Missionary Mail!

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Elder Sam Gonzalez:

Bolivia La Paz Mission

5/19/26

It's been a while so I thought I should write a quick email before my mom crashes out. 

I'm mid-second transfer out here in Cobija with my boy Elder Beltran, I love this zone so much, last month we saw so many miracles, and everyday we see how the Lord is advancing His work out here and its been so awesome to be a part of it.

Apart from all I've learned and grown spiritually out here it's also been great learning to make brigadiero, make some fire copoazu drink, open coconuts, practice Portuguese and all the awesome, one of a kind experiences because this zone is basically a whole different mission. 

The work in our branch has been a little slow lately, our 3 most potential friends/families either stopped progressing, moved to Peru, or disappeared all in this last week. We were actually feeling super bummed especially yesterday bc of all that, but last night we had a nice experience which helped us a lot. We are teaching a mother and daughter named Fatima and Sara who we met last week and last night we went to visit them. They've been going through a rought time recently, the father passed away not too long ago and Fatima found out she had a tumor in her brain. We were talking for a minute when the Fatima told us how she had been feeling super lonely lately and was sitting on here porch praying that God would send her angels to talk to and to help her, that's when me and my comp walked by and said hi. She recognized that we were sent as an answer to her prayer to come and help change their lives and find peace in this trying time.

I know God's timing is perfect, we just need to trust in Him and His perfect plan. We must always be attent to the whispers of the spirit so that we may be instruments in the Lord's hands to bless the lives of others.

Love you all, have a great week. 

Elder Gonzalez 

sgonzalez@missionary.org

Sister Mary Treu:

Texas Dallas South Mission

4/26/26

Hello friends and family!! It has been such an amazing week! I got moved to a brand new area in Dallas! Me and my compainion were assigned to open a new sisters area in the Dallas first ward! And holy cow. Its crazy finishing my mission in the city where I started, but this area isn't anything like what I've seen before. This ward has such a drive for missionary work, including the youth and primary! They are all so so excited to have sisters here. I've never felt so welcomed into a place before! 

I also found out at transfers that I am back on the social media team!! I was so excited!! Me and my new compainion (sister Alkousakis) are now brainstorming how we can really make a difference in this mission and use our skills to help move the work forward! 

Being put in a brand new area came with some challenges. We literally had to build our area book from scratch. It took a few days but we finally have some good ground work to build on, and we even found 2 new people to teach this week! One woman even had her boyfriend join our lesson, and he's now interested in meeting with us too! 

We've been stopping by a lot of members to start out with our ward relationships strong! We stopped by this one family with these super sweet little boys. Oh my goodness the world needs more hearts of gold like theirs. They opened all our doors, were so polite during the lesson, and were overall just so happy to have the missionaries in their home!! 

I absolutely love the combination of little minds with big hearts! It was a good reminder to me of the absolute purity that little children often have. I hope when I grow up I can have a heart of gold like the young boys we met that night. 

Sorry its a bit of a short update this week, but there's amazing things happening in Texas! I love you all and apreciate the support and prayers. I hope you know they are each individually felt, and have been answered by the lord. 

Love,

Sister Mary Treu

_____________________

4/27/26

Hello! I'm sorry this email is shorter and coming out late, but wow wow wow!!! 

I feel so incredibly blessed to be in this area! There is so much potential that I feel is right at me and my compainions finger tips!! I have never felt so passionate about the tasks the Lord has led me to do. 

We have been working so hard with the ward to make sacrament meeting an incredible experience for ALL who visit! Whether it's your first time there or your first time back, we've been creating ideas and working with our ward mission to have our meetings stand out from all the others we have here in Dallas. Asking questions like: "what does make us different?" "How can we use our skills and strengths to invite others?" 

It's been miracle after miracle this week, and I am just beyond excited. 

We are also going to be posting more on our mission Facebook page to try and reach more people in our community! But if any of you would like to check it out or share it with others, it is called: Come Unto Christ in South Dallas

I apreciate all the prayers that are being said over the missionary effort. I truly feel them lifting me day after day. 

Also... happy 16 months! ;) 

All my love, Sister Treu

mary.treu@missionary.org

5/18/26

Yooo what's up yall! Hopefully it was an awesome week.

Yall... i think i recieved the most tragic news ever. President banned the cowboy hat😭😭. Not gonna lie im mega sad about it. Ive had to use my testigo hat for the past couple of days. I think this is worse than getting dear john'd. 🎻🎻🎻🥲.

