Photo by Mark Daeson Tabbilos
Although she would have loved to have an in-person experience at the Missionary Training Center, Sister Tess Jones said Heavenly Father had a different plan for her as a missionary serving during the COVID-19 pandemic. It was difficult to miss out on traditional missionary experiences, she said, but she could see the miracles accomplished despite the changes.
“I totally see why Heavenly Father needed that to happen. . I wouldn’t take that back, knowing what Heavenly Father needed.”
After she completed the MTC online, she said she was released for a month while she was preparing to go out and serve. “There was certain family members I got to build really good relationships with who lived far away but came for that month.”
Photo by Laura Underwood
Photo by Laura Underwood
Current and prospective missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said despite social distancing and mandatory quarantines, they continue to share their message.
Sister missionaries Laura Underwood and Maren Lauder were both reassigned before arriving to their original calling in Hawaii. Underwood, from Arizona, said she was temporarily reassigned to the Texas Dallas West Mission for seven weeks. She said, “[I] have now been serving with sisters who were originally assigned to more missions than I can remember.” After quarantining for two weeks, Underwood said she jumped right into online missionary service.