Gathering Israel: Updates from Our Missionaries
Enjoy the latest from our Orem Hillcrest Stake full-time missionaries serving around the world. Fresh updates appear as we hear from them.
Sister Victoria Daughetee, Maryland Baltimore
December 15, 2025
Has it really come to an end? Tbh it doesn't feel like it lolll. I don't think it's going to hit me until I walk off the plane. Flicks: https://photos.app.goo.gl/RDYcDkyz8XriWuas6 Monday: ☆ ayyy a normal pros day. Half of our day was filled up w weekly planning and studies, so that was kinda nice. ☆ we had a lesson with the Auld boys. The youngest is so funny. He said the closing prayer for us. He prayed for LeBron James to have a good night 😭😭 real, cause I would pray for Justin Bieber. 🤷♀️🤷♀️ Tuesday: ☆ had DC and went to lunch at canes. They played GASSSSS music. Also played Sabrina carpenter and one of the Elders was publicly dancing and singing along 🏃♀️➡️🏃♀️➡️🏃♀️➡️ vid on my photos. Bro has no shame. ☆ had a visit with Jaime and his Mom. We brought a member from the Spanish branch who knew her when she was active 15 years ago. I could follow the convo pretty well 😎 call me a Spanish PRO. Wednesday: ☆ ayy served at SIS for my last time. 🤪 ☆ made some visits w cutie Emma Nelson. She's awesome. Her husband is the WML. We visited a referral we got that day and he was SO shocked we came so fast 😅. We be running 🏃♀️ when we see a referral. Anyways he was so elect and wants to learn more. We gave him a BofM and taught him about it. He loved it. ☆ we met a super elect guy from Turkey. His name is Oguzhan. I'm not sure how to say it. But I can type it when we text him!! 😃 he doesn't know any English. He's Muslim but want to be Christian. But we used Google translate and he said he wants to learn about Jesus Christ. He's going to be baptized fr. 2nd Muslim baptism in Clarksville???? Let's start a trend 🤑🤑🤑🤑 ☆ we had a good lesson with Thomas Kombo! We taught him the Word of Wisdom. He was funny and asked if there was any exceptions because he said sometime he likes to take 2 shots of alcohol. But never more than 2 😅🤣. He's awesome. He said he can't live it starting now, but he will start the process so he can start living the Word of Wisdom. ☆ visited with an inactive family. They are from Pakistan and made us food 😭🥲 my fav thing about people from other countries is they always have to have food when we come over. It's so cute. And I also get to try so many different kinds of food because of it. Thursday: ☆ AYYYY PDAY AND MY LAST TEMPLE TRIP!!!!! ☆ the one and only Stefani Anderson from Waynesboro came to Columbia and picked us up!!! She is seriously the best!!! She brought Sis Hall and her comp. So we all got to go together. It was seriously the best day ever! ☆ we had and appt at 10 am, but we were most definitely late... lol so we did the 10:30 appt and GUESS WHAT. Christiana Mabry, also from the Waynesboro ward was officiating!!! Hello. Tender mercies 🥰🥰🥰 ☆ Apparently all the cool people decided to go to the temple today, because we got to go to cafe rio and all of us missionaries were there. Elder Hatch and Stewart were there!!! Other friends too but none that you guys know I think. SO fun to see them again!!! 🤸♀️🤸♀️🤸♀️ ☆ Stef brought her famous cookies too. Literally Heavenly. Anyways Stef I will be facetiming you 🤪 I love you! ☆ had a zoom and signed up for my BYU classes 🤯🤯🤯 how is this real??? ☆ accidentally had 2 dinners tonight. We had our member meal, and then we had a lesson with Ethan, (he's getting baptized in Jan!!) And they ordered pizza for all of us 😭so sweet but I was FULL. Friday: ☆ today was chill. We knocked a lot 😴 which is always a great time. We walked around and chased 🏃♀️ people down of course. Met some cool people though. Saturday: ☆ my last all day prime time 😔😔 it was a phenomenal one. ☆ we went knocking with Ivy Spencer from the ward. She's a youth in the ward. She is so so sweet and the best ever! She loves missionary work. I'm gonna miss her! We did meet some cool people and she had some good experiences for her first time knocking. 🤝✊️👊 ☆ had a lesson with Jaime and Alexa at the church!!! We brought Brother Aiolupotea and his daughter Moana!! We invited Alexa to ask her mom for permission to be baptized!! 🌊 fingers crossed she says yes!!!! ☆ also found out it's supposed to snow all night and they said they might cancel church. 😞 I would be actually DEPRESSED if they canceled MY LAST SUNDAY ON THE MISSION. it's only snow you guys!!!!!! 