Anyways, we were walking through some random dirt road and then I look up and there were like 20 monkeys jumping from tree to tree, it was actually so sick. And then I looked to the right and there are cows standing in the rivir drinking. I dont know where im going with this but just imagine the moment. ✨️majestic✨️.

Spiritual thought:

Moroni 7:24 And behold, there were divers ways that he did manifest things unto the children of men, which were good; and all things which are good cometh of Christ; otherwise men were fallen, and there could no good thing come unto them.

All good things come from Christ! All of it.

Love yall have an awesome week! Hurra por Israel!!

-Elder Noah Larsen

noah.larsen@missionary.org

Elder Max Martineau:

Arizona Mesa Mission

5/11/26

Whats up yall?!?! I'm so sorry this is getting out late and I'm sorry that I haven't written an email in a few weeks. 

It's been a good few weeks! We had a baptism in the ward! His name is Junior and he's 18. Such a good kid and I'm so grateful that I was able to meet him and see him grow and change. 

I got a new companion 2 weeks ago. Elder Smart (aka Wicked Smart). He's a character. He is hilarious. I'm grateful cuz he is such a hard worker. Great missionary. I love Elder Smart.

Our area doesn't have much teaching friends right now but that's ok! We have been working hard to find those that have been prepared by the Lord. I know they are out there! We just gotta go and find them. 

We ran into a family this past week and found out they have a 9 year old son that wasn't baptized. We're going back this week and we're hoping he is ready. I know the gospel blesses everyone! Doesn't matter how old you are haha. 

Happy mothers day to all of the wonderful moms out there! I'm forever grateful for my mama! She is one of the greatest examples and such a light in my life. I love you mama Niki and I miss you.

D&C 6:36 Look unto me in every thought, doubt not, fear not.

My favorite scripture verse of all time! No need to fear nor doubt when you've got the Lord on your side!

I love you all. Shoot me an email I love hearing from yall!

Love, Elder Martineau

mmartineau@missionary.org

Elder Dashle Demill

Brazil Goiania Mission

5/19/26

Opa galera! We finished our first week here in Caldas and it was a good time. The work has been picking up and we were able to invite some people to baptism, and a couple accepted! I'm not sure why but there's something about being in a brand-new area that takes away all of the fear of embarrassment and offending someone when you invite. If they decline, you just say, "Alright, sounds good. We've done our part and now we leave you to do yours."

Also, for those that are tracking the housing situation, it's gotten worse, and we're officially out of this house within a week. It all climaxed when the lady downstairs started screaming at us (calling us horses and monkeys), sending messages threatening to call the police, and sending messages to the apartment group chat about how little intelligence we have, as well as audios of her hitting stuff in her house to make it seem like we're making that noise. Then out of nowhere without letting us know the owner sent a message in the group chat saying we would be moving out. The housing secretaries decided it would just be easier to move out rather than sending some of these people to an insane asylum, so we'll be packing up here soon.

Other highlights:

- Ate massive pastel with a member at the fair

- Walked 2 hours (about 5 miles) to get to lunch with a member

- District council is online now

- Taught English class for the second time on my mission (flashbacks to the good 'ol days in Savannah)

- Had interviews with President at his house (and of course had to finish with some ping pong, in which he completely destroyed all of us)

- Made homemade tortillas and they miraculously turned out great

- Branch pianist for the second time on my mission (and apparently I'm also playing the piano for a member's wedding this week)

Spiritual thought:

I was reminded this week of the meaning of the name Barabbas, the one who was released instead of Christ right before the Savior's crucifixion (see Matthew 27:17-26). "Bar" means "son of", while "abba" means father. So Barabbas is meant to mean, "son of the father". 

A good friend before the mission pointed out how similar we truly are to Barabbas. While the perfect, unblemished lamb is condemned to be slain, we, the sons and daughters of the Father, go free despite our mistakes and the demands of justice. That is the trade that can satisfy such a law. This is why Jesus of Nazareth is our Savior - because He chose to descend below all, even below our mistake-prone natures. He made such a sacrifice, so we cannot simply ignore it or even fear it. We have to understand the Atonement, and we have to use it. It is the gift of such an unfathomable price that was given to us out of love and mercy. Use it today, tomorrow, and forever.

