Free resources about the New Hampshire Manchester Mission:
- Mission address and phone number
- Mission map
- Video interviews with returned missionaries
- Missionary blogs
- Facebook groups
- LDS Mission t-shirts and gifts
- List of past mission presidents
- Cultural articles written by returned missionaries
- Survey with RMs
NH Manchester Mission Address
Here’s a recent address for the Manchester Mission. We try to keep this information up to date, but it’s a good idea to check the address with several sources, including your mission packet or the mission office.
New Hampshire Manchester Mission
105 Wind Song Ave
Manchester, NH 03104
Phone Number: 1-603-471-3285
Mission President: President Thomas J. Blair
NH Manchester Mission Map
Here’s a link to the mission map for the New Hampshire Manchester Mission (LDS). To access the official LDS.org map for the Manchester Mission:
Videos with NH Manchester RMs
Here are in-depth YouTube video interviews with returned missionaries from the NH Manchester Mission. We interview hundreds of returned missionaries each year, so check back regularly to see new RM interviews.
Videos about New Hampshire
Here are LDS-friendly educational videos about New Hampshire. We scoured YouTube to find the best quality videos about New Hampshire, that are free from inappropriate music, immodesty and profanity.
Videos about Vermont
Here are LDS-friendly educational videos about Vermont. We scoured YouTube to find the best quality videos about Vermont, that are free from inappropriate music, immodesty and profanity.
NH Manchester Missionary Blogs
Here’s a list of LDS missionary blogs for the NH Manchester Mission. This list includes the missionary’s name, URL and when their blog was updated.
NH Manchester Mission Groups
Here are New Hampshire Manchester Mission Groups- for LDS missionary moms, returned missionaries, mission presidents and other alumni of the Manchester Mission.
- LDS New Hampshire Manchester Mission Group (453 members)
- New Hampshire Manchester Mission Group (86 members)
- Manchester Mission- Pres. Charles Hobbs Group (64 members)
- Manchester Mission 1990-94 Group (53 members)
- New Hampshire Manchester Mission Group (51 members)
- NH Manchester Mission 1987-89 Group (38 members)
- Manchester Mission Pres. Lee Ford Hunter Group (18 members)
NH Manchester Mission T-Shirts
Here are T-shirts for the New Hampshire Manchester Mission!
Shirt designs include Manchester Mission logo/emblem shirts and Called to Serve shirts. The shirts make great gifts for pre-missionaries, returned missionaries and missionaries currently serving. LDS Mission shirts come in all sizes: Small, Medium, Large, Extra Large, up to 4XL. The mission designs are printed on white shirts and are shipped to you.
*Simply click on a shirt design to view the details and submit an order. The designs on mission t-shirts may also be printed on other LDS mission gifts, including: Manchester missionary aprons, Christmas stockings, ties, pillow cases, teddy bears and Christmas ornaments.
*Click here to browse Manchester Mission gifts
NH Manchester Mission Presidents
Here’s a list of current and past Mission Presidents of the Manchester Mission.
- 2016-2019, Thomas J. Blair
- 2013-2016, Philip M. Stoker
- 2010-2013, David L. Wilkey
- 2007-2010, Michael R. Jensen
- 2001-2007, Douglas M. Rees
- 2001-2004, Glenn A. Hansen
- 1998-2001, Lee Ford Hunter
- 1995-1998, Charles R. Hobbs
- 1992-1995, Robert James Norman
- 1989-1992, Gary Ricks
- 1987-1989, Lynn E. Thomsen
- 1985-1987, Kem C. Gardner
New England LDS Statistics (2015)
- Church Membership: 8,211 (New Hampshire), 4,646 (Vermont), 10,876 (Maine)
- Missions: 1 (New Hampshire)
- Temples: 0
- Congregations: 19 (New Hampshire), 12 (Vermont), 26 (Maine)
- Family History Centers: 6 (New Hampshire), 6 (Vermont), 11 (Maine)
Helpful Articles about New England
NH Manchester Missionary Survey
Here are survey responses from New Hampshire Manchester RMs, to give you a snapshot into what it’s like to live in the mission.
When did you serve?