😐 let's 🙏 pray! Sunday: ☆ WINTER WONDERLAND BABY! it's so beautiful after it snows ❄️ ☆ I was on my toes all morning waiting to see if church was canceled or not. HALLELUJAH! it wasnt!! It was just delayed an hour, so we only had 1 hour. I'm so happy I got to say bye to some people. They also had me come bear a testimony and I just wanted to cry!!!! Leaving the Lords mission is HARD! but I didn't cry. Just teared up a little. ☆ we had a lesson with Mohammed after church 🥹🥹 and I was saying bye and that I'll come back and see him and he said in his very best English "I miss you" 😭 I'll miss you too king 🤴. ☆ had a lesson with Steve. He's actually ELECT! We met him earlier this week and was so interested. We taught him the whole restoration and he LOVED IT. he really likes the name of the church. The church of JESUS CHRIST. It's Jesus's church. Not man's church. He's going to be baptized fs. ☆ stopped by the Robertsons house to say bye to them and some other people. They were having a gingerbread house night, so we got to say bye to multiple people at once!!! ☆ then we had a lesson with Michelle at Sis Greenwoods house. We did a temple square virtual tour. Eleanor Spencer is there daughter of thr Spencers in this ward, and she's serving her mission in thr SLC temple square mission. So it was fun to ask her to give the tour since we are serving in her home ward!! Well that's it. It's so sad to leave bc, one, I have major FOMO. 🥲 so many good things are happening. We are going to have some great baptisms coming soon. 😀 I have loved my mission experience and I wouldn't change it for the world. It truly molded me into the person God wants me to be. Not sure if I'm ready to leave the bubble of the MBM, but I guess we aren't ready for everything right? See you all on Wednesday!!! If you'd like to join us at the airport, text my momma. My homecoming is Jan 11, 2026. Xoxo, Sister Daughetee Signing off 🥲🥰
Sister Gracyn Decker, Nevada Las Vegas West
October 7, 2025
Hiii, okay get ready for an update! Life has been so good in Pahrump. I'm so glad my bestie Sister Parks is here. It makes it even better, we are the iconic duo. UPDATES: - We had the coolest zone conference ever! We got to show up in our pday clothes, and started by going to different stations, and heard from different senior missionaries. We also got to get blessings from our mission president which was cool! We then grouped up and went to this lookout where we got to spread out and take time studying our patriarchal blessings. It was such a cool experience! - I BUTCHERED A CHICKEN!! It was the grossest thing I have ever done. A member in our ward had 150 chickens, so all of us missionaries went over in-between sessions of general conference to help out. We cut the heads off (as they were alive), de feathered, gutted them, and cut them. I was on the verge of throwing up the whole time. - WE HAD CONFERENCE!! It was so good. We got super spoiled by members, and ate very well. Our zone also got to watch a session together which was fun! - Our mission held a get together event for all of Vegas, we hosted it in one of our church buildings, and it was awesome. We had a bunch of different stations that people could stop in like ping pong class, art class, basketball tournament, golf class, etc. Me and Sis Parks were in charge of the family history station lol. My grandparents would be so proud :) - The work is going good, we have been finding a lot of people, just trying to see who is actually interested. We sadly had to drop our friend Soni. She visited another church and was very impressed with them. - Our zone played glow-in-the-dark volleyball last pday, it was awesome! We got a light up volleyball, and we all wore glow sticks, and put lights on the net. The ZL's were team captains, and the losers had to buzz their head. Our team THANKFULLY won (not that I was the one buzzing my head buttt we had to win for him). We all got to take a turn buzzing the one elders' head haha. Spiritual Thought: My heart aches with all the craziness that is going on in the world. I was so sad when I found out President Nelson died, but it didn't hit me till we sang, "We Thank Thee Oh God for a Prophet". It was tender. Then finding out about the shooting in Michigan was just SO, SO sad, but the church has handled it so well. Mosiah 18:9 "Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life." Sister Decker
Elder Enoch Ellis, Wisconsin Milwaukee
October 20, 2025
I return from the heart of the jungle once again to make a slight communication before plunging back into the deep. Things have been good since I've last sent an email. I've been transferred away from the Madison YSA on special assignment. In Appleton, Wisconsin there is a decent population of refugees from eastern Africa. The countries of Tanzania, Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda and others. These people speak many languages, but a common tongue among them is Swahili. A year and half ago, an elder decided to learn the language so they could teach the people here. Since then 1 elder has been called from the MTC speaking Swahili. for a long time, it was just elders assigned to work the area who all learned the language in the field. Many of them didn't try very hard after the first few. The elder who was called