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.
Elder Tyler Moore New Mexico Farmington
April 13, 2026
Not gonna lie, this last week has been a tough week. It seems that most people forgot how to open doors this week. One lady even accidentally locked the door on us and walked away! So the next lesson we gonna teach is how to open a door. Even the people who do remember how to open doors say it is too windy and come back later. I don't blame them for this cause the wind gets absolutely crazy all the way up to 60 mph winds with dirt flying in your face as you are walking, but still. The other thing that happened was we had a baptism happening last Sunday and I was so excited for it cause they're just the coolest people ever and I thought they were totally prepared, but I underestimated the power of my greatest enemy. Coffee. For those who don't know, members of the church aren't allowed to drink coffee, and its never been a problem for me (cause it tastes like a pile of cat turds) but for this family they LOVE coffee. We thought that we had gotten them dedicated to not drinking anymore, but it was just too delicious to them. We're gonna keep trying and they will come around. Navajo culture: something cool about out here is that there are people out here called a medicine man. What they do is basically heal people in their traditional ways and lead the ceremonies. They are really interesting people, and I swear they know something the rest of us don't know. One time, one of the people we were teaching got in an accident and people were trying to find where he was and a medicine man predicted exactly where he was. And another time we were teaching one of the medicine men and he told us that if you jab a fire stick (the stick you use to tend to the fire) then it would make the wind dissappear. The crazy thing was he demonstrated it, jabbed the fire stick at the wind then after a few seconds the wind disappeared. So I don't know what he knows, but somehow it worked so I don't know. Maybe he's a wizard. Elder Moore
Sister Gracyn Decker Nevada Las Vegas West
January 27, 2026
Hey everyone! I literally hit one year today, WHICH IS CRAZY! ALOT has happened... We had transfers and I'm FIRST TRANSFER TRAINING! Her name is Sister Tugaga, and she's from New Zealand! She's awesome, and is loving it here! UPDATES: ā¢ OUR FRIEND PARNIA GOT BAPTIZED YESTERDAY. She has been taught since the Summer, and has been waitinggg for this day. It went so well. The ward really pulled through, and we had a full room! She shared her testimony at the end, and it was so pure. I'm so happy for her! ā¢ I stayed in my area for another transfer, which I was happy about! Definitely was sad to see Sis Latu go, but she's in the zone right next to me, so I'll see her around! ā¢ I'm still an STL, which has been fun, but also super stressful. š We got a lot of new sisters this past transfer, which means each STL companionship is over 5 companionships. So we have like 2 exchanges a week, WHICH IS CRAZYYY! ā¢ We had a Zone Conference for the youth in the valley, and it was awesome! We had a huge turnout. Me and another sister got to teach a station on priesthood authority, which I was a little nervous about. But it went great. The youth in Vegas are SO AWESOME!! ā¢ We street contacted a guy named Jay the other day, and he is so cool! We had a church tour and he loved it! He had so many great questions. He said he's been looking for a church community. ā¢ A few transfers ago, when I was in Summerlin. We would go over and read to a lady named Kathy who had Parkinsonās disease. Sadly, she past away a few weeks ago, but me and my old companion ,Sister Mal, got to go to her memorial. It was so sweet. And it was so good to see her husband David again! I think those are my biggest updates! The mission is going so well! Can't believe I come home in July. š± LOVE YOU ALL! ā¤ļø Sister Decker https://photos.app.goo.gl/JpyWx518Ue9GnuWE6
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. āElder Ellis
Elder Hermann Lang New Hampshire Manchester
June 22, 2026
I am on my final week as a missionary! And then I'll fly back home to Texas because my family moved there so bye bye Utah fam. I'll come and visit sometime. Anyways here is my "Golden Truth" which is a talk departing missionaries give to the whole mission....I wasn't able to voice record mine unfortunately but I have it written out and I stuck to it for about 90% when I spoke so it works : Alright, Iāll keep this short. I know the definition of āshortā gets stretched in church, so I promise Iām not about to preach for 45 minutes. Let me paint a picture of my last 2 years and what a lot of it looked like....i hope i dont scare any of the new missionaries The past couple years there have been guns pulled on me. Knives pulled on me. Drinks thrown on me. I have been spit on. Even cursed by witches...and I donāt mean some wannabe with purple or green hair witches.... I mean actual, robes, candles, weird chanting witches. Chased by satanists. That one sounds made up until youāre literally sprinting.... Bashed by every religion you can name, and a few that you canāt. Months in a row where āsuccessā was just me having made it to church that week. Even had plenty injuries that were the cherry on the top. If the last 2 years were a movie, itād be rated R. For violence, language, and poor life decisions that werenāt mine. It was hell. Not ātraffic was hell.