- 2012-2014 (Jeremy)
- 2012-2014 (Mike & Karen)
- March 2014 – October 2015 (Melissa)
- 2014-2015 (Kathryn)
- 2014-2015 (Jessica)
- June 2013 – December 2014 (Hailey)
- May 2014 – November 2015 (Allison)
- 2013-2015 (Devin)
- 1993-1995 (Tiffani)
- 1989-1991 (Paul)
- 1988-1989 (Sarah)
- 1998-2000 (Ashlee)
Which areas did you serve in?
- Burlington, VT; Bedford, NH; Sanford, ME; and Montpelier, VT. (Kathryn)
- Bucksport, Maine; Ellsworth, Maine; and Manchester, New Hampshire. (Jessica)
- Bethel, ME; Farmington, ME; Manchester, NH; and Morrisville, VT. (Allison)
- Barre, VT; Manchester, NH; Laconia, NH; and South Portland, ME. (Tiffani)
- Wolfeboro, Laconia, Lebanon, Orono, and Manchester. (Paul)
- Manchester NH, Concord NH, Laconia NH and Skowhegan ME. (Sarah)
What were some favorite foods?
- Lobster, Shepherds Pie, Blueberry Pie, Deer, Moose, New England Boiled Dinner and Maple Syrup. (Jeremy)
- Ali and Chuck Mitchell’s ribs! Suk’s Nepali cuisine! Prime Rib for Christmas dinner at Bishop’s house! (Mike & Karen)
- Ben and Jerry’s Ice-Cream, Vermont Maple Syrup, Red hot dogs, Corn chowder. (Melissa)
- Apple crisp, maple syrup, vanilla ice cream, and blueberry milk! (Kathryn)
- Lobster rolls, whoopi pies, fluffernutters, and moxie. (Jessica)
- There wasn’t anything too crazy or abnormal. Lots of seafood (especially lobster), but I wasn’t really a fan. I did enjoy eggplant parmesan once! (Hailey)
- Lobster bisque, boiled dinner, most seafood dishes, Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. (Allison)
- Lobster, lasagna, and (not my favorite but) I got fed a lot of New England boiled dinner and shepherds pie. (Tiffani)
- Ham-n-Bean Supper. Blueberry Pie. Grinders. (Paul)
- Fiddleheads, Lobster, Ben & Jerry’s. (Sarah)
- Anything seafood! I loved the lobster rolls (even the ones at McDonald’s). Another good one is fluff n nutters and American chop suey. (Ashlee)
What was a funny experience?
- Tracting in the boonies of Vermont. Spraining my ankle on a four-foot high snowbank (do not jump off of those). Hiking Mt. Belvedier in Vermont. (Melissa)
- One night my companion and I were phone tracting by going through our phone contacts that we didn’t recognize and calling to ask if they would be interested in a message about Jesus Christ. We didn’t have much success until one man (with the sound of children playing in the background) said yes, he loves messages about Christ and would love one for his family. We were so excited until we learned that he was a member that had moved out of the ward we were serving in currently into a new ward, so we couldn’t contact him to share a message with him. But we did refer the other set of missionaries in his ward to visit his family some time! (Kathryn)
- The amount of snow we got the winter I served there and my companion and I were literally shoveling snow off the top of cars because scrapers wouldn’t do it justice.and jumping into a pile of snow that was 6 feet high. (Jessica)
- My companion and I were doing service at a farm, harvesting squash, and talking about the church with an employee working alongside us. We returned to the front of the farm, and he would throw squash to us and we’d place it on wood pallets. Before we begin, I jokingly say “squash me”. Five minutes into it, he accidentally hits my cheek with a squash. (Allison)
- While tracting in Hooksett, NH I got kissed by a drunk man in a yellow speedo. (Tiffani)
- Having my companion get a marriage proposal at the state fair where we had a booth with pamphlets etc. Also having dinner out with our district and an older woman came over and told one of the Elders to learn to keep his eyes in his pocket. He turned 10 shades of pink/red. When we learned that the Elders (4) were going to not pull the plug on the drain in the font after a baptism in the afternoon and come back later that night to have fun. So my companion and I went to the church after our evening appointment, parked on the other side of the building so they wouldn’t see our car, went in. Companion waded in to get the plug and we got out just as we heard them come in the other side of the building. We waited in the dark long enough to hear them all upset that the water was draining and took off! 🙂 Sisters will keep you from having fun. But it was fun for us. (Sarah)
- My first experience having lobster was fun and hilarious. Sister Blethen in Bangor, Maine taught Sister Clark and I how to hypnotize the lobster before we boiled it. It really worked. Hilarious! (Ashlee)
What was a crazy/dangerous experience?
