My nephew recently arrived in the country where he will be spending the next (almost) two years (minus the time he spent in the Missionary Training Center) as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

It brings back tender feelings as I read his letter about not being able to speak the language and wanting so desperately to be able to communicate fully all that the gospel of Jesus Christ means to him. It’s an interesting irony that new missionaries in foreign countries are so limited in the words they can say and understand. But that’s why the letter I received meant so much.

The person who wrote had been a teacher and coach in junior high and we’d kept in touch during the years. (Her nickname was ‘B.’) To this day, over 20 years later, I’m still moved by the fact that she had the foresight and love to have a letter waiting for me when I arrived in Argentina. She’d also served a mission in a Latin American country and knew how much I would love the people and how much love I would feel from them. But she also knew what a transition it can be for a new missionary.

I still have this Aerogram. It’s priceless to me. I’m sad to say that I didn’t have the foresight to send something like it to my nephew, but in his honor, I wanted to share what my dear friend shared with me.  (And now, dear nephew, there are more than twice the number of people praying for you!)

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