President Stratford's Email to the Mission

Sisters & Elders,

           I am grateful to each of you for showing you faith through fasting and prayer on behalf of Sister Stratford and me. We are seeing slight improvement in the paralysis in my face and I feel great otherwise. The Lord is truly blessing and sustaining us.

           It is an unprecedented time in the world and in the church. We are receiving updates every day. Policies and procedures continue to be adjusted to protect our missionaries and church members. I feel as though this event may be taking its toll on many of you. I assure you that the Lord is in charge, and he will direct his prophet and apostles to lead us in the proper way. I invite you to consider this as a method the Lord is using to humble his children that they might listen to his missionaries, and hear the gospel of Jesus Christ. This is the time to be bold and urgent in declaring the Lord's message to everyone. Always remember our purpose as missionaries is to invite and help people come unto Christ. Do not fear or shy away from regular missionary work every day. I promise you will feel the Lord blessing you as you go forward with Faith!! I have been asked about missionaries using church buildings. Even though we are not holding sacrament meetings you may continue to use church buildings in the same way as you have always done. 

         Here is the latest corona virus instruction:  First thing Monday morning go to the grocery store and purchase items that you may use in the unfortunate case you are quarantined for a two week period or more. We have asked you to do this earlier and now we are insisting that you go and do it. Purchase items such as: canned soup, ramen noodles, pasta, tuna fish, beef jerky, canned fruit, pancake mix and other non food items needed. The mission will put $15.00 additional dollars on each missionaries card tomorrow. This is the amount you are authorized to spend. The funds will not be available until Tuesday but you should have your Bi-monthly funding that can be used on Monday.

       We are so grateful that missionary work continues. There were 4 Baptisms in our mission this week.
Columbus Zone:
        Noelia Lopea  -  Taught by the Franklin 1 Sisters
        Johnny Jones -   Taught by the Scioto Elders & Sisters 
Columbus East Zone:
        AJ Williams  -      Taught by the Newark Sisters
Youngstown Zone:
       Wilfredo Vargus-Sanchez  -  Taught by the Ashtabula Sisters

        We expect to receive direction for sacrament meeting attendance this week. I will let you know as soon as I find out. We will continue with interviews via zoom this week. We look forward to being with you. Let's all show our Heavenly Father that we love Him and trust Him by being obedient to mission standards and diligent and urgent in the work.

       We Love you and are so grateful to be serving with you.

       Sending our Love,  President & Sister Stratford