here from the MTC had a trainer for one transfer and he didn't do much, so when transfers came around President Bailey wanted to make a change. This is where I come in. For 4 weeks now I've been back in the Appleton stake finishing (really starting) the training of the first Swahili missionary in the history of the mission. I am to example what it is to be a diligent obedient missionary. I'm also serving as the district leader. That is an amazing thing all on its own. Transfers are next Wednesday. We will get 2 more Swahili speaking missionaries from the MTC and I will train one, and my current companion will train the other. I think of it as being Helaman with my band of stripling young men. We will likely live together and do lots of cross training. The language is going well for me. God has blessed me so much in these weeks. I can teach and understand pretty well. My companion is better than me, as he's had the MTC and an entire transfer of doing 3 hours of language study per day (while his first trainer slept). He is devoted and faithful and amazing. Not many could be called to be in his situation. He may only have 2 areas his whole mission and maybe only 3 companions. He is amazing. In this district I've been reunited with old friends, and it's amazing to be back in a stake where I served for 6 months. I know all of the stake leadership and many members and still have great relationships with the members on the other side of Lake Winnabego. I got to see them at a stake event last week, that may have been the highlight of my life. The people we teach come from humble backgrounds and a Jesus-based culture. They love anything to do with the Lord Jesus Christ, so they love the Book of Mormon. Many of them also have little support or friends in the area due to the language barrier, so welcoming them into a community is a very attractive offer. We're making moves in the ward to call someone to help these good people get signed into englishconnect and BYU pathway. This will change the lives of these soon to be saints. Existing, there are 3-4 active Swahili speaking members, and each week we have a growing number at church. We will have the foundations of a branch laid before I go home. I'm bent on it. This missionary work is truly frontierism. Doing things that have never been done before in a way that is led by the spirit. I know this is God's work and he has prepared a way. The progress in these weeks is nothing short of miraculous. It's amazing what God can do with will hearts and able hands. I will come home fluent, so I'll need to make some friends I can practice with when I get there. Exciting things have been happening and they will only continue for the next 4 1/2 months. I estimate I'll send 2 more emails during this time. I will try to be better, but I am content with the mass communication so far. If you'd like personal communication, please email me! I love you all. —Elder Ellis
Norm and Charlotte Johnson, SLC Temple Square
November 10, 2025
Earlier in the week I had three people from the Netherlands come into the Tabernacle. They had a lot of questions about everything. We talked about Joseph Smith and the Restoration of the Gospel, the history of the Book of Mormon, life after death, the Pioneers, Brigham Young, Temple marriage and the other things that go on in the Temple. They were extremely interested in everything. They each wanted a Book of Mormon and all the pamphlets. When I told them that we had them in Dutch they got even more excited. I went to the cabinet where the information was kept and had only 2 Books of Mormons and one incomplete set of pamphlets in Dutch. I had them read Moroni's promise in Moroni 3 thru 5 and she read it in Dutch and looked amazed and very excited. When they saw the pamphlets one of the men said, "I have seen this on my grandmother's kitchen table. Two of your young men came to her house and gave it to her." It was so great to hear that they had also seen the Missionaries in their area. They were planning to go to the Museum and I had a couple of hours left on my shift at the Tabernacle so I told them that if they would come back by after they saw the Museum, I would get the rest of the information for them (in Dutch) from the Conference Center and have it at the Tabernacle when they returned. I got the information that I had promised them and was kind of excited to get it to them so I went to the Museum to find them and give it to them. I went through all of the Museums but could not find them. Then I went to Family Search and looked on every floor but could not find them. I hurried back to the Tabernacle to see if they had returned. They were not there either. By that time it was about 2:30 pm and our shift at the Tabernacle ended at 3:00 pm. I was feeling kind of disappointed and was afraid they had lost interest or run out of time and left Temple Square and I had not