Dresden Mission: Connect and Reflect

Dean Clement
  • 5.0 (5)
  • History
  • Updated Semimonthly

An unofficial oral history project of the Germany Dresden Mission of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  A place to hear the lived experiences of returned missionaries who served in or from the mission from 1989 to 1994, the members of the Church who they served with, converts to the Church during those years, and others with valuable perspective and insights into those historic times.

  1. Elder John Parrett, January 1992-March 1994

    05/27/2025

    Elder John Parrett, January 1992-March 1994

    John recalls some wonderfully funny, vivid, and poignant memories of serving in many cities throughout the Dresden Mission. Enjoy, and be sure to enjoy to the end as he shares some new and exciting details about one of our Dresden Mission cities.  For photos John has shared from his mission service including current service, click here If you wish to be interviewed for this project, please contact me at Dresden Mission Connect and Reflect Podcast on Facebook. Update your contact information, find old friends and companions, and much more on the Dresden/Leipzig mission alumni page at Treffpunkt Deutschland Mission Dresden/Leipzig Returned Dresden missionaries, click here for more information about the Church History Library and information about sharing your documents, photos, or oral histories from your service in the Dresden Mission. The Church’s policy on public access to donated personal history items can be read here. To communicate to someone directly about donating your mission materials, contact James Miller: jamiller@churchofjesuschrist.org.

    1h 32m
  2. Katja Dürr Schiele, convert member (1992), Leipzig Gemeinde I

    03/10/2025

    Katja Dürr Schiele, convert member (1992), Leipzig Gemeinde I

    Katja was born in 1978 in Leipzig as the 2nd of 4 children to a stay-at-home mother and Electrical Engineering student father.  She enjoyed a normal, happy childhood full of outdoor activities. She experienced die Wende as a pre-teen and teenager and gives a unique perspective of life during this time. Her family was introduced to the Church 2 1/2 years after the fall of the Wall. Hear how life has come full circle for her.  See photos she has shared from her childhood and her family's introduction to the Church here.   If you wish to be interviewed for this project, please contact me at Dresden Mission Connect and Reflect Podcast on Facebook. Update your contact information, find old friends and companions, and much more on the Dresden/Leipzig mission alumni page at Treffpunkt Deutschland Mission Dresden/Leipzig Returned Dresden missionaries, click here for more information about the Church History Library and information about sharing your documents, photos, or oral histories from your service in the Dresden Mission. The Church’s policy on public access to donated personal history items can be read here. To communicate to someone directly about donating your mission materials, contact James Miller: jamiller@churchofjesuschrist.org.

    52 min
  3. Elder Craig Miles, Germany Hamburg Mission Nov 1987 - March 1989, German Democratic Republic Dresden Mission March 1989 - November 1989

    02/01/2025

    Elder Craig Miles, Germany Hamburg Mission Nov 1987 - March 1989, German Democratic Republic Dresden Mission March 1989 - November 1989

    After 14 months in the Germany Hamburg Mission, in March of 1989 Elder Craig Miles received a transfer to become one of the first missionaries into the German Democratic Republic. He experienced a wide range of unique experiences including traveling back and forth through Checkpoint Charlie, being tailed by the Stasi, witnessing some of the earliest Monday Demonstrations in Leipzig during the fall of 1989, and seeing the final May 1st parade through East Berlin. And of course the highlight of his time was getting to know the strong members of the Church in the GDR and seeing the light of gospel touch many lives. See photos and descriptions of many of these events here.  If you wish to be interviewed for this project, please contact me at Dresden Mission Connect and Reflect Podcast on Facebook. Update your contact information, find old friends and companions, and much more on the Dresden/Leipzig mission alumni page at Treffpunkt Deutschland Mission Dresden/Leipzig Returned Dresden missionaries, click here for more information about the Church History Library and information about sharing your documents, photos, or oral histories from your service in the Dresden Mission. The Church’s policy on public access to donated personal history items can be read here. To communicate to someone directly about donating your mission materials, contact James Miller: jamiller@churchofjesuschrist.org.

    1h 59m
  4. Sister Stephanie Murphy (McGuire) December 1989 - September 1991

    08/17/2024

    Sister Stephanie Murphy (McGuire) December 1989 - September 1991

    Stephanie Murphy McGuire always wanted to serve a mission and hoped and planned for a mission to Germany. Initially called to Hamburg, her call was switched in an unusual way while in the MTC. Listen as she describes this and many other fun and inspiring stories from her service. Click here to see photos she has shared.  If you wish to be interviewed for this project, please contact me at Dresden Mission Connect and Reflect Podcast on Facebook. Update your contact information, find old friends and companions, and much more on the Dresden/Leipzig mission alumni page at Treffpunkt Deutschland Mission Dresden/Leipzig Returned Dresden missionaries, click here for more information about the Church History Library and information about sharing your documents, photos, or oral histories from your service in the Dresden Mission. The Church’s policy on public access to donated personal history items can be read here. To communicate to someone directly about donating your mission materials, contact James Miller: jamiller@churchofjesuschrist.org.

