Letter from Spokane Mission President

June 21, 2019

Dear Brother and Sister Cannon,

I was pleased to welcome your daughter, Sister Cannon to the Washington Spokane Mission this week. I’m happy to report that she arrived safely. I had the privilege of meeting and associating with her the day of her arrival and note that it is evident that she comes with a great desire to serve Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Sister Cannon understands the role of the Holy Ghost in accomplishing the work here in the Washington Spokane Mission and has committed to live worthy of that power.

  

After prayerful consideration, I have called Sister Petersen to serve as Sister Cannon’s companion in the area. It is our objective to call only the best missionaries to serve as trainers and I believe that your daughter is in excellent training hands. We expect that your missionary will serve in this area for the next 6 to 12 weeks as she begins her mission.

  

                             

I have enclosed photographs of your missionary and assure you that Sister Thompson and I will love Sister Cannon. Our great desire is that her time here will further establish her on the path of righteousness, as well as bless the many people she will serve.

Attached are the new updated recommended guidelines we have for parents.  These guidelines are based on many years of accumulated missionary experience, especially those guidelines concerning personal contact with your missionary. Sister Cannon needs your good example. I sincerely request that you consider them for the benefit of your daughter and her fellow missionaries.

The mission has a Facebook page where you can see what is happening in the mission. Go to:       Washington Spokane Mission - President Thompson 2018-2021

You may send mail to your daughter at: 820 South Pines Rd, #101, Spokane Valley, WA  99206

                                                           

Sincerely,

  

Michael A. Thompson

Washington Spokane Mission President

 SUGGESTED GUIDELINES FOR PARENTS OF MISSIONARIES

v  Please write to your missionary weekly.  Missionaries still look for letters even though they get e-mail, so please don’t forget these.  They are so disappointed when they go to the mail and there is none for them.  Your encouragement is vital.

v  Please do not visit your missionary.  The after-effect usually creates homesickness and other distractions, as well as being unfair to the missionary’s companion. Please also discourage extended family from visiting.

v  Please do not call your missionary.  If an emergency arises, please call the mission office or the mission president.  The office phone number is 509-924-8932.  President Dymock’s number is 509-294-6804.

v  Updating Contact Information:  The Washington Spokane Mission (WSM) has an emergency preparedness plan. In the event we need to contact you for any reason, current information is required... The first response to any WSM emergency would be to use email to all missionary parents. If you don’t have email, then you would receive a phone call.  Please contact the mission to update your mailing address, your email address and/or phone number, or medical insurance coverage. The mission secretary can be reached by email at 2011565@ldschurch.org or call 509-924-8932.  Also, please notify us if there is a change in your Bishop or Branch President. We request you contact us with the name of the ward or branch and bishop’s full name, mailing address, phone number(s) and email if available.  This will allow us to keep our correspondence accurate and timely. 

v  Medical expenses:  Treatment of conditions existing prior to the mission must be paid for by the family.  Dental work, eyeglasses and hearing aids are not paid for by any Church funds. Any medical expenses occurring during the mission will be billed to your insurance as primary, and to the Missionary Medical Program as secondary. We trust you have received the information regarding this program.  If you have not, or if you have benefit questions, please call Missionary Medical at 1-800-777-1647.

v  Mail:  We want the missionaries to receive their mail as rapidly as possible.  You may, therefore, wish to send mail directly to their apartments.  This works well except when missionaries transfer, which occurs every 6 weeks.  You are always welcome to send their mail directly to this office.  Our address is:  820 South Pines Road Suite 101, Spokane Valley, WA 99206.  Be sure to include the first name of your missionary.  Missionaries love packages from home but they do get tired of candy.  Ingredients for simple, one pan meals make a nice change.

v  Picking up your missionary:  If you should decide to come to the mission field to pick up your missionary at the end of his or her mission, please notify the mission secretary at least 4 months in advance.  Flight arrangements are made three months before departure and once scheduled there is a $150 penalty for cancellation. You can reach her at the mission office by email at 2011565@ldschurch.org or by phone at 509-924-8932.  NOTE: Please do not visit other missionaries in the mission before or after you pick up your missionary.  A Church-wide policy discourages this practice.

Thank you for your cooperation