

The End

...I remember getting this same email from brother a little over a year ago... now it's my turn to write it. With 7 days left to serve with all of my heart, mind, and strength as a representative of Jesus Christ you better bet I'm going to sprint to the end (like I already have been)! The past two years have been full of miracles, trials, growing, and joy. I've come to a very real understanding that repentance is real and with Jesus Christ anything is possible! I'm definitely not the same kid I was when I came out. My testimony is brief. I KNOW of the change that has taken place in me thanks to the Savior and His Atonement. I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior and that He is the Son of my living Heavenly Father who knows me perfectly and personally. I know that through the Holy Ghost I'm able to recieve the revelation necessary for life. I know that the Book of Mormon is true and applicable to our everyday lives. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet and helped usher in the Restoration of the gospel. I know that we have a living prophet today that is called of God, Russell M. Nelson. I know these things and know everyone can know them too! I'll see you all in a week. 

A Dios rogando y con el mazo dando. Tengan fuerza y siguen en la fé del Cristo Jesús. 
Les amo, 
Élder Clements 
Con mis chavos desde el principio de la misión 

Get Wrecked

With President and Sister Guthrie

Yeah... Haha... We got wrecked this week. It started off as a normal week (except for Pday was Tuesday) and then on Wednesday it all started getting crazy. We actually lost 2 Sister Missionaries from our district this week, causing an intense amount of stress for the sisters who's companions had to be moved. Elder Stites and I now have to cover the whole H2 area... currently with just bikes! After that, Thursday was tough because Elder Stites had to go to the doctor and that took all day.

 

Friday I didn't hardly work at all because we had our departing temple trip and then a convert of Elder Stites went to get her endowment so we went with her for that. Anyway, it was a crazy week! We made the best of the situations we were given and I'm happy about that and of course there were miracles seen still! We had a wonderful lesson with a family we are teaching but unfortunately we have had to take them off of their baptism date for the 8th until we see them at church more. I'm still not trunky somehow, even though most of the missionaries I came out with (except Elder Merrill) have all gone home to start school. AND on Friday I could barely walk because my foot was in some real intense pain. So I said a prayer and asked what I could do to fix that and I then remembered that I had been trying to rip out a wart from the bottom of my foot, and the thought came to me that it had probably gotten infected... yeah lol. So I got in there with a knife and some tweezers and opened it up and cleaned out the infection and now I'm good to go! Sorry for the gross story but hey it's an example of personal revalation.
Los amo como siempre. Tengan ánimo y sigan con la fé.
Élder Clements

Last picture with my first companion, Elder Standing

The work of the Lord shall not be frustrated

 Late night blessing run w/ Hno. Sanchez. #hospitalalldayeveryday

     Wow! What a trying/wonderful week. We didn't have contact with La Familia Calderón the whole week which was rough, really rough, especially because they have their baptism coming up on the 8th. We met with them last night and they are still doing well but have been super busy with work and getting ready for school. A couple of our investigators are doing well, we find out this week if they can be baptized on the 1st! That's really exciting! And another one is doing well but had some weird drama between her and her brother, so she is slowly working through that. I named this email the way I did because it's a fact that I've come to realize even more clearly this week after struggling to find a single new person to teach and going through a LOT of rejection. Even though everyone seems to tell us to "get lost" it is comforting to know that the battle is already won and that all I have to do is continually put my faith in the Lord and keep working. The work of the Lord shall not be frustrated by those that refuse, hate, conspire, and attempt to destroy. This is His work and we are His servants to do it. Boy is that cool! Elder Stites is improving greatly on his Spanish skills so I'm pretty confident in him taking over this area in a couple weeks. A big change that has come this week is that Russel M. Nelson, the prophet of God, has asked all to stop using the term "Mormon" when referring to members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints. That's a big change! The District is doing well, unfortunately we will be losing another sister due to medical reasons so that will be rough until another one is sent in. Elder Standing goes home this week, on the 25th! That's so crazy! Well anyway, that's about it. 
#getwreckedbyrevelation#God'smouthpeice#Faithitup

Que Dios les bendiga a todos,
Y con amor puro de los cielos, 
Élder Clements

Reminds me of Mexico

Medical Center, Quinceañera, and 4 weeks.