    1h 19m
  5. Elder Matt Jensen, Germany Hamburg Mission August 1988 - August 1989, German Democratic Republic Dresden Mission August 1989 - August 1990

    05/05/2024

    Elder Matt Jensen, Germany Hamburg Mission August 1988 - August 1989, German Democratic Republic Dresden Mission August 1989 - August 1990

    Matt Jensen grew up hoping to serve a mission to Germany, the same as his father and grandfather had. Initially called to serve in the Germany Hamburg Mission, he details what it was like in the Hamburg mission, including crossing over the inner German border on the train to and from West Berlin for transfers and zone conferences. He also shares details of what it was like to be transferred into the German Democratic Rebuplic Dresden Mission during the summer of 1989 and the many experiences of his year of missionary service in the Dresden Mission. To see photos Matt has shared, click here If you wish to be interviewed for this project, please contact me at Dresden Mission Connect and Reflect Podcast on Facebook. Update your contact information, find old friends and companions, and much more on the Dresden/Leipzig mission alumni page at Treffpunkt Deutschland Mission Dresden/Leipzig Returned Dresden missionaries, click here for more information about the Church History Library and information about sharing your documents, photos, or oral histories from your service in the Dresden Mission. The Church’s policy on public access to donated personal history items can be read here. To communicate to someone directly about donating your mission materials, contact James Miller: jamiller@churchofjesuschrist.org.

    1h 29m
  6. Elder Stephen Van Orden, Part II

    04/07/2024

    Elder Stephen Van Orden, Part II

    In today's interview, Stephen discusses the 2nd half of his mission including thoughts about the change in teaching/proselyting after the currency changeover, his time in Dresden, and his final months in the mission. He also shares how the mission influenced his career, his continued German language and culture study, the acquisition of his Trabi, and other interesting and memorable mission experiences. Click here for more photos, videos (including the MDR story about his Trabi)  and other interesting items.  If interested in reading Stephen's fascinating Master's Thesis entitled: "Spit-Shined Shoes, Clear Decisions, and West German Mission Horror Stories: A Study of the Emergence and Function of the Missionary Folklore of the Dresden Mission during 1990," (including transcripts of 1995 interviews with Jason, Kap, Jeff Packer, and others) please message me on Facebook.  If interested in reading a writeup (with awesome photos) of Stephen's acquisition, repair and restoration of his Trabi, please message me on Facebook.  If you would like a copy of the roster of Mozambique converts in the DDR, please message me on Facebook If you wish to be interviewed for this project, please contact me at Dresden Mission Connect and Reflect Podcast on Facebook. Update your contact information, find old friends and companions, and much more on the Dresden/Leipzig mission alumni page at Treffpunkt Deutschland Mission Dresden/Leipzig Returned Dresden missionaries, click here for more information about the Church History Library and information about sharing your documents, photos, or oral histories from your service in the Dresden Mission. The Church’s policy on public access to donated personal history items can be read here. To communicate to someone directly about donating your mission materials, contact James Miller: jamiller@churchofjesuschrist.org.

    2h 24m
  7. Elder Stephen Van Orden, Part I: January 1990 - December 1991

    03/24/2024

    Elder Stephen Van Orden, Part I: January 1990 - December 1991

    Thank you for listening to the first half of our interview with Stephen Van Orden. Stephen has a vivid recollection of key moments prior to and during his mission, and a single interview was not enough time to capture it. Today’s interview covers the time prior to his mission and up to the period that the mission took on West Berlin, with the difficulties that came with it. He speaks with candor, a deep appreciation for the historical events of the time, and a perspective I am sure will be appreciated by all who served during that time. Be sure to click here for photos he has shared.  Part 2 of this interview will be available in the next week or two, including more photos and other items of interest. If you wish to be interviewed for this project, please contact me at Dresden Mission Connect and Reflect Podcast on Facebook. Update your contact information, find old friends and companions, and much more on the Dresden/Leipzig mission alumni page at Treffpunkt Deutschland Mission Dresden/Leipzig Returned Dresden missionaries, click here for more information about the Church History Library and information about sharing your documents, photos, or oral histories from your service in the Dresden Mission. The Church’s policy on public access to donated personal history items can be read here. To communicate to someone directly about donating your mission materials, contact James Miller: jamiller@churchofjesuschrist.org.

    2h 27m
  8. Elder Rick Stafford, May 1991 - June 1993

    02/27/2024

    Elder Rick Stafford, May 1991 - June 1993

    As a young man growing up playing basketball and enjoying the outdoor offerings of western Washington state, he felt drawn to praying for the opening of East Germany and the desire to serve a mission there. He received a call to the Dresden Mission and arrived in July, 1991, coincidental to the changeover of mission presidents from President Paul to President Meiser. Listen as Rick shares the ups and downs of his mission experiences with wit and candor.  If you wish to be interviewed for this project, please contact me at Dresden Mission Connect and Reflect Podcast on Facebook. Update your contact information, find old friends and companions, and much more on the Dresden/Leipzig mission alumni page at Treffpunkt Deutschland Mission Dresden/Leipzig Returned Dresden missionaries, click here for more information about the Church History Library and information about sharing your documents, photos, or oral histories from your service in the Dresden Mission. The Church’s policy on public access to donated personal history items can be read here. To communicate to someone directly about donating your mission materials, contact James Miller: jamiller@churchofjesuschrist.org.

    1h 58m
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About

An unofficial oral history project of the Germany Dresden Mission of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  A place to hear the lived experiences of returned missionaries who served in or from the mission from 1989 to 1994, the members of the Church who they served with, converts to the Church during those years, and others with valuable perspective and insights into those historic times.

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