- When a guy threatened to shoot us at a marathon. (Jeremy)
- We were contacting someone down the street from us, and my companion felt like someone was following us. No one was there, but needless to say, we walked faster. (It was 7-8 o’clock and pitch black. In the winter, it gets dark at 4pm.) We went in, and as we were putting things away, we heard the door burst open and feet run up the stairs. We called 911 and heard the feet go back outside. Weirdest part: no sign of forced entry. We asked someone to bless our apartment after that. (Melissa)
- Once, while we were driving to different investigator’s homes to go caroling around Christmas time, we were riding with a member who was getting impatient about waiting for a gap in traffic as we wanted to drive across a busy road. Eventually she got so impatient that she just gunned it with a small window of opportunity and my companion and I saw a car’s headlights within feet of us! Luckily we made it across, but not without having our life, and the car’s headlights, flash before our eyes. (Kathryn)
- Probably driving up a random mountain because our GPS said the house we were going to was there. We couldn’t turn around until we got to the top and it was really scary trying to get back down in the middle of winter. (Jessica)
- There are some sketchy areas if you’re in a rural place. My companion and I were walking from a member’s home to the school where we’d parked our car about a block away at about 6 pm in the wintertime, so it was dark and there were three men strangely standing nearby. One of them started walking towards us as we got closer to our car, but turned back around as soon as we got in and started the car. It was really creepy. (Hailey)
- I met my dad’s cousin (who is not a member) for the first time through some members who knew her. We all had dinner together, and my companion and I shared the first lesson with her. Despite how bad I thought I did teaching, she still gladly accepted a Book of Mormon. (Allison)
- Once while checking on a media referral we had a woman try to cast evil from us. She told us she was a prophet and was there to save us. (Tiffani)
- Walking through the back alley’s off of Elm Street in Manchester. That may not be problematic now. But back then it didn’t feel like the smartest choice. (Sarah)
- Any time we were door knocking in the back woods, I feared for my life. It was just so quiet and in the middle of no where I wondered if anyone would hear us if we were mugged, etc. Thankfully, the Lord watched over us and we were always safe (well except from those who answered their doors wearing “tighty whities” that was always scary (just in a different way). (Ashlee)
What was a spiritual experience?
- When I walked out of a Shaw’s in Ellsworth, Maine and a family called us over to their car and basically the kids asked to get baptized on the spot! (Jeremy)
- Teaching the gospel to Chuck Mitchell and having him tell us he was ready to be baptized! (Mike & Karen)
- Teaching experiences make up some of the greatest spiritual experiences. It is the greatest feeling when you watch the light in someones eyes grow brighter as they understand what the Atonement and the Gospel can mean for them. (Melissa)
- When contacting a former investigator, we introduced ourselves and she said she was so grateful we were here because she felt like she might need this (the gospel) in her life now. We shared the Restoration with her when she began crying, and she said she just felt an overwhelming peace as we shared our message. We had that opportunity to testify to her that what she was feeling was the Spirit, and that if she decided to continue with this and eventually be baptized, then she could feel that peace every day. She readily accepted the message and got baptized a few months later. (Kathryn)
- I would say one of my most spiritual experiences I had was visiting an investigator in Maine. We went to her house and I remember sitting there and we would read the Book of Mormon with her. She said that if she couldn’t sleep at night she would bring out the Book of Mormon, read a chapter or two, go back to bed, and had no problem with sleep. I could see how much the book really helped her in her life and I could tell when she did or didn’t read. (Jessica)
- Every day. Especially in lessons as we taught people who were prepared and could see the light the Gospel would bring them and was bringing them as they acted on it. (Hailey)
- At the end of my mission, I went on an exchange with my sister training leader, who served in my first area when one of my investigators got baptized. She showed me some pictures of the event, and I sobbed. It was like being there myself. I realized in that moment that even though I haven’t seen any investigator I personally taught get baptized myself, I have helped these dear friends on the way, and my efforts never were in vain. (Allison)
- Too many to list. Some were too sacred to share but the daily experience of being able to testify of Jesus Christ is something I would never trade. My testimony grew every time I shared it with someone. My favorite experience was when a city bus driver pulled over and asked us to get on his bus. He wanted to know what we were doing. He drove around while we spoke to him about the gospel. He was baptized shortly after. (Tiffani)
- Praying and fasting for the opportunity to at least teach one whole family unit. Having that prayer answered by a unique referral from the Ward Mission Leader to tract the street he grew up on to try and teach the family that purchased his childhood home. We did and they invited us in. We setup an appointment to share more and I was able to visit with them 3 times and challenge them to baptism which they accepted. Have been leaders ever since. (Sarah)
- I remember taking non members to the Joseph Smith Memorial and when the sisters gave us the tour and got to the part of Joseph Smith’s First Vision, they asked me to share what happened and my testimony. The Spirit was so strong we were all in tears. I will NEVER forget that. (Ashlee)
What are some interesting facts about the Manchester Mission?
