May 2025 Letter
May I just start by saying we have the best missionaries in the world!
As I've said before, some of our missionaries come with various challenges; autism, depression, Down's Syndrome, anxiety, and etc. Others come as transfer missionaries that started as teaching missionaries somewhere in the world and then for one reason or another needed to come back home but are now service missionaries. Our missionaries, for the most part, recognize and rise up to help each other. We've seen this time and again over the months that we have served here.
Recently we had a new missionary start with us that has a tremendous desire to serve and to do good. Physically he is able. He does, however, struggle with his mental abilities. When we have something for him to do and someone that can keep him focus on that task, he does great. When we are caught up on things and there isn't something for him to do, he paces and spins a pencil in his hand. While he paces, he is often smiling and giggling about something. I asked him what he was giggling about on one such occasion to which he replied that he was remember a funny scene from a movie or some fun interaction that he has had. His mind must be continuously replaying things and it is amazing that the things he is replaying are always happy things.
Anyway, with this missionary, we can give him a box of cans to put on the shelf and he will cheerfully do it. When the box is complete, we need to be ready to give him his next box or he will go off and pace. As I stated above, we have some amazing missionaries that are willing to step up. They are watching this missionary and helping him to succeed. They are helping him to have purpose. They will guide him to do the next box or they will invite him to come help with their respective assignments; whatever they are. He will follow and participate willingly.
We have a few missionaries that need help and guidance from time to time. We have others that from time to time struggle with depression ... it is nice and heart warming to see our missionaries look out for one another and to help lift them.
No wonder we love serving in this mission. It is all these wonderful missionaries that we serve with!
Over the past couple of weeks, we have had a few of our missionaries that have reached the end of their missions. We have been able to go to their sacrament meetings and listen to their reports. We often hear more to their story as they speak which is enlightening and fun. We can't help but be proud of them for their achievements as missionaries. They each have taught us something along the way and we are grateful for their service. On Easter Sunday, we went to three Easter services; one at 9:00 A.M. in Utah County (an hour south of where we live), one at 10:30 A.M. in Sandy (half way back to our apartment) and then to our own ward at noon. Last Sunday was similar, one Sacrament meeting at 10:30 A.M. in the Salt Lake valley, another at 11:30 A.M., also in the Salt Lake valley and then back to the second hour meeting at our Ward at 1:00. While it was a lot of travel both weeks, we are grateful that we are able to attend with these other missionaries as they report their missions and we are grateful to attend in our own ward where we live in Salt Lake City.
We have had two very special meetings this month that we are grateful to have been able to attend. The first was with Elder and Sister Zwick at our monthly Senior Missionary luncheon. Elder Zwick has been a member of the Quorum of Seventy and therefore someone that we have heard before in our General Conferences. The two of them have served as mission leaders twice and he has served in area leadership assignments in multiple places in the world. It is so nice to meet each month with other senior missionaries in a small setting. I think there were probably only around 12 to 16 of us this time. The potluck luncheon afterwards is pretty nice too where we are able to sit with a few others at the same table and visit and enjoy each other's company.
The second special meeting was a missionary conference with Elder and Sister Cook. Elder Cook is one of the 12 apostles. The chapel was packed full with all the missionaries, both young and senior missionaries alike. It felt so good to be in the same room with Elder and Sister Cook and to feel of their goodness and their testimonies as they spoke with us.
In both meetings, we also heard from Sister Condie (our mission president's wife) and we heard from President Condie in the missionary conference.
All speakers in both of these meetings shared experiences and messages that uplifted those of us in attendance. It was especially wonderful to hear the testimony of Elder Cook as he testified of his witness of the living savior of the world. You could feel it!
We have three amazing missionaries with us right now that are soon to be transferred back out to teaching missions. Oh how we will miss them. But oh how good they will do as teaching missionaries! We are very proud of them too. We have relied heavily upon two of these missionaries. They are missionaries that have been able to lead the other missionaries that we serve with. We hope that we will get some more missionaries just like them soon to take their places. Although we will miss these missionaries, we are very excited for them and will wish them well and keep them in our hearts and in our prayers as they continue their missions.
Toni and Eugene are often up for a nice walk ... especially in beautiful places. We were able to go for a walk around the State Capital while the trees were in bloom.
This is some of our happy missionaries arriving in the morning for service at the Bishop's Storehouse.
With much love,
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