     Well the title about sums up our week! On Friday we went to the Texas Medical Center to give a blessing (again) to a member all the way down from la frontera (the border) in Brownsville. That was fun but we got lost a little. We were invited to attend a Quinceañera for one of the members of our ward so of course we took that opportunity! It was super fun, they even brought a mariachi band, which was way legit!

     Elder Stites and I get along really well and I'm just super thankful to be with a companion that loves improvement and this great work. This week was my last zone conference, in which I was able to bear my departing testimony to a few zones worth of missionaries...that was weird because it's something that I've seen missionaries do since the beginning of my mission. It's actually coming to a close which is a scary/fun/exciting/sad/refreshing/terrible thought. The Calderón family is doing really well, they are going to be baptized on the 8th of September. We are also working with a lady who is basically a member but not baptized yet. I'm super excited for this last little bit! The District is doing really well, everyone is working really hard and getting along so I can't ask for anything more! I'm happy 😊! Bueno, que les vayan bien a todos! 
Los amo, 
Élder Clements

Elder Stites and I out killin' it

6 weeks left

Temple trip with the District

Whew! What a week it has been! Where do I start... 🤔.
Well we had an amazing trip up to the temple on Thursday, which was amazing. I received some great inspiration and peace! That was so necessary. Then we had some Elders come up to us for exchanges for a few days and that was fun too. And then last night we had to drive two hours down to Port Lavaca to close out an apartment and get the area ready to be shut down and then drive back up here early this morning for transfers... It's been busy! We have a complete changed district this transfer which I'm looking forward to. I'm now with Elder Stites, he used to be my zone leader and now he got switched Spanish and so he's with me now. Super excited to be sprinting to the end with this guy because... well... I only have 6 weeks left. 🙂☺️😐😆😅😑😣😥😪😫😓😒☹️😲😲🙃😌😌😌😌😌
Les quiero mucho,
Élder Clements

Finally home from Port Lavaca

John the Author of Revelations, Elder Dye's last week, and crazy hard week.

July 23, 2018

Whew, it's been a whacky week! It's probably been one of the most difficult weeks I've had out here but I've learned a lot which is good. We meet this crazy guy who claimed to be John the Author of Revelations lolz that was a crazy conversation. This is Elder Dye's last week to be a missionary so that's crazy! Sorry it's short today. 
Los amo,
Élder Clements
#1 District Picture
#2 Lunch with some members
#3 some amazing fruta mexicana

A good friend left us, the heat tried to kill us, and the Lord still blessed us

     Hello family and friends and old companions! Well this week has been rough but a lot has been learned. Jose Angel passed away early Tuesday morning due to health complications. We saw him just a day before he left and he was sleeping very peacefully which was very good to see. Mario (his nephew) was able to make it back from Mexico in time to be with him before he died so that was also really good. Jose was able to accomplish a ton before he left; he was able to be baptized for his dad, brother, and uncle. So anyway that was rough this week but also good because he can finally rest.

With President Guthrie

      Moving on from that it was really hot this week, absolutely terribly hot! The Lord however did bless us with a wonderful new family to teach and so that will be great to begin working with them! President Guthrie was able to come out with us yesterday even though he was super super tired/busy he made some time for us which was awesome! I'm going to enjoy working with him the last little stretch. I learned the importance of humility this week. Specifically humility regarding the promptings of the Spirit. I recognized in myself that I must follow whatever the Spirit prompts me to do or else I will lose the blessing of His guidance. I also learned that the Spirit will not dictate everything that I need to do, that's a beautiful blessing that the Lord has given us all is the freedom to choose. Follow the Spirit when He prompts you, otherwise use your best judgment and go and do!
Los amo,
Élder Clements

Élder Dye found this lens and this was the result, haha!

The Adventures of Elders Dye and Clements; your favorite Houston Elders!

 A fun day at the Houston Museum of Natural Science

July 9, 2018
Hello. Somehow the week is gone! It's been a crazy/fun/productive/sick week. I got sick again... so on Friday we spent most of the day inside while I slept. It was a miracle I recovered so quickly because it wasn't even a full day I had to take off to recover! The Lord does miracles for His servants if they act in faith. Also, it flooded this week on Wednesday so that kind of killed the day, it's hard to bike/walk when the water is up to your knees! The Calderón family is still doing well, they should be baptized soon! Jose Angel might recover and he might not so keep him in your prayers please! We got to meet President and Sister Guthrie also this week, they seem really wonderful and fun so I'm excited to work with them the last little while I'm our here. 
Los amo,
Élder Clements

10 weeks... New Mission President... Life is crazy...

