Mesquite West Stake Mesquite East Stake

94e8cee7-2777-4434-a403-20ad1d07196c Sister Kennedi Ludvigson Back to Missionary Letters Ang Katapusan awkward Well. This is my last email heading your way and to be honest I really don't want to write it because that means it's time for me to go back to America. I can't express enough of my gratitude that The Lord called me to serve a mission here in Cebu East Philippines. That He has allowed me to experience so many miracles and sacred moments. I love this work with all my heart and it wish I could be an elder so I could serve two years. I love the people and this gospel. To be honest I don't really miss my family (sorry mom.) But, I really have caught the spirit of missionary work and I don't want that to change even if I won't be wearing a name tag anymore. I am grateful that I have learned how to study, how to pray, how to hear the spirit, how to love, how to be obedient and in the process I have become a little more Christlike. That pure religion is following the first and second great commandments. This week I have been trying not to let myself think about what lays ahead because it scares me. I keep questioning myself if I have really gave the Lord my whole heart, might, mind and strength. This week I have truly come to understand the Lord's grace. I have made a lot of mistakes on my mission, but I gave it my best and I have faith that the Lord will make up for my weaknesses. Now I am just going to try not to cry everyday this week. THIS GOSPEL IS SO TRUE! OUR SAVIOR LIVES. HEAVENLY FATHER KNOWS US AND LOVES US. WE HAVE BEEN SENT TO EARTH AT THIS TIME TO HELP PREPARE THE WORLD FOR THE SECOND COMING OF OUR LORD. I LOVE THE PHILIPPINES! Signing out for the last time, Sister Ludvigson *My homecoming is March 22 at 8 am in Mesquite. All of my people are welcome. See ya'll next Wednesday! tatay Pedro. who is very proud to own 4 bibles and now 1 "mormon bible" Previous Letter Next Letter

1bc9c511-1cdd-4088-9763-32258ed2e887 Elder Kaori Iverson Back to Missionary Letters This week was pretty chill. Not too much happened Funny moment: we had interviews with president on Tuesday. I asked him how I can put off a more confident first impression. He says: *you need to stand up straight with your chin up. I don't want to be culturally insensitive...but IDK if YOUR culture is always standing like this *proceeds to awkwardly stand in a bowing position*." He was completely serious and it was so hard not to laugh at him. I'm thinking in my head "he knows I'm from Nevada right?". Anyways it was super funny😂 Tuesday night I took a pretty hard tumble on my bike due to the rain and my bad angle taking a curb. I scraped up my knees pretty good and sprain my wrist. I still have to call my mission nurse😬. It hasn't slowed down my effectiveness too much. We've been teaching this guy named Johnny. He's progressing a lot and attributes all his happiness to the Lord. He's so cool We found this new couple this week who we taught a sweet first lesson to. I'm excited to see where it's going. The work is great. My wrist hurts. God loves y'all Previous Letter Next Letter