- It is the only mission in the church that had all 12 Apostles called to serve in it at one point. (Jeremy)
- We served during the mildest winter on record! (Mike & Karen)
- The Romneys and the Bushs live there. Ben and Jerry’s originates in Vermont. People add ‘r’s and take them away i.e. Idear and cah (car). One word you’ll hear often: Wicked (that was a wicked big snowstahm). Two words you’ll hear often: All set (no thanks, I’m all set). (Melissa)
- New England is amazing because it truly has all four seasons of the year, but it also has a few extra seasons thrown in their. For example there is stick season, when its cold for months with no leaves on the trees, but no snow on the ground; mud season, when the snow melts and there is mud literally everywhere; black-fly season, when a million little flies that bite you are ready to follow you everywhere when you are tracting; and so many other fun seasons. New England also has more Dunkin Donuts than McDonald’s restaurants. And there is such a thing as blueberry flavored milk, and it’s glorious. (Kathryn)
- It is one of the oldest missions in the world. It covers parts of 5 states. The Joseph Smith Memorial is in our mission. (Jessica)
- The Joseph Smith birthplace is there! It goes up to the North Eastern coast of the USA. Maine has a lot of hillbillies with no teeth. The fall is GORGEOUS with the colors of the leaves being brilliant orange, red and yellow. (Hailey)
- Joseph Smith was born in our mission. The Birthplace Memorial is especially pretty at Christmastime. (Allison)
- Winter seems to last 6 months but it’s the most fun time of year to serve. Birthplace of the prophet Joseph Smith. (Devin)
- Sharon,VT where the prophet Joseph was born is in the mission. While I was serving there were more cows than people in Vermont. The people are for the most part very humble. The people are Jewish and Catholic, mostly by tradition not by faith. (Tiffani)
- Birthplace of the prophets, birthplace of Joseph Smith. Absolutely beautiful grounds there. (Sarah)
- The people are like M&M’s…super hard shells but once you get through the shell they are sweet and soft and you’ll remain friends for life (even if they never choose to join the church). The JSM (Joseph Smith Memorial) is close and you will get to feeling the spirit of being in the temple without actually going. (We didn’t have a temple close until the month I went home.) People will tell you “I’m all set!” Don’t be discouraged… it happens to all of us, but you are opening doors and making a difference. Eat the lobster from the lobster shacks. You’ll never have better, inexpensive lobster in your life. Don’t drink the Moxie! It tastes like a terrible potent cough syrup. (Ashlee)
What was the weather like?
- Very cold during the winters, and in the mid 90’s during the summer. (Jeremy)
- Cold in the winter and sultry the rest of the time. (Mike & Karen)
- Wicked hot in the summer. Wicked cold in the winter. (Melissa)
- There are all four seasons with a taste of humidity in each one, but the winter months are definitely longer than the summer months. (Kathryn)
- I was only there during the winter (I served for 5 months and came home for double knee surgery) but it was the worst winter they had in 10 years. I remember the temperature got to 30 degrees and so my companion and I wore t-shirts because it was so hot! (Jessica)
- There are definitely four seasons- lots of rain in the Spring (which adds another season – mud), quite a bit of snow and ice storms in the Winter. Gorgeous Falls and Summers that aren’t too hot, but it is humid! (Hailey)
- From December to April, consistently very cold. In the summer, it switches from hot humid and sunny to cool rainstorms. (Allison)
- Cold and wet and hot and humid. (Devin)
- It is humid. The summers can get very muggy. The winters are freezing. In the fall there is no place more beautiful. (Tiffani)
- Fall and early spring were very pleasant. Winters are cold, summers hot and humid. (Paul
- Cold winters. Thermometer stuck at -4 for weeks outside our 3rd floor apartment in Maine. Summer was supposed to be temperate but I was there for one of the hottest. Very Humid 95%+ with 106 degrees. The first time I had ever seen hazy fog when it was hot. No breeze at night. No A/C. Could hardly breath. Lived in the car or at the church as much as possible. Did phone tracting. (Sarah)
- Well there are five seasons: Summer (wicked hot and humid), winter (so cold you can’t wear enough layers to stay warm), spring (also known as mud season) and fall (GORGEOUS and busy, the trees look like fire they are so red). Every season is absolutely beautiful in its own way. (Ashlee)
Any things you really like about the area/people?