Last time with President and Sister Hall

July 2, 2018

     Well hello family! Somehow another week has slipped away without me realizing it... It's been a really good/trying week but we saw some good miracles at the end of it! Tenacity pays off and I can testify of that fact! The whole week I had something wrong with my stomach up until Sunday. It was really terrible but we were able to still get out and work #tenacity. President and Sister Hall are back in Utah... we had the departing conferences this week and so that was terribly cool and spiritual. Terrible because I cried and they left, cool and spiritual... well because it was really spiritual and eye-opening. As the title suggests I only have 10 weeks left to be a full-time missionary, I'm only scared/sad/nervous/happy/sad/nervous/sad a little bit but it'll be OK as long as I keep my faith and efforts high until the end. We also have a new Mission President. President and Sister Guthrie are now the ones in charge of the great THSM and I'm excited to work with them. 

Jose is still in the hospital... we aren't sure if he is going to get better but he is in our prayers and if it's his time then it is the Lord's will. Mario is in México right visiting his family but will be back next week. We have an investigator family that is doing well, we had a great lesson about temples and families and that seemed to light a fire under them. Something I've learned this week is the importance of meditation. Meditation is the key to Heavenly Revelation (as I paraphrase from a prophet) so that's something I've been working on this week and it's been a great help.

Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world, God is our Heavenly Father and we are to do our best and act for ourselves if we want to be happy in this life and one day return to live with Him. I know it's true fam!
Los amo,
Elder Clements

Merging complete. Massive area. Still only bikes.

5k with President Hall

Como están a todos? Well the merging went pretty well, we are still working on figuring things out but it's going well. Jose has been in the hospital for the past week with a blood infection, so that's not cool but he has a good attitude and high hopes. We gave him a blessing of peace and healing and he is doing a lot better! We ran a 5K this morning... that was intense. President and Sister Hall are going home this week and Friday we get the Guthries! That's crazy, I'm going to miss the Halls a ton but I'll see them in Utah.
Los amo,
Elder Clements

12 Weeks...1 Baptism...2 areas

Well it's transfer day! Our area is merging with the other Elders's area so that's going to be crazy. The whole district is changing, a lot of new missionaries and so that's going to be fun. Elder Dye is my new companion, I'm looking forward to being with him for his last 6 weeks and it's going to be a fun/fast transfer. Rodolfo was baptized on Saturday!! It was super great except I had to do it 3 times because I didn't get the wording right lol. He is going to be a really strong member! Well I officially have 12 weeks left to be a full-time missionary and so that kind of makes me sick to think about but I'm excited for what's going to come during my last little while out here!
Love,
Elder Clements

Weakness into strengths

June 11,2018

Ether 12:27 And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.
That's my life. So many weak things, but through Jesus Christ they are made strong. After some tears, sweat, and mental exhaustion, your weaknesses can be made into strengths. I testify of that! This week has been really hard for me but it's also been a really good week. One of our investigators passed his interview and will be baptized this Saturday!!!!! How amazing is that!? Mario and Jose are doing really well also. Jose might be called as a ward missionary which would be really cool! One of our investigators moved but is doing good and the Elders in North Carolina are still working with him. Elder Sibaja is going home this coming Monday so it's going to be a crazy week with that.

It's still hot, humidity is still insanely high, and I'm getting tan. The church is still true and this is still the Lord's work!
Los Amo,
Élder Clements

More baptisms!

Hey family y amigos y los que están en la misma ciudad. It's been a loco week y no puedo imagine how fast it's flown. Ever since this transfer empezó it's felt like I've been running a million miles an hour and that still isn't fast enough. We have seen some amazing blessings and miracles in the District the past few weeks and this weekend we had 3 baptisms! One of those was Mario, who has been working towards this for the past 5 months! I was blessed to be the one to baptize him so that was super cool because it was my first experience like that ever. We will have another baptism

this Wednesday and he is super excited for that! I've been sick also but that's ok, I'm doing better today so that's good. We had a wonderful opportunity to go to the temple this week. All I can say is how much a blessing it is to be able to go the temple again after so much time! It was amazing! Elder Sibaja is getting ready to go home in three weeks, so that's insane! Well that's about it... 🤔
Los amo,
Elder Clements

Run faster!