1cef6f67-e0cb-4bdf-a1e3-7bdd0c22acc4 Sister Jamie Bundy Back to Missionary Letters Quarantine Week 22: Last one Well hello. I can't believe it. This is MY LAST weekly email. This last week was the week of lasts. I had my last District Council, my last service project, my last Zone Conference, my last correlation, my last weekly planning, my last sacrament meeting, and today is my last PDay. I had my departing interview and I gave my departing testimony. And throughout it all I have had so many sweet moments that have brought me some closure, which is something that is really important to me. I've been asked numerous times questions like the following: "What's the biggest thing you've learned from your mission?" "Whats the biggest piece of advice you would give?" "What are some of the best experiences you've had?" "Whats the first thing you'll do when you get home?" "What are your plans for when you get home?" HAHAHAHA WHAT? I think it was just yesterday that I was telling people that I was still just a baby missionary and only a couple months out. Lol turns out that it was actually last year. I can't believe its all coming to an end. The time I have left to proselyte is LIMITED. I am seriously just down to hours now and every time I think about it, it makes me a little anxious hahaha. There really will be so many things I will miss about serving a mission and being a missionary. I truly have gained so much from this time and I wouldn't trade it for anything. I am so grateful for everything I have been able to gain because of it. I am excited to come home though. Even though it does make me sad to think that its almost over, it also just feels right. I feel ready. Don't know if I'll be saying the same when I'm boarding the lane lol. President Dunnigan gave me a promise about 14 months ago that leaving the mission would rip my heart out....I have yet to feel that so I'm sure there will be more emotions to come hahaha. But anyways I guess I can give you some updates on how my week actually went. It was a really good one to end on. We were VERY busy and it was honestly the best thing ever. On Tuesday I had my last district council. This last district I've served in has been a good one and I've been so blessed to be a part of it. They are all great missionaries and I've had a lot of fun with them. I will miss them. On Wednesday we did some service pulling weeds. It felt pretty good to DO something for once hahaha. I got all sweaty and dirty and even got scratched up. Twas the best. The best part though was when the service coordinator couple were so proud of us and sent the picture we took to President Dunnigan hahahahaha we got rebuked for not wearing masks and because we had more than two companionships there lol. I would say that I felt bad and that I apologized and all that, but then I would be lying to you haha. So yes that's the most rebellious I have gotten on my mission. On Thursday we had a mission tour with Elder and Sister Basset and we had a Zone Conference with them. It was really good and I really enjoyed it. I also had been informed earlier in the transfer that I would be giving my departing testimony at this Zone Conference. So the whole time I was just anxiously waiting for when they would announce for me to go. But then they didn't hahaha. So I was pretty convinced they had either forgotten about me or didn't actually wanna hear my testimony lol. I honestly would not have been surprised for either one of those. On Friday we did some service for the last time at the Food Bank of Delaware and it was really good. I've been goin to that place for a long time so it felt kind of weird knowing that I probably would never see it again. We also had our VERY FIRST, I N P E R S O N N O N M E M B E R lesson on Friday with this SUPER sweet lady named Rosemary! It was amazing! It seriously felt so good to have an in person nonmember lesson. And it was so good for me to be a part of Sister Kent's experience with it as well. It was awesome. She was happy to receive a Book of Mormon and we....well...the other sisters, look forward to meeting with her again and I look forward to hearing about it and eventually attending her baptism. On Saturday I had my departing interview! It was good. YES! President Dunnigan did talk to me about marriage hahaha, which I had no problem with. It was good though. Glad to be ending on a good note. On Sunday I gave a talk in our Zone Church service where I spoke about some different experiences from my mission and then I also finally gave my departing testimony at mission devotional haha. I lucked out though because instead of only doing it in front of my Zone I got to give it in front of my whole mission hahahah just kidding I don't think that was luck because I was dang nervous and didn't know what I was gunna say. But just Heavenly Father always does, He helped me out and gave me the words to say. Well ya'll I think that about wraps it up. Thank you all so much for the love and support you have given me. I can't believe I've made it and I can't believe who I've become because of it. I am changed forever and I'm so grateful because of it. SEE YOU ALL SOON! Love, Sister JAMIE Bundy Previous Letter Next Letter

00ee6472-c24f-4040-a9f3-080ceadecab9 Sister Dantzel Park Back to Missionary Letters A Peruvian Christmas Hey everyone, I hope you had a very Merry Christmas and that you are preparing for a New Year! My week has been crazy but I don't have a lot of words for it. Let me explain… Bulletpoints ♤ Crazy divis with Primavera, they found a new house and a new pension in the day I was there and moved the next. ♤ Because of the season people just light off fireworks in the middle of the day here :) ♤ Divis with Bolognesi, I was with Hermana Lisintuña <3 She is from Ecuador and is a little ball of energy. I just love her. ♤ Divis with Parachico, I almost died. I got super sick and we had to spend all day inside, when we finally left… you could have found me lying in the middle of the road :) #HnaCastroEsLoLaximo #Ecuador ♤ Christmas, So for Christmas here they celebrate on the 24th until midnight! So we had permission from the President to stay up and see the fireworks. Of course I washed all the laundry in the extra 2 hours I had that night… ♤ It rained, I think this was the second time in my whole mission I have seen rain. I call this a miracle! ♤ A taxi driver told me my eyes are beautiful :) ♤ We sang Christmas Carols as a zone on Christmas eve <3 We went to an empty plaza and only members showed up. And we stood on this super awkward platform? It was super fun! ♤ We watched a bottle rocket fly into someones house… so we went into our and closed all the windows!! ♤ Alexander (a recent convert from Ilo). Found me and gave me a Christmas gift!!! It was so sweet and my only gift I received this year! Spiritual thought Today I am going to write about fireworks!! Fireworks are so beautiful, light up in different colors, can be seen from far away, and are used at night. Like our testimonies full of color and light. We light it with the desire of our hearts to share our knowledge. You can watch the fireworks shoot up in the air with the anticipation of seeing the colors burst into a beautiful shape. You can say the words but they don't burst until the spirit guides in what to say. The feeling of seeing the fireworks is the same feeling I get when I share my testimony. Showing the light of Christ that I know to be true even during the darkest of nights. Every time is just a little different but just as stunning and perfect in every way. I love you guys so much and I hope you can feel the savior's love for you. Have such a Happy New year!!! <3 Hermana Park Previous Letter Next Letter