been able to get them the information that I had promised. They had been gone a few hours and had not returned. I continued to watch until about 2:50 pm and still had not seen them. I really felt bad and said a quick prayer that they were still around and would come back before I left. At about 2:55 pm they were still not there and the senior couple that was coming to take our place had arrived so I took them aside and explained the situation so if the people came back they could get the information to them. Just as I was finishing my explanation, they walked into the Tabernacle. I immediately took the information to them and talked for a moment about their visit to the museum and the things that they felt. They loved what they saw and especially the video of the First Vision. They were very excited and asked if they could take a picture with me. As they got ready to leave one man turned to me and said, "you have changed our lives". I was so happy that they had come. I know it wasn't me but the Holy Ghost that had helped them feel and understand what they had seen and heard. I hope you enjoy hearing about our experiences. We will send you more later. Elder and Sister Johnson
Elder Hermann Lang, Manchester New Hampshire
September 8, 2025
It's been forever since I sent an email. I don't lke writing emails but figured I'd give a small update. By the way, probably won't be another one until around my last transfer ... maybe. Anyways, transfers are coming up. I'm getting yet another son. 👶🏻 I'll meet him later this week. It'll be lit, I love training. I've been in Sanford, Maine and it's been tough ... Just knocking and walking 'round and finding each day all day. Talkin to maybe 1 or 2 people by the end of the day that simply say no or yell at us (haha). But I love Jesus or at least wanna keep showing it so I've keep waking up and going out each day. Having another son will liven things up too and something about new missionaries brings in blessings and new inspiration so I'm hoping we can see some miracles this coming transfer. Anyways, these following verses help me persevere and be grateful for the trials and challenges. I might be teaching no lessons or talkin to barely any people and having no one at church despite my efforts for a long time now, but that's okay. It at least continues to help me learn and grow. And what I have learned is that the reason any challenge or trial sucks and weighs you down is because you choose to not recognize how you can learn or grow from it. And, you choose to not be grateful towards God for it. So, simply change the mindset and thank God and it'll stop being something that weighs you down and it'll become a learning experience that brings you up and high above the adversary. D&C 122:–8 "If thou art called to pass through tribulation; if thou art in perils among false brethren; if thou art in perils among robbers; if thou art in perils by land or by sea; If thou art accused with all manner of false accusations; if thine enemies fall upon thee; if they tear thee from the society of thy father and mother and brethren and sisters; and if with a drawn sword thine enemies tear thee from the bosom of thy wife, and of thine offspring, and thine elder son, although but six years of age, shall cling to thy garments, and shall say, My father, my father, why can’t you stay with us? O, my father, what are the men going to do with you? and if then he shall be thrust from thee by the sword, and thou be dragged to prison, and thine enemies prowl around thee like wolves for the blood of the lamb; And if thou shouldst be cast into the pit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the deep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good. THE SON OF MAN HATH DESCENDED BELOW THEM ALL. ART THOU GREATER THAN HE?" Here's the photo album for those that made it all the way down here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/xwrpqzfrrNubxjNU9 I'd love to hear from any of yall Loves..... au revoir....adios....tchau....bye E. Lang
Elder Max Lewis, Arizona Tucson
January 6, 2026
Whats up everybody! New year, same me! The last couple weeks have been great. Christmas as a missionary was awesome, but maybe that was only because I got to see my sister and all of her family. For Christmas, they picked us up and it was so fun to see Emily, Matt, Andie, Micah, and meet Big Beau. He is the best. Truly a Christmas miracle. We have been knocking a ton of doors and finding a lot of people. Not a lot of commitments kept, but we have still had a lot of fun and made the most of it. We were doing some service with a service missionary, and we got in an accident. It was almost really bad, but luckily no one was hurt. Feel bad tho because it was his own car. New Year's Eve was fun. The fireworks weren't too great, but its whatever. Got to call the twins and Jeff on their birthdays. I have been having some great personal studies lately. I am flying through the Book of Mormon and learning so much. I have been looking for anytime it mentions God, or Jesus Christ or any of His many names. Splendid. As you study the scriptures, your desire to share them increases. 2 Nephi 19 6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called, Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. I memorized this verse a couple days ago, I like all of Christ's names. I am so grateful for Jefferey R. Holland. His words and testimony of Jesus Christ truly have lit a fire inside of me. Go read his last general conference talk. Love you all! I am so happy to be a missionary for Jesus Christ. Bye. I love you all! Elder Lewis