- The fall colors, the history and heritage of the areas. (Jeremy)
- Marvelous, wonderful, warm people. We loved them all! (Mike & Karen)
- They may be a little standoffish at first, but once you ask them questions and get to know them, you’ll find that they are the kind of people that will give the shirt off their back if you needed it. (Melissa)
- The people may seem hesitant and even rudely sarcastic when you first get to know them, but they eventually become your best friends. New Englanders are the most loyal people you will ever meet. New England is also so well taken care of by the people that it is by far one of the most naturally beautiful places you can visit or live. (Kathryn)
- I love the hospitality of the people. It takes a while for them to let you in, but when they do, they treat you like family. The scenery is gorgeous! I remember riding from Manchester, New Hampshire to Bucksport, Maine, my first area; and seeing real purple trees and then changing to a winter wonderland all within one car ride. (Jessica)
- It was exactly where I needed to be. The people are friendly and helpful though they’re also very blunt and get to the point if they don’t want anything to do with you. They’re very talkative and open up to you about five seconds after you meet them. It’s now my favorite place! (Hailey)
- The setting is beautiful, especially in the fall. And the people in church sincerely care about each individual missionary. (Allison)
- I loved that everything was old. It is a beautiful part of the country. When I was homesick and discouraged I could always find something pretty. The people are not super receptive to the gospel but they are kind. If you can get them to trust you they will then listen to your message. I love the way they speak. Many people in New England are poor and most of them are very humble. They are more liberal than the area where I grew up and this took some getting used to for me. The people are traditional and are very proud of where they live. For example…did you know that if you eat Pacific lobster it will cause cancer. (; (Tiffani)
- I found that the people were generally very self reliant and some were highly educated and skilled. I enjoyed very much the history and more so now the history of the areas. The first apartment I lived in was a old farm house built before 1800. (Paul)
- People were up front, said what they thought and genuine. Many treated us as family. (Sarah)
Any packing/clothing advice?
- If your going to arrive before Winter, buy your Winter gear in the mission (the mission office sometimes even has leftover coats and other items). (Jeremy)
- Goose down (the real stuff) for winter. Sandals for summer and lots of cotton clothes! (Mike & Karen)
- Bring lots of layers for winter and rubber boots for mud season (can be easily bought once you are there). The humidity in New England makes summers hotter, so wear less layers. (Melissa)
- Wear layers, especially for sister missionaries. It is so vital that you have furry winter boots and a warm winter coat. Thermal socks is a must, as well as thick scarves. The best way to pack puffy/thick clothes is with space bags, but it definitely adds weight, so it may be best to have someone ship out the heavier stuff when entering/leaving the mission. (Kathryn)
- Leggings! I wore at least 2 pairs of leggings in the winter. Scarves were very nice because you could have thick or thin ones depending on the weather. Good winter boots! They are a must! (Jessica)
- Prepare for winter, if you don’t like the cold. Insulated boots, a winter coat, lots of tights, gloves, hats and scarves. Be sure you have a rain-coat/umbrella too. (Hailey)
- Light with layers in the summer. Tall boots, multiple layers of socks and leggings, mitten-gloves, hat that covers the ears and cheeks, scarf, and L.L.Bean coat in the winter. (Allison)
- Heavy coat is a must along with snow boots! (Devin)
- Bring a long warm coat and heavy-duty boots. You may want to just bring money to buy them when you get there because there are plenty of places to get them and maybe you will be lucky and a missionary before you may have left theirs. (I left mine) (Tiffani)
- My advice would be pretty dated. So I think that the mission has the advice. (Paul)
- Layers for changing weather. Maine has a 5th season…mud season. Had lots of dirt roads back then and it can get muddy between winter/spring. (Sarah)
What blessings did you receive from serving a mission?