808b0274-d945-41ec-a922-5618301a5b70 Elder Jaeger Lee Back to Missionary Letters 久しぶり！ Hi Everyone, sorry for sending so many emails. I'll try to tone it down a little. Anyway, I believe my last email was about my earthquake experience whilst on the toilet. I haven't had anything like that happen recently which is unfortunate, but I'm still doing good nonetheless. I was transferred after 3 transfers in Hibarigaoka to a place called Takao. It's technically part of a bigger city, and we just get the mountain part of it. It's quite beautiful. Since my last email I have had 3 more companions. Elder Dingle (Philippines), Elder Souza (Brazil), and now Elder McMillan from Utah. I'm guessing that this area will probably be my last. I have under 4 months left though, so who knows what can happen. I'm looking forward to seeing how this area plays out. Don't wanna bore you guys too much, so I'll end the email here. Mon 4/29/2024 1:42 AM Hi Everyone, sorry for sending so many emails. I'll try to tone it down a little. Anyway, I believe my last email was about my earthquake experience whilst on the toilet. I haven't had anything like that happen recently which is unfortunate, but I'm still doing good nonetheless. I was transferred after 3 transfers in Hibarigaoka to a place called Takao. It's technically part of a bigger city, and we just get the mountain part of it. It's quite beautiful. Since my last email I have had 3 more companions. Elder Dingle (Philippines), Elder Souza (Brazil), and now Elder McMillan from Utah. I'm guessing that this area will probably be my last. I have under 4 months left though, so who knows what can happen. I'm looking forward to seeing how this area plays out. Don't wanna bore you guys too much, so I'll end the email here. Here's my pictures: https://photos.app.goo.gl/rMifwWVf62EWjwaL8https://photos.app.goo.gl/rMifwWVf62EWjwaL8 Previous Letter Next Letter

33ba38a9-3061-407b-8b45-66171eff8ded Elder Ethan Leavitt Back to Missionary Letters Buenas 🙌 welp here I am. Sending another email after like 6 months lol. I made it to Argentina great. I had 3 flights. I left Portland at 1 made it to to Atlanta in 4 Hours and then ran to the next gate because I was going to miss my flight. Was on the Plane for more than 10 hours, hardly slept lol made it to Buenos Aires fine, had a native who work for the church help us buy tickets and check our bags and so and so. My next flight for Buenos Aires to Córdoba was like 1:30 minutes. But made it here just fine haha can't believe I'm here. Definitely feel like I'm still in the US but no one speaks English and idk just weird. But yeah met my comp he's a Native Argentino. Doesn't speak English, has a thick accent and talks really fast lol. But I understand almost every thing he says so thanks to the Gift Of Tounges! Right now we cover 2 areas LAS FLORES Y HOGAR 3 it's pretty safe over here. The President suggests not taking your phone and any belongings with you when working because you will be robbed. My comp was robbed 2 weeks ago.... lol but that's because the thief saw he had a phone. So yea. The Peso to American dollar is like 100 or something but if you brought cash you can change it with these dudes standing outside the bank for over double the price! So I'm loaded now lol. But all is good 👍sad to leave my friends in the states and I hope they know I love them ! ❤ I hit a year in the mission in 10 days so that's exciting! Love yall 💓 lowkey prolly will forget to send a northern email for a while...... Previous Letter Next Letter

3ab0eff1-f36b-442d-be73-8228847b7b04 Sister Taylor Allen Back to Missionary Letters general authority wahoo Hello friends and family(: The past couple weeks have been so so good! I am absolutely loving my time here in Horseheads and the missionaries I get to serve around! This has been one of the happiest times on my mission!! We FINALLY found some people to teach and now are super booked with back to back lessons! Sister Roundy and I have seen amazing miracles this transfer and the work is rolling forward nicely 🤩just within the last 14 days we came across 8 new friends that are soaking up the truths of the gospel! It is incredible to see how God puts the people who are prepared into our path!! Also I hit 11 months today which blows my mind like WHERE HAS THE TIME GONE??! Elder Bassett from the Seventy came and did a mission tour this week here! It was a special expirence because the Mission Leadership Council got to have little one on ones with him then all eat lunch together! Not going to lie I was a tad bit intimated but he was the sweetest man! He gave the greatest trainings and shared some solid life advice! He talked to us alot about sacrafice and how it is an opportunity for us to show our gratitude for all that the Savior did! He told us how we all need to lay down the things of the world at the alter and focus our attention on things with eternal significance! I was able to recieve a lot of answers to questions I have had recently as he spoke which was a major blessing. I want you all to know how much I love you! Your Father in Heaven knows you and loves you! Make the relationship you have with Him your number one pursuit and I promise that is when you will have joy beyond compare! No trial or struggle will matter because you will have eyes that see far past this short time in mortality! Have a solid week and please I'm begging each of you to watch some scary movies for me or go to a haunted corn maze!! Then send me pictures so I can cry about how much I miss them 😂 side note: here is my current address for those who asked -> 228 Roosevelt Ave Apt #2 Horseheads, NY 14845 United States Previous Letter Next Letter