ā Actual, knock-on-your-door, test-your-faith hell. But hereās the thing hell taught me. And itās not what you think. Hell can be annoying to have around, but itās an incredible teacher. No wonder our Heavenly Father allows us to go through our personal Hell wether physical or mental....in doing so we learn to recognize him See, when everything big explodes, your brain stops looking for big things. It canāt. Itās too tired. So it gets sharp. It gets weird. It starts noticing the small stuff. Because the small stuff is all thatās left, and somehowā¦ the small stuff is enough. I couldnāt count wins for like months on end. So I changed the math. Win = I woke up. Both lungs working. Got all my limbs. No hospital bracelet. Thatās a win. Win = I went to sleep knowing 1 person told me "you are doing a good thing". Thatās a win. Win = I drank water and it didnāt taste like regret. Thatās a win. Iām not being dramatic. Iām being honest. When youāve had a knife pointed at you, a glass of cold water hits different. When youāve been chased, a quiet street feels like a blessing. When youāve been cursed at, someone saying āgood morningā feels like a miracle. And the biggest small thing? People. I didnāt bring thousands to Christ. I didnāt fill stadiums. Iām not a TED Talk guy. But I got to bring a few people 1% closer. One conversation in a parking lot. One text during conracting. One āmy friend, youāre not crazy for wanting to believe.ā If you only measure your life by stadium moments, youāll think your life is empty. But if you measure by 3-second momentsā¦ your life is packed. Most miracles donāt come with trumpets. Most miracles come with meals that didnāt suck. A friend who answered the phone. A sunrise you didnāt earn but got anyway. Legs that carried you even though they were tired. A Bible verse that showed up right when you needed to hear it. Iām not here to sugar coat it all. The guns were real. The knives were real. The witches were real. Satanists do not cardio like you think they do. It sucked. Iām not gonna put glitter on garbage. But I am gonna tell you what gratitude did. Gratitude is louder than cursing. Gratitude is sharper than knives. Gratitude is the superpower you unlock when life tries to strip you down to nothing. Because when you have nothing, you finally see that ānothingā was never true. You still had breath. You still had a bed. You still had Jesus. You still had one person you could help. So hereās my challenge, and Iām saying this as a guy who looks like he laughs at everything because I kinda do: Stop waiting for the āsomedayā miracle. The healing. The breakthrough. The check in the mail. Start collecting the tiny ones. The breath. The bed. The one person. The fact that youāre still here, still listening, still trying. Because if I can stand here, still goofy, still sharp, still grateful after guns, knives, witches, satanists, and every religion on Earth trying to dunk on meā¦ then you can be grateful on a random Tuesday. The last 2 years tried to teach me that life is fragile. Gratitude taught me that life is full. Iām still standing. Still laughing. Still believing. Still counting the small things like theyāre gold. Because they are. I testify the church is true and i am blessed to have had the opportunity to share that with the people of New England as I have come to believe it myself Thanks for listening(or readin). Now go hug somebody, drink some water, and notice one tiny miracle in the name of Jesus Christ....amen There you go...if you are all the way down here that means you a real one for reading all that....if you want to keep in contact even tho im not coming back to Utah I would love to hear from you! So please reach out The mish was worth it! Loves. Elder Lang https://photos.app.goo.gl/xwrpqzfrrNubxjNU9
Elder Jackson Sanders Finland Helsinki
May 12, 2026
Morriesta Kaikille! First off HAPPY MOTHERS DAY ā¤ļøāš©¹ā¤ļøāš©¹što my amazing mom and Grandma and all the other motherly figures to me in my life! According the GOAT Jeffery R Holland, the love our mothers share with us is the closest thing to the love that Christ has for us. hit and run On Wednesday while walking towards a tram stop on the very outskirts of town, coming back from a lesson, we heard yelling and arguing and saw this drunk man begin to punch and push this guy onto the floor. The drunk man continues to punch this other man while he is down and obviously not punching back. We are about 300 ft away. My instinct is to run to go help but Wallin stops me and says, does he have a gun? That scared me enough to look back and not go help the guy on the ground. Thankfully, about 30 seconds later, the drunk guy gets in the car and drives off. The people behind us on the sidewalk call the police