- Countless! So many friends, and memories! I would not trade it! (Jeremy)
- One of our best blessings was serving with President and Sister Wilkey. They are two of our favorite people on the earth! Loved serving with Dale and Elaine Hymas in the office. Still great friends today! We loved having the Spirit of the Lord with us every day. We loved every missionary we served with. They are some of the finest people you would ever want to meet. (Mike & Karen)
- A stronger testimony of Jesus Christ and the Atonement. My family was very well taken care of. Greater confidence in myself. (Melissa)
- My mission helped me understand the gospel better, specifically in how it applied to my life. I grew up in the church understanding that the gospel was good, but I didn’t know until I served a mission how vital it is to understand my personal relationship with God in order to feel true happiness each day. Experiencing and witnessing others experience the joys of discovering the Atonement of Jesus Christ and how it is there to help us through everything is also a joyous experience I will always cherish. (Kathryn)
- I learned what it was like to be the eyes and hands of the Lord. I also gained a stronger testimony of the prophets due to even receiving a call. (My health almost kept me from trying but I knew I was needed. (Jessica)
- I know how to live life to the fullest, how to schedule my time wisely and how to stay focused. I am more spiritually aware and able to recognize promptings and answers more easily. It was the best thing I’ve ever done with my life! (Hailey)
- Increased confidence in myself and my identity as a child of God. I guess I finally understand a little deeper how much my Heavenly Father loves me. (Allison)
- I always had pieces of a testimony. As a missionary all the pieces came together. I learned who I was and what I am capable of. The mission prepared me in every way to be a wife and a mother. I am raising a special needs son and I feel that the mission taught me to maintain an eternal perspective as I raise him. (Tiffani)
- Through the efforts of sharing the gospel I felt a great strengthening in my faith in Christ’s atonement. This strength has blessed my life through good and bad times. Life is happier because I had a mission experience. However, even greater is the memory of so many wonderful people who were wonderful examples through life challenges. (Paul)
- Seeing other’s lives blessed by accepting the gospel. Meeting so many different people in many ways, Missionaries, Ward/Branch members, Diverse Community members. Got to see the good in so many people. (Sarah)
What are some skills you gained?
- My public speaking skills greatly increased. (Jeremy)
- Being able to feel at home in a ward we had never been in before. The members were so kind and loving in Manchester Ward! (Mike & Karen)
- Public speaking skills. Safe driving skills. Phone etiquette skills. Social skills. (Melissa)
- I learned how to best talk to people about difficult subjects. Religion is a sensitive subject for most people in the country, but it is especially true in New England. As I learned to listen to others and learned to testify of Jesus Christ, I found that people were more willing to listen to me as I showed love and care for them as Christ would. (Kathryn)
- I learned how to really study and ponder the scriptures. I also learned how to have the charity of Christ and find joy in serving and giving. I learned how to appreciate the small things in life. (Jessica)
- Organization. Cooking. Scheduling. Time management. (Hailey)
- I gained teaching skills for sure. I also learned to be able to teach or speak without any warning. I learned to serve. I learned that you can’t wait for someone else you just do it. I learned that we all have a place in God’s plan and whether it is as a Bishop or a nursery leader the Lord needs us to serve. (Tiffani)
- I hope that I learned mostly how to reflect God’s love to the people. I believe I learned how to listen and obey promptings of the Holy Ghost. (Paul)
- Patience. (Sarah)
What do you wish you knew/did at the beginning of your mission?