ff55a53b-b546-4561-b24c-cb7810a6bb37 Sister Maleena Felshaw Back to Missionary Letters howdy partners Heres some updates for my mom and whoever reads these: -we got to go to the temple as a mission on Oct 30th!!! Each zone had a different session. It was my first time going back to the temple in over a year and boy did it feel good. - a member gave us a bunch of bananas. Not like a singular bunch of bananas but like A BUNCH OF BANANAS. like 20. Needless to say I ate a lot of bananas. I was looking up different banana recipes and a picture below was one of the results. I was not a fan. -transfers happened. Again. I know they're every 6 weeks but it sure does feel more frequent than that. My comp and I both stayed! I kinda expected that but I'm super excited to continue in this area and work on my spanish. -speaking of Spanish: it is hard. It is hard to be a missionary for 15 months and then be put into a Spanish area and feel like you can't contribute anything. It's hard to have thoughts in your mind that you feel would help someone but not be able to communicate them. It's hard to have people talk about you in front of you because they think you dont understand. IT'S HARD OKAY. but I am so grateful for it. I love this language and I'm sad I have such a short time on the mission to learn it but I look forward to continuing it after. Sorry, little did you know when you asked to be on my email it was more of signing up to hear my problems lol. Life is good guys! Have an awesome week! Previous Letter Next Letter

c4129095-ed40-406d-9277-8f5a6fdddffd Elder Lydia Clark Back to Missionary Letters #COMPJACKPOT HEY EVERYONE! WHAT A WEEK! Let me tell you all about it! First off I LOVE being a missionary! This transfer has been the hardest but best transfer of my mission so far! I learned SO MUCH and grew in more ways than I thought possible! Best comps EVA! I have absolutely hit the JACKPOT when it comes to companions! We had transfers on Tuesday and I was absolutely shocked when I saw that my girl/mtc companion Sister Balls was coming to Lake Marion! I'm pretty sure I scared everyone, I screamed so loud! And as excited as I was, I was SO MEGA SAD to say bye to my comp Sister Harrell! She's absolutely my favorite person in the whole world and I miss her so much already! I'm so grateful for the time I got to serve with her! And I know she will be one of my BESTIES forever! I 💟MY FRIENDS! Our friends are doing so well! Paul and his wife just got back from a trip to Europe and it looked so dreamy! And he's on date for baptism in a couple of weeks! What a lucky guy! Also we just found a new friend named Jacob and he's so awesome! We gave him a church tour and he came to church and LOVED IT! Facebook works! Part of being a social media leader means we get to give presentations to our missionaries! So this week we did one for the new missionaries and it was so fun! Our new mission president and his wife add so much love and unity to our mission and I LOVE IT! 2 Nephi 26 24 He doeth not anything save it be for the benefit of the world; for he loveth the world, even that he layeth down his own life that he may draw all men unto him. Wherefore, he commandeth none that they shall not partake of his salvation. 25 Behold, doth he cry unto any, saying: Depart from me? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; but he saith: Come unto me all ye ends of the earth, buy milk and honey, without money and without price I LOVE YOU ALL! GO HUG SOMEONE YOU LOVE! Previous Letter Next Letter

1116494e-c219-4e20-aa17-10042cbd57f8 Elder Christian Martinez Back to Missionary Letters The Journey Home Hey y'all, I'll make this quick Due to the COVID-19 virus, and having asthma, my service in the Pennsylvania Philadelphia Mission will be stopped, and I was informed I probably wont be able to come back out, due to the amount of missionaries coming into the United States. I return home tomorrow morning. The experiences I have had while out here will stay with me the rest of my life. I've learned so much about me, others, and especially about the gospel of Jesus Christ and how much God loves us. I have loved every single thing about being a missionary and serving the Lord Jesus Christ. I love Him, and what he did for me, and all of Gods children. He walked such a long, lonely path, so we wouldn't have to. May we always remember our Savior, and what He did for us. This is His church. God lives, Jesus is the Christ, never ever forget God's love for you, it will never go away. I love you all! Elder Martinez Previous Letter Next Letter