A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

 Dear Parents,

 
Greetings from the Missouri Independence Mission.  I hope to periodically write a letter to all of you to report on the mission.  I know you get some information from your children but this may give a big picture view.  Sister Ames and I prayed and fasted that we would be filled with love for each and every missionary.  I can say that I have felt that love for these wonderful missionaries.  As you are likely aware, we have a large number right now.  We have 231 currently and will be getting 35 new ones in two weeks.  We will be sending 10 home so a net increase of 25 missionaries that will put us at 257.  It has been a joy to get to know each of them. 
 
It is good I am writing as I get a little emotional when I talk to people about this band of missionaries serving here in the center place of Zion during a global pandemic.  I am happy to report, that to date, we have not had a single missionary test positive for the COVID-19 virus (knock on wood).  We have had many scares and have had to quarantine a number of them for a time due to some exposure of one kind or another.  Missionaries are still restricted from tracting, street contacting, and teaching in the homes of people they teach.  They are also not allowed to eat inside a member’s home.  They have been able to eat outside a member’s home but sadly, the weather is cooling off a little too much for that to be comfortable.   They are allowed short meetings in member homes where all involved are masked up.  Sister Ames and I have a serious focus on keeping the missionaries safe as well as those with whom they meet.
 
The work itself is moving ahead in a big way.  We no longer feel too restricted with the pandemic.  We are finding more effective ways to find and teach people that will ultimately hasten the work.  It is not likely we will go back to the old methods much.  Tracting may be a thing of the past.  We do best when we work with members to find people and this is happening more than ever before.  This is a result of the pandemic.  We manage 17 Facebook pages in the mission right now and we run ads on those pages which have proven to be successful.  We have miracles reported around the mission every day.  For the first few months, the finding process was very hard on missionaries and mainly focused on them getting on Facebook and trying to connect with people.  It was long, boring and difficult.  We now have some organized efforts around using Facebook pages and ways to better engage the members.   Our teaching pools are generally up as are the spirits of the missionaries.  The COVID clouds are parting and we can see the sun.   Missionary work in the future will be some much better than before.  These missionaries will likely need to do very few outdoor things during the cold weather months.  So, we are seeing happier, busier and more productive missionaries than we did just two months ago.  I must say it is really impressive to see all they can do on just a phone, they are all pretty amazing.
 
We consider it a great honor to serve with your sons and daughters.  They are truly among the very elect of God.  I am confident that the Lord Jesus Christ is fulfilling His commitment to watch over them and protect them.  We feel the power of Christ each day in this work.  Thanks for helping to prepare these wonderful missionaries to serve the Lord.
 
Warmest regards,
 
Lynn J Ames
President
Missouri Independence Mission
816-830-3604

 

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