     

 Exchanges with Elder Merrill

     Well as the title suggests, we had to run this week, but it just didn't seem to matter how fast we ran, we just had to keep running faster. Meaning we were extremely busy. It was a lot of fun and we blessed a lot of the areas in the district and still had some time in our area. On Monday night until Wednesday I had Elder Merrill with me on exchanges which was a ton of fun!

     The best part of the week though was that Jose Angel got to go to the temple and do baptisms for the dead!!!! It was so amazing! We almost missed it but thank heavens President Hall came running into the waiting room telling us that Jose was already in the water haha. We made it and it was great. After we were done and talking to Jose he told us how much he loved and how strong the spirit was in the temple. He said he looks forward to coming again. Other than that, we have some great people working to be baptized and so we will see where that goes. The Lord is on our side and He knows exactly what he is doing, sometimes it takes us a second to realize it though.
Los amo,
Élder Clements

Just a normal P-Day

Oh...hey Korihor

   

     Well somehow another week has slipped away without me realizing it. We had an interesting week, a very good week, but still an interesting one. I'll go ahead and tell my story now while my mind is fresh this morning. On Tuesday Elder Sibaja and I talked to this one guy.  After some words exchanged we found out that he was an anti-Christ. I've never talked to someone that could talk so smoothly as this man. It was actually really cool because when I shared my testimony with him I could feel just a ton of love for him. If you want a more detailed description of what he had to say look up Alma 30:12-17. Other than that M*** is progressing well and still looking for an answer. We have some new investigators this week and so we are looking forward to working with them. Transfers are this week so we will see but I have NO idea what could happen. Until then...
Love,
Elder Clements
P.S. We were right next to a shoot out yesterday while driving with an investigator. It was crazy.     

                  
                                                                                 

Baptism

     Jose finally got baptized!!!!! I could just end my email there and call it good! But... I've been up since 5 so I might as well use my time to make mom happy. It's been a very good week here in the wonderful H2 N area, speaking Spanish, getting cussed out, seeing a dear friend receive the first ordinances of salvation, meeting the Muppets, and all of this to bring souls unto Christ. Jose's baptism was stinking awesome (lit((with the Spirit)), sick, tight, live, stellar, and any other way of saying awesome)! We had a ton of people from the ward show up to support him and it all went well except a few minor errors in the program, which was my fault. The best part was on Sunday when he was confirmed. Elder Sibaja did the conformation and it was super spiritual and uplifting. Jose gave a big "thank you" for helping him on this path, and giving him some push. I'm so thankful for the Atonement of Jesus Christ and know He lives! The blessings of the priesthood have been restored and we have the wonderful opportunity to access them!
Love,
Elder Clements

Run, run faster, ok slow down now.

     

     It's been a good week! Nothing to crazy happened week. J*** is actually going to be baptized this weekend! He is super ready and I'm so excited to see him take that step. I've been working really hard this week on following the will of the Lord. It's been a good week of learning and struggling so I've enjoyed it.  Oh, the weather here is cold again...so that's weird.
Have a good week everyone!
Love,
Elder Clements

Through the fire again.

Last district picture before transfers

March 26, 2018
If you can make sense of the title and emoji sequence then I have no need to write anymore... I doubt anyone will get that lolz so I will write some más. Well, it's been a great week to grow and one of those weeks in which nothing went to plan. J*** unfortunately did not get baptized this week and has been taken off any future date until we can re-asses the whole situation. It's been a roller-coaster of emotions as we've been trying to figure it all out, but now we are settled and have a path to follow.  We are still going to teach him but it's going to take some time, which is fine. Other than that, we didn't see much progress from our other investigators this week. Transfer news came and Elder Sibaja and I are together still, thank heavens! I'm looking forward to this coming transfer and the last few months of my mission, I don't want it to end but it's slipping away.  I've been working and wrestling with the Lord to know what kind of weapons of rebellion I'm still holding onto, and it's been tough to know what more I need to change. I'm working really hard on dropping away my own desires so that I can more purely follow the will of the Lord. It's tough gents! I love this work and wouldn't change it for anything in the world! I love our Savior and wish I could declare it from the rooftops and everyone actually listen!!
Love,
Elder Clements