Tudo por enquanto! Hopefully the next house has a cool balcony too. Amo vocês!

- Elder DeMill

- Elder DeMill

dashle.demill@missionary.org

Sister Emilie Figlioli

Tennessee Knoxville Mission

5/18/26

What is up everyone?!

Okay so if I'm being so real I don't remember much of this week but I'll do my best to recap it!

Erika convinced her mom to come to church!!! She is just the cutest!

Rick is getting pretty lonely so we have been hearing from him quite often

Zone conference was so good! Got to see all my friends! It was such a good expirience and I learned so much! 

Highs:

- Erika came to church!

- Got to help with a dance recital

- Saw almost the whole traveling group (missed you Sister Wallis)

Lows:

- Invited this guy to be baptized, he said yes, then ghosted us

Randos:

- started making a parody with my comp

Spiritual: 

Okay, so a little about zone conference, we were in a training and Sister Barlow invited us to spread out with our companions and pray for their needs. Like genuinely and sincerely. So luckily for me, I got to pray for my companion Sister Bowler. After talking about what we were struggling with or what she needed, it was the coolest experience to pray for her!

This really showed me the power of prayer. I love being able to express everything we have to the Lord. I'd invite each of you to do the same for someone this week! Find something they need help with or strength with and genuinely pray for them and their need specifically! 

I love you all so much! Sorry it was kinda shorter today! Let me know if yall need anything or if there's anything I can do for you! Love yall!!

Sister Figlioli

emilie.figlioli@missionary.org

Elder Ben Brimhall

Philippines San Pablo Mission

Sister Eliza Treu

New Zealand Auckland Mission

Sister Treu will begin her missionary service on June 5

Sister Ellie Baugh

Brazil Ribeirao Preto Mission

Sister Baugh will begin her missionary service on June 3

Elder Zach Johnson

Brazil Sao Paulo East Mission

Elder Johnson will begin his missionary service on June 11

Elder Jack Dunford

Kingston Jamaica Mission

Elder Dunford will begin his missionary service on August 5th

Elder Lincoln Pearson

France Paris Mission

Elder Pearson will begin his missionary service on August 6th

Burton Ward Service Missionaries

Brother & Sister McSwain

Utah Layton Mission

Brother & Sister Halls

Family History Center Service Missionaries

Behind me are all my ancestors giving me strength. Life passed through them to me. And in honor of them... I will live it fully!

See more on Burton Ward family history happenings HERE.

We serve as missionaries at the Family Search Center in Layton and we try to assist people as they come to the center.   The people who come ask for help in a wide variety of ways; from setting up a password for familysearch.org to helping find an ancestor in Germany in the 1800’s. 

The veil seems thin as we receive inspiration from those on the other side as we work. We also are in the temple each Tuesday morning. So blending research and then being at the temple where individuals and families receive their ordinances is so fulfilling to us.  We know we are helping to gather Israel. 

Love,

Brother & Sister Halls

Sister Angie Cottrell

FamilySearch VROC (Virtual Records Operation Center) Service Mission

I am currently serving in the FamilySearch VROC (Virtual Records Operation Center) Mission. I just completed my first year and recently extended for another six months. I love the flexibility of this mission. I am able to work from home and set my own schedule. I just have a minimum number of required hours to fulfill each week.

The objective of our mission is to “nourish the temple with names.” There are a variety of projects requiring various skill levels. Currently, I am working on a project to improve person pages on FamilySearch. Many pages lack the required dates and places needed to complete ordinances. I do my best to find sources, such as birth, death, or marriage records, and add this information to the FamilySearch tree. Relatives are then able to complete the temple work. I love when I find a record of a baby or child who was born and died between census years, so they were never included as part of the family. Knowing they can now be sealed to their parents is such a rewarding feeling. 

Angie Cottrell

Sister Susan Tibbitts

 Family Search Data Service Mission

My service mission is the North America Family Search Support Mission. We answer English speaking email requests from all over the world. My specific duties in answering email requests are with reservation issues, 110 requests and Dead to Living requests. I am also on a special indexing project preparing records for AI to index. We are always having to learn new programs and methods which keeps me on my toes, and sometimes on my back side, but Heavenly Father always seems to pick me back up and help me learn what is expected of me. Dean and I started this mission in 2013. I love it and just keep extending one year at a time. I love how kind everyone is and how patient they are when I make mistakes. It is truly the environment I think the Savior created when He was here on earth.