August 30, 2016
Dear Brother and Sister Smith,
What a joy it was for us to welcome Sister Makenzie Smith to the Arizona Mesa Mission. She will be a great addition to the mission and we feel honored to serve together with her.
Attached is a photograph of your missionary that was taken just hours after her arrival. Following a brief “Welcome Meeting”, we enjoyed a nice lunch and some orientation to Arizona Mesa Mission procedures. I personally interviewed Sister Smith and sought inspiration in order to best match her with her first companion.
The first several weeks in the mission field can be very challenging. Adjusting to missionary life requires that each missionary learn to manage new and difficult physical, emotional, social, intellectual, and spiritual demands. Each missionary must learn important principles and skills for managing stress. We will help Sister Smith make this transition as smoothly as possible. Your help and support is also needed and appreciated.
The frequency and content of your emails and letters to your missionary will assist in this adjustment. We encourage you to email or write once a week. It is not wise to include information that will cause homesickness or excessive worry about life at home. Please focus on subjects that are uplifting, supportive, and encouraging. Always inspire her to have faith, to be obedient and to serve with unselfishness and consecration. The quality and quantity of your communications will have a dramatic effect on your missionary either as a blessing or a detriment to her service.
Thank you for your prayers and support in her behalf. May the Lord bless you and your family for your sacrifice and for her faithful service.
Sincerely,
Lonny E. Townsend
President, Arizona Mesa Mission
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