Dear Parents and Leaders -
Sister Newman and I are so very grateful for all you do to
support and sustain your missionaries, while they serve their God. Your
generous gifts were such a blessing to so many missionaries here in the West
Virginia Charleston Mission. Sister Newman and I and our Senior Couples enjoyed
spreading a little Christmas cheer, thanks to your support. The Sisters and Elders now have a renewed
sense of what Christmas is all about.
The Lord’s work presses forward in this part of the Lord’s
vineyard. Although some missionaries may feel from time to time they are in
captivity, nothing could be farther from the truth. They may go outside, teach
lessons at the church, attend sacrament meeting, exercise outside, shop and
visit members and friends as long as they remain outside. They are blessing the
lives of so many good people. As missionaries surrender to God’s will and
timing, they are used as instruments in His hands to gather Israel as He
hastens the work during this global pandemic.
Here are a few facts that substantiate the progress being
made by all who serve here. Through faith in Jesus Christ and relentless
effort, your sons and daughters have achieved their baptismal goal for the
remaining four months of last year. We found and taught 1020 new people in Sept
and Oct. They contacted 8015 people on Dec 19th, a day of contacting. They will
have 19 baptisms this month of January and that is a 1 year high for a single
month and that puts the month of January 2021 in the top 17% for the last 36
months. We taught 155 new people last
week and had 88 friends attend sacrament. Both totals for these indicators are
record setting. We have a goal to baptize 25 people in March and that goal,
when achieved, will be a three year high for a single month. We are planning a
day of purposeful invitations on 30 January 2021. Our goal is to have 3000
meaningful invitations. The invitations may include setting a date for baptism,
inviting a friend to a lesson, inviting someone to church, inviting someone to
receive their patriarchal blessing and other purposeful invitations. We could
not be more pleased for all the terrific efforts leading to these
accomplishments.
On another note, I failed to notify all of you of a change
in missionary communication that took place in early December. Better late than
never!
Missionaries are blessed to have weekly communication with
you through letters, emails, text messages, online messaging, phone calls, and
video chat. With love and gratitude for your flexibility, we are now
reemphasizing the standard of weekly communication found in Missionary
Standards for Disciples of Jesus Christ. As noted in the handbook, your
missionary should initiate all text message conversations, online messaging,
phone calls, and video chats on his or her preparation day. Should you need to
contact your missionary first, however, please contact the mission president
beforehand. We are deeply thankful for you and the wonderful support you give
your missionary.
One final update regarding missionaries traveling to their
originally assigned missions. Sister Newman and I have been so blessed to serve
with so many internationally assigned missionaries. Upon our arrival, the
mission did not include one set of missionaries assigned to speak a non-English
language. What a joy it has been to hear missionaries pray in so many different
languages. We’ve tried our best to create virtual study groups for language
study and I must report that many are making tremendous progress learning the
language of their original mission assignment. Most of our African assigned
missionaries have departed and are now serving in African countries. In limited
numbers, some missionaries assigned to Chile, Brazil, Italy, Japan and Mexico
have departed. Some days Sister Newman and I feel like a mini MTC as we ensure
that vaccinations, COVID tests, visas, passports and other records are complete
for each departing missionary. We still have over 100 missionaries awaiting
their countries to open. Nevertheless, the vast majority of them have both feet
well planted in this mission. God bless them all.
We love your missionaries and we are so very grateful to
serve with them at this time and in this place.
God bless you and Hurrah for Israel!
President Robert H and Sister Sherry Newman
West Virginia Charleston Mission