- I wish I had been more humble, and always strove to be obedient. (Jeremy)
- We wouldn’t change a thing. We knew through the Spirit that we were serving at the right time and in the right place! (Mike & Karen)
- That praying for patience will bring you trials, but will also be the best thing for you. (Melissa)
- I wish I had known how much it would benefit my life and how it would go faster than I thought it would. Every day feels like a week, but at the end of the week, the week felt like a day. Life goes by in a different time in the mission, and every moment is worth cherishing and documenting. (Kathryn)
- I wish I knew how much energy goes into everyday. I wish I knew how much I needed to have a testimony or at least a desire for a testimony. (Jessica)
- Focused. It wasn’t until the end of my mission that I finally was able to let go of everything at home and truly focus on the work. I wish I’d been able to do that from the very beginning. (Hailey)
- Prepare to be amazed. This mission will not be what you expect, but it will be what you need. Keep your mind and your heart humble and open, and Heavenly Father will fill you and you fill others with the gospel. (Allison)
- I wish I would have known how hard it was going to be to come home. I wish I would have known how fast the time was going to go. I wish I would have been more confident in the beginning of my mission. (Tiffani)
- I wish I would have spent time with the full time missionaries to see what they did. My understanding of what missionary does or should do was not what it should been. (Paul)
- I wish I had seen what typical days usually look like. In training, it felt like it would be very regimented and found out it really needed to be flexible and willing to go with the flow. I didn’t deal with change as well back then and so it was hard to adjust my expectation and relax a bit to settle into the differences of working with each companion and making that work. (Sarah)
Any advice/testimony for pre-missionaries going to Manchester?
- Be humble, listen to your trainer, be obedient, and always follow the Spirit. (Jeremy)
- Serve because you WANT to, not because you HAVE to–this makes all the difference in your success and memories. (Mike & Karen)
- It’s not about you. Forget yourself. Put everything you have into the lives and salvation of others. You will be eternally rewarded, and the love you feel will be the pure love of Christ. (Melissa)
- I know that New England is a beautiful land full of people with amazing stories. Many have reasons for everything they do or don’t do. As you listen to them tell you about their life, you may then have the opportunity to relate to them and understand them. Only after understanding them can you know how God needs you to help them learn more about Christ that day. Patience truly is a virtue, but when you devote all your time and attention for a long period of time on a situation, I know that a greater change will take place than shorter happenstances. I love the people in New England, and everyone who serves there with an open heart will gain that same love. (Kathryn)
- Read the Book of Mormon! Gain a testimony for yourself. Get walking. Learn to love service. Have a gentle and patient heart. (Jessica)
- You will never regret going on a mission, particularly if you go with an open heart and mind. Let your mission change you, because otherwise you’ll go back to your old habits and be who you were before, instead of who the Lord needs you to be for the rest of your life. The Lord knows where you need to be and who you need to serve with, so trust Him. Soften your heart and let go of your pride. Be willing to change in order to serve your companions, because I guarantee there will be at least one you just want to run away from and never see again in your life. Those are the ones you need to learn from the most. They will teach you things about yourself that you’ve never known before. They will test your patience, faith, love and courage. It will be hard. A mission is hard. Life is hard. But if you do it WITH the Lord rather than trying it on your own, everything will be easier, happier and more successful. (Hailey)
- Trust your testimony. Don’t be afraid. The Lord will guide you and many times you won’t recognize that he is doing so until long after the fact. You will never regret serving. Give it your whole heart and everything you have. I go back to New England about every other year because as I tell my husband I left a piece of myself there and I need to go back and visit it. (Tiffani)
- Proclaiming the gospel is reflecting God’s love. It is therefore more than what you know, although that is important. It is about how you can convey God’s love by example and by teaching the simple and beautiful principles of the gospel. This attitude removes fear and doubt and focuses on the people you meet ( including other missionaries and members). (Paul)
- Find common ground. You are there not to convert but to provide opportunities for others to come to their own conclusions. Find value in EVERY person and let them know you recognize that in a genuine way. Look for appropriate ways to serve and come to know the communities you serve in. (Sarah)
What was a funny language mistake?
- I pronounced Topsham as Tops Ham. Everyone thought it was uber funny! (Mike & Karen)
- Most of the New Hampshire Manchester mission was English speaking, but a lot of the pronunciation of things was different than how other places in the country would pronounce it. For example, I had a companion call the big city in Maine “Bang-er” instead of how Mainers say it as “Bang-gor”. And another companion call the capital of Vermont “Mont-peel-ier” instead of “Mont-pil-lier”. Very minor things, but New Englanders recognize quickly if you’re from out of town. (Kathryn)
- First time I was sent to Maine and went to the store, I could not understand the person at the checkout. The Maine accent was SO thick. There are common words used that I had never heard. Door yard = outside; side board = kitchen counter; Wicked = an expression of extreme (that was wicked funny), and the French Canadians in Maine when they agreed with you, they’d suck air in as a way of agreeing with you and it kind of seemed like they were having a heart attack. Also, if you might respond with a “OH so do I” that would be said “So don’t I” in Maine, by many. Means the same. (Sarah)