Elder Tyler Birchall, Ecuador Quito
January 12, 2026
Hey everybody. Hows it going? As usual, big news from the Guallyabamba crew. This P-day we went to Olive Garden. Our waiter was named Jesus. We also went to Taco Bell. I did both in what was probably too little time. Wouldn't take it back for anything. Had a couple of very promising visits this week. Someone turned down a baptism invitation, but we've still got faith. Something wacky that happened just yesterday is that we left my comp's phone on a bus. We eventually got it back, but at around 8:30 at night. We had to use my phone for the day, but I don't have a chip. I resorted to messaging a couple of new people who didn't come to church, and actually managed a visit with somebody I otherwise wouldn't have tried for. We were a bit to the visit with planning the phone exchange, but we made it five minutes before he got home. If we weren't late, we wouldn't have managed the visit. He asked us if we could go teach his dad too, wich isn't always great news. Usually older people are either really Catholic, or have very views on religion. This man was neither. He frequently began statements with "from what I understand" and "this may not be right..." to show that he was really eager to learn. Sitting there, listening to a man in a small cement houses, living alone, praise God for sending him health, his children, and us missionaries to teach him was near painfully humbling. Talking to the branch president that morning put a nice light to that. He told us that in his mission, he recognized himself as an emissary from God, and behaved as such. Power and Authority. Thats what we have, or for the very least, that's what's given to those who strive for it in this calling. This man told us he appreciated that we taught without talking about ourselves, rather the strength of the word on its own. When we told him we had an ancient record of the prophets in the Americas, he himself began to tell us about how much sense that made. The entire visit was coated in that humble desire to learn. This man wasn't slow, or short on understanding of the teachings of Christ. All he wanted was to be able to understand the things that weren't yet made clear to him. That's the purpose of the Book of Mormon, and by extention, our purpose in sharing it. He seemed eager to "feast upon the words of Christ." The desire to make and keep commitments is a part of the character of Christ and His disciples. Christ never chased. He gave invitations and guided action. Faith without works is dead, I've said that dozens, if not hundreds of times. Act on your faith, and then be His. This week has taught me a lot about personal repentance and what grace is to us. A large part of that is the Elder Holland talks that me and my comp have been listening to nearly every day. I heard he is the most listened to church authority of all time, and that's probably my fault. Growth is a process, but it moves a lot faster when we immerse ourself in good things like this. I pray I have enough time here for that. I love you all, have a good week, or year. Whatever you prefer. Take a peek if you'd like https://photos.app.goo.gl/kXHHHr1DAM4t7H4cA With love, Elder Birchall
Elder Jason Moore, Philippines Urdaneta
January 12, 2026
Yoooo! Stuff has happened this past week! Let's goooo! Teaching started cranking up again so we got to teach like usuall again. We got 2 PBDs now! And they're both super excited. They actually want to get baptized sooner, but we haven't been able to fully teach them. 😂😅 So by the the end of the month, they'll be coming down to the water. 🥳🥳 Crazy transfers are going around in the mission so I have another brand new companion already! Elder Cypher! And he's going home at the very end of the cycle so he will be the first missionary that I "kill" here. 🥲🔪💀 It's kinda strange being with an American companion. I've always been with a Filipino so it makes things a little interesting, Some.people will literally hid from us because they think were going to speak English to them. 😅 Matthew 26: 26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. 27 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; 28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. Other A Sister acused us of wanting to change her religion this week after accepting our baptism invitation 2 months ago and was working toward it... uhh yeah that's the point... So my phone is about to die (I dropped it in water and can't charge it so bye-bye!! Love you guys!! https://photos.app.goo.gl/zMBu1tc4XNVJ8yER9 Elder Moore