and go help out the dude on the ground. I guess drunk men dont hit very hard cus he just had a bloody nose and was just overall surprised. He was just a passerby and supposedly bumped into the drunk mans wife. But yeah crazy story I didn't know Finnish people could ever be that mean š¤Æš¤Æ This week was a great week! S/O Stoddard for arriving here in the promised land S/O American Ranch S/O CICI!!! happy birthday to my wonderful sister! ššš„³š she's the best! Her sassy comments were very much missed this week. S/O this random parkour guy we found who is changing his name to Valo S/O koulu esitys, I am not sad that was the last one we have. Only 4 kids showed up S/O Isaks daughter Tilda drawing me a picture š S/O chill new Tamp quad S/O Elder bell and strong breaking records in Lohja S/O Makkara S/O gospel pics and lock screens and quotes- send me your favorite one šš Hebrews 12:11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/heb/12?lang=eng&id=p11#p11 I love this scripture so much. Almost never are our trials and rough days fun or joyous at all. The lord promises us that if we are righteous through those times then we will receive peace. I don't know what that will look like in your life but I know that i have seen the peaceable fruit come from my rough days. Rakastan teitƤ paljon ja rukoilen puolestanne Veli Sanders PHOTOS: https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipOU_FPFL8IiTv4KoP8fl4hmWygHf8BVGUiOamRR-ngH1zPp2230AIkZyDxKsL_EtA?pli=1&key=dlpuSG9CVmxrSENZZDM4RFB3MEtQdURnYnY1d1dB
Elder Max Lewis Arizona Tucson
June 16, 2026
Hello friends and family. I miss you all so much. I am doing so good out here in Tucson. The Heat is real. I do not remember it being this hot last year.... We get a polar pop every single day. 44-oz whatever you want, 75 cents. The work is unreal right now. My companions are some of the best teachers I have been with on the mission. We have a couple of people progressing and coming to church consistently. All of them have been miracles from God on how we have found them and continued teaching them. I can't take any credit. We have tried to teach bold, plain, and simple, and with love. I love reading the Book of Mormon with my friends rather than telling them of gospel principles. They feel the spirit when they are sincere. "The Book of Mormon contains the fulness of the gospel." I have such a strong testimony of the Book of Mormon and Jesus Christ. Everything else falls into place because of that. Times are definitely hard every day and there are a lot of difficulties, but Jesus is definitely by my side. I know it. Life is hard, but you can still enjoy it. I love my companions right now. Mathews and Bascom. Mathews is hilarious and reminds me of my brother Jeff a little bit, and Bascom keeps us in check, but also has a blast. I love you all. I am praying for you. The horse is prepared for battle, but victory comes from the Lord. The above photo is Mateo. Mateo is getting baptized this week with his two older sisters! I love you all! āļøElder Lewis
Elder Tyler Birchall Ecuador Quito
June 22, 2026
Hello! How's it going? https://photos.app.goo.gl/kXHHHr1DAM4t7H4cA We had such a miracle filled week. Found like 4 part member families who are interested in coming back to church, are in solid communication with all of them, got to see a baptism or two, and the members are being so helpful. Two things, planning and talking to everybody. Every miracle has come from diligence in those two things. I want to talk about my friend Carlos. He was already in teaching when I got here, is very old, a bit frail, works a full time job, and has kept every invitation we've extended him. Coffee, come to church, commandments, he does it all. But thats not important. For several reasons, I don't think I have ever met anybody who's had a greater need to be baptized, in terms of the promised blessings. He's been alone for decades, cries when he prays, always humble, always thankful, the point I want to make is that there are people out there, needy and suffering, who need to hear the gospel now. One of the greatest privileges of my life is to be included in this work. Your actions now could bring to another person salvation from the pains of this world and lasting happiness to someone who God loves and wants to help very much. Alma 29:9 "I know that which the Lord hath commanded me, and I glory in it. I do not glory of myself, but I glory in that which the Lord hath commanded me; yea, and this is my glory, that perhaps I may be an instrument in the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance; and this is my joy." This is their joy too. Love you all. āElder Birchall https://photos.app.goo.gl/kXHHHr1DAM4t7H4cA
Elder Jason Moore Philippines Urdaneta
June 22, 2026