Dangerous city, safe haven

March 19, 2018
     Welcome back ladies and gentlemen for another session of, "dangerous city, safe haven". Today we will be discussing the importance of the Spirit in this work and how we can follow more closely the guidance it brings.**classic talk show voice w/ a listhp**
      It's been a great week again in Houston! Elder Sibaja and I have found some great new people to teach and are looking forward to J*** baptism this Saturday! We just recently found out how dangerous our area actually is. To keep it short, people like guns here but they don't like using them in nice ways. They also like knives. Don't worry, we haven't been robbed or threatened.
      Moving forward, it's been a great week for missionary work. I've been focusing on following the Lord's will and leaving behind my own, and it is really hard but really rewarding. We had a great lesson with a family who speak Arabic so it was kind of hard to communicate but at the end we asked what the husband thought and he said "this is awesome!", it's pretty rare to see such enthusiasm here so that was really refreshing. The Spirit was so strong and testified of our words even though they couldn't understand to well. OK, I'm gonna go play some sports in the hot Houston sun. 

Love, 

Elder Clements

Progression and now a 6 month count down

Exchanges with Elder Cass

Yes! J*** is doing super well. He is looking great for his date of the 24th to be baptized. M*** and her family couldn't make it to church yesterday so we had to drop their date for now. But with the great progression we are seeing from most of our investigators, it's been a great week! On Saturday we went and helped a member organize a storage unit... that was intense. There was a lot of stuff but it was a fun experience, they also gave us some cool backpacks, hats, and other random items lol. I officially have 6 months left so prepare for some insane step up! Nothing to crazy happened this week so sorry no crazy stories.

Love, 

Elder Clements

All that yellow/green stuff is pollen and it's killing us down here, there is so much! 

Really good week

Me with a father and son we are teaching :)

March 5,2018
It's been a really good week, both spiritually and physically. The Lord blessed us with some good new people to teach this week so we will see what happens with them. Unfortunately one of our investigators has been really sick this week so we haven't seen her, but she has been reading in the Book of Mormon so that's really good, please keep her in your prayers. But another one is doing awesome and still getting ready for baptism, pray that he will be able to remember what we teach him haha.

Love, 

Elder Clements 

Getting trained part 2: Let the Spirit guide

Elder Sibaja, Me, and Elder Jerónimo 

February 26,2018
Another great week has past here in crazy ol' Texas. We have seen many miracles and learned a lot. It started out with Elder Jerónimo joining us to give us some feedback and train us a little more for a few days. That was way fun and a good help. On Tuesday we found this amazing family,  who are doing so well! The mom and daughter have agreed to be baptized on and are very excited about it! We have another investigator that is doing amazing still and is looking forward to being baptized also. I love this area and I love the people that live here! I rough part hit when I fell ill with la gripa (basically a terrible cold and then fever mixed into a lengthy recovery) and Elder Sibaja is still recovering from it. Spanish is coming back slowly but it's a huge help to have a Mexican as a companion . Let's see...what else? I am still trying to more fully apply my WHY. Boy it's so important to have a true and sure understanding of WHAT we are doing so that we can continue for a long period of time. It's something that President Hall wrote about in his weekly email and it's spurred some deep thinking on my side. #hazlojusto

Les amo mucho, 

Elder Clements

Werrrreeeeee Baccckkkkkk! Clements and Sibaja back for round 2! *ding-ding*

                        


     Well here we are once again ladies and gentlemen, for another round of missionary work in Downtown Houston! It's been a great week as I have been getting back into speaking Spanish and the bustle of the city. We have some great people we are working with and I ask that you keep them in your prayers. Elder Sibaja has been really sick with the gripa for the past few days so that kind of killed our week a little and keep him in your prayers too. The ward is way awesome and they remember me from the 2 weeks I was here 3 months ago so that's nice. The Lord is doing miracles for us and I'm very excited for the rest of the transfer. A dios rogando y con el mazo dando. 

Love, 

Elder Clements

Leaving Rosenburg and Elder Magnum

Wedding, baptism, and heavenly help

     

On tour at the Sugarland airport

Whew, one more week has been taken again here in wonderful Rosenberg, TX. It's been a hard week mentally but a great learning opportunity still! It's been a real challenge to contact our investigators this week so that's been rough. We got some new people we are teaching though, like that one lady and her son who came to church last week looking for help, they came to church yesterday and loved it! . Other than that not much new has happened.

 On Saturday I was able to go see Alberto get married and then baptized!!! That was way cool, he is so ready for the Temple! Anyway that is my spiritual and temporal comments for the day. 

Con Amor, 

Élder Clements