Elder Keniston Turk, Texas McAllen
December 25, 2025
Merry Christmas everyone! Sorry I haven't written in a really long time. Small recap: I left Rockport back in May, it was a great time. I spent the summer on a border town called Hidalgo—it was an even a better time. Now I'm in a town called Kingsville. I hope everyone has a great Christmas and feels the same spirit I feel. That of hope and love as we remember the birth of our Saviour Jesus Christ. "He cometh into the world that he may save all men if they will hearken unto his voice; for behold, he suffereth the pains of all men, yea, the pains of every living creature, both men, women, and children, who belong to the family of Adam." I testify of the Saviour and His mission here on earth. To redeem all mankind and suffer our pains so that we may once again return to live with our Father in Heaven. He broke the bands of death and the fullness of his Gospel is once again on the earth. He is the gift from our God that all mankind can freely partake of. "And now, I would commend you to seek this Jesus of whom the prophets and apostles have written, that the grace of God the Father, and also the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost, which beareth record of them, may be and abide in you forever. Amen." ~Ether 12 https://photos.app.goo.gl/1GcNvj5bswD2XiRb6 ¡Feliz Navidad a todos! Perdon por no haber escrito en mucho tiempo. Un pequeño resumen: me fui de Rockport en mayo y fue un gran tiempo. Pasé el verano en Hidalgo y fue aún mejor. Ahora estoy en el pueblo de Kingsville. Espero que todos tengan una gran Navidad y sientan el mismo espíritu que yo siento. Ese de esperanza y amor mientras recordamos el nacimiento de nuestro Salvador Jesucristo. "Y viene al mundo para salvar a todos los hombres, si estos escuchan su voz; porque he aquí, él sufre los dolores de todos los hombres, sí, los dolores de toda criatura viviente, tanto hombres como mujeres y niños, que pertenecen a la familia de Adán" Testifico del Salvador y de Su misión aquí en la tierra. Redimir a toda la humanidad y sufrir nuestros dolores para que podamos regresar a vivir con nuestro Padre Celestial. Rompió las cadenas de la muerte y la plenitud de su Evangelio está una vez más en la tierra. Él es el regalo de nuestro Dios del que toda la humanidad puede recibir libremente. "Y ahora quisiera exhortaros a buscar a este Jesús de quien han escrito los profetas y apóstoles, a fin de que la gracia de Dios el Padre, y también del Señor Jesucristo, y del Espíritu Santo, que da testimonio de ellos, esté y permanezca en vosotros para siempre jamás. Amén." ~Éter 12 https://photos.app.goo.gl/1GcNvj5bswD2XiRb6
Elder Ethan Leavitt, Singapore
November 1, 2025
I’ve been a missionary for almost four months and in Malaysia for a little over two months! Here's a bulleted list of events and some stats from a month in Sibu Jaya, which is a small town in the middle of the Malaysian jungle. It seems like everyone in town knows us as the giant American young men who ride bicycles all over town. A majority of the town is Muslim and it is against the law to teach Muslims. It’s kind of challenge to figure out who we can teach and who we cannot. · I’ve been to two funerals deep in the jungle at 3:00 a.m. and even dedicated the grave in one of them · The local culture sacrifices chickens at funerals. I wasn’t prepared for that. It’s happened at both church funerals. · Every time we go to zone conference or on transfers we fly on airplanes. · Been fed so much great food by members of the Church · Times I've seen or had the opportunity to use toilet paper: three · Number of times I've been called "Elder Ribbit" because my last name is hard to pronounce: every time anyone tries to say Elder Leavitt · Stickers and fist bumps given out to kids: a lot, but not enough · Times daily people shout "Hey bro" in a Malaysian accent to the white guys on bikes: 6 · Times people have laughed at me for speaking Malay: 11 I am growing to love and admire the people here deeply. Very few have very much, but they don't hesitate to share what they do have. I have seen how those who know of God's love and who Jesus Christ is, are the happiest people I've met. I have learned that its the small everyday things that really are able to bring us closer to God and Christ. When we make a consistent effort to grow closer to Them and put our trust in Them, we can see that God really can bring great changes in our lives through simple means. — Elder Ethan Leavitt