Two weeks ago was transfers! And we would find out if we were going to stay in our mission or if we were going to get transferred to the new mission (Lingayen) or stay in The Urdaneta mission. I'm going to Lingayen so I'll be one of the first missionaries in the new Mission! š„³ I also happen to be in San Carlos where the mission office is at š with all the construction still going on. š They announced our transfer information suuuuper late so we didn't even known until the night before we were to leave. I even said goodbye to all my friends and members expecting it to be my last testimony to them. I'm staying for a third cycle! Cool little miracle. I chatted with this brother at a waiting shed and shared with him a little message. (Mosiah 3:7-10, Revelations 21:3-4) He was busy so I never figured out where his house was and wasn't able to get any contact information so I thought that was it. But then while going to an appointment close by the waiting shed, he drove by on his motorcycle and immediately turned around and drove up to us. (He drove on the wrong side of the road on the sidewalk btw. š) Then he lead us to his house and his mom. We taught him the Plan of Salvation and they said they would come on Sunday! (They didn't come, but they said "sorry" and that they would come next week.) So many cool teachings this week. The spirit was so strong. Brother William came to church š„³š„³š«Ø, Sister Melody (She just gave birth like a week ago so she couldn't come, her kid is adorable tho), Sister Cloudy, Sister Sam, Sister Rosey Other stuff -Tried Cocolate š«fruit on Saturday (that's not the real name, but I can't remember the true name) it was okay. š¤·āāļø -Had my last interviews with the President before the transfers. š¢š«” - Translated at church for the senior couple the Mackleys. -Finally finshed the D&C so i have read the entire BOM for the 7th time, Bible, Pearl of Great Price and D&C. So I was pretty happy with my knowledge of the gospel until I got dunked on by this 10-year-old (son of a Baptist Pastor think š). He basically goes around and challenges all the missionaries he sees to make sure their doctrine of salvation is correct or he would (and I quote), "Rebuke them" š. But he admits our doctrine is sound tho. š¤·āāļø -Spiritual thought- One of my favorite scripture verses that I rediscoved recently, that really connects with me is this. I sometimes share a story with some of my interested friends how I was comforted one rainy day by the spirit after a particularly rough week of college where I felt like I didn't really have any hope of passing my classes or continuing on my Cross Country team. That day as I was driving home after a long day of school, I decided to stop by my institute class, where I basically just collapsed on a desk too stressed to even listen to what Brother Evans (my teacher) was saying. I was suddenly just filled with the spirit which whispered to my heart, "It will be okay" and suddenly felt it was true, I didn't know why. I didn't know how. Nothing changed about my situation, but I just somehow knew "it would be okay". Which leads me this verse. (Revelations 21:3-4) 3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 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 Hidalgoāit 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 Ā”Feliz Navidad a todos! Perdon por no haber escrito en mucho tiempo. Un pequeƱo resumen: me fui de Rockport en mayo y fue un gran tiempo. PasĆ© el verano en Hidalgo y fue aĆŗn mejor. Ahora estoy en el pueblo de Kingsville. Espero que todos tengan una gran Navidad y sientan el mismo espĆritu 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 aquĆ, Ć©l sufre los dolores de todos los hombres, sĆ, los dolores de toda criatura viviente, tanto hombres como mujeres y niƱos, que pertenecen a la familia de AdĆ”n" Testifico del Salvador y de Su misiĆ³n aquĆ en la tierra. Redimir a toda la humanidad y sufrir nuestros dolores para que podamos regresar a vivir con nuestro Padre Celestial. RompiĆ³ las cadenas de la muerte y la plenitud de su Evangelio estĆ” una vez mĆ”s en la tierra. Ćl es el regalo de nuestro Dios del que toda la humanidad puede recibir libremente. "Y ahora quisiera exhortaros a buscar a este JesĆŗs de quien han escrito los profetas y apĆ³stoles, a fin de que la gracia de Dios el Padre, y tambiĆ©n del SeƱor Jesucristo, y del EspĆritu Santo, que da testimonio de ellos, estĆ© y permanezca en vosotros para siempre jamĆ”s. AmĆ©n." ~Ćter 12 https://photos.app.goo.gl/1GcNvj5bswD2XiRb6
Elder Ethan Leavitt Singapore
November 1, 2025
Iāve 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. Itās kind of challenge to figure out who we can teach and who we cannot. Ā· Iāve been to two funerals deep in the jungle at 3:00 a.m. and even dedicated the grave in one of them Ā· The local culture sacrifices chickens at funerals. I wasnāt prepared for that. Itās happened at both church funerals. Ā· Every time we go to zone conference or on transfers we fly on airplanes. Ā· Been fed so much great food by members of the Church Ā· Times I've seen or had the opportunity to use toilet paper: three Ā· 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 Ā· Stickers and fist bumps given out to kids: a lot, but not enough Ā· Times daily people shout "Hey bro" in a Malaysian accent to the white guys on bikes: 6 Ā· 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. ā Elder Ethan Leavitt