Free resources about the Mexico Merida Mission:

Aquí están algunos recursos gratuitos sobre la Misión México Mérida:

• 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

*Other Mission Pages: Mexico LDS Missions.

Mexico Merida Mission Address

Here’s a recent address for the Mexico Merida 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.

Mexico Merida Mission Map

Here’s a link to the mission map for the Mexico Merida Mission (LDS). To access the official, up-to-date LDS.org map for the Merida Mission:

1. Log into your LDS account here.
2. Click here.

Videos with Mexico Merida RMs

Here are in-depth YouTube video interviews with returned missionaries from the Mexico Merida Mission.  We interview hundreds of returned missionaries each year, so check back regularly to see new RM interviews.

LDS-Friendly Videos about Mexico

Here are LDS-friendly educational videos about Mexico. We scoured YouTube to find the best quality videos about Mexico, that are free from inappropriate music, immodesty and profanity.

Mexico Merida Missionary Blogs

Here’s a list of LDS missionary blogs for the Mexico Merida Mission. This list includes the missionary’s name, URL and when their blog was updated.

*Send your missionary a gift (mission-specific shirts, ties, Christmas stockings/ornaments, pillowcases, etc.)

Mexico Merida Mission Groups

Here are Mexico Merida Mission Groups- for LDS missionary moms, returned missionaries, mission presidents and other alumni of the Merida Mission.

1. Online Reunion (Mexico Merida Mission) Group (549 members)
2. Mision Mexico Merida Facebook Group (367 members)
3. Mision Mexico Merida 2007-2010 Group (294 members)
4. Reunion de Misioneros Retornados 2004-07 Group (237 members)
5. Mision Merida Presidente Valdespino Group (149 members)
6. Mision Mexico Merida 2005-2007 Facebook Group (121 members)
7. Misioneros de Merida 2001-04 (Pres. Ramos) Group (98 members)
8. Merida (Pres. Andrew W. Peterson 1981-84) Group (51 members)
9. Mision Merida (Presidente Jorge H. Perez) Group (44 members)
10. Merida Mexico Mission – LDS – Support Group (42 members)
11. Mision Mexico Merida – Presidente Ramos Group (41 members)
12. Mision Merida (Pres. Martinez y Peterson) Group (36 members)
13. Mexico Merida Mission Moms (LDS) Group (13 members)
14. Mision Merida Torres Facebook Group (13 members)

Mexico Merida Mission T-Shirts

Here are T-shirts for the Mexico Merida Mission!

Shirt designs include Mexico Merida 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: Mexico Merida missionary aprons, Christmas stockings, ties, pillow cases, teddy bears and Christmas ornaments.

*Click here to browse Merida Mission gifts

Mexico Merida Mission Presidents

Here’s a list of current and past Mission Presidents of the Merida LDS Mission.

1. 2016-2019, Abel Ruiz Valadez
2. 2013-2016, Sergio A. Garcia
3. 2010-2013, Netzahualcoyotl Salinas
4. 2007-2010, Victor Manuel Cardenas Lopez
5. 2004-2007, Fernando Lagunes Victor
6. 2001-2004, Gustavo Ramos
7. 1998-2001, Samuel Castro Camacho
8. 1995-1998, Walter Ray Petersen
9. 1989-1992, Aurelio Valdespino
10. 1984-1989, Jorge H. Perez
11. 1981-1984,  Andrew W. Peterson
12. 1978-1981, Benjamin Martinez
13. 1975-1978, Abraham Lozano

Mexico LDS Statistics (2015)

• Church Membership: 1,368,475
• Missions: 34
• Temples: 12
• Congregations: 1,998
• Family History Centers: 268

Helpful Articles about Mexico

Coming soon..

Mexico Merida Missionary Survey

Here are survey responses from Mexico Merida RMs, to give you a snapshot into what it’s like to live in the mission.

*Click here to take a survey to help pre-missionaries going to your mission.

When did you serve?

• June 2013-2015 (Nathan)
• 2012-2014 (Juarez)
• July 2003-2005 (James)
• 1996-1998 (Tucker)
• 2005-2007 (Talan)
• 2001-2003 (Devin)
• 2001-2003 (Thomas)
• 2001-2002 (Fabiola)
• 2000-2002 (Brady)
• 1985-1987 (Jose)

What areas did you serve in?

• Ticul, Sierra: Tixkokob: Playa de Carmen. (Juarez)
• Chetumal, Merida, Jose Maria Morelos, Tizimin, Halacho, Canshavab. (Thomas)
• Chetumal, Cancun y Merida. (Fabiola)
• Merida (Canek), Chetumal (Jardines), Campeche (Samula), Uman (The best ever), Merida (Centro), Chetumal (Morelos), Kanasin. (Brady)
• Valladolid, Macuspana,Cancun,Tuxtla Chico, Merida, Huixtla,Villahermosa, Zapata, Huimanguillo. (Jose)

What were some favorite foods?

• Frijol con puerco, Panuchos, Corn tortillas. (Nathan)
• Pork and beans, pozole. (Juarez)
• Tacos al pastor, Frijol con puerco. (James)
• All the food was pretty good. The regional foods include panuchos, panuelos & Bu’ul Keken (black beans and pork). There is a also a lot of fresh fruit in season including mangos & the best avocados around. Fresh corn tortillas, caldo (soup) with chicken and vegetables. The only thing I didn’t like was papaya. (Tucker)
• Bool Keken Posole Mole Iguana (Talan)
• Menudo. (Devin)
• Panuchos, frijol con puerco, salbutes, lentejas, empanadas. (Thomas)
• Salbutes panuchos y pues todo. (Fabiola)
• Panuchos, flautas, pollo rojo, anything hot! (Brady)
• Frijol con puerco, eggs ( daily), salbutes,huevo con chipilin,pozol…..(Jose)

What was a funny experience?

• The Mayan people would always speak Mayan to us even though we only spoke Spanish. I would always practice my little Mayan phrases with them and they would laugh at me. (Nathan)
• A funny experience I had was when I didn’t know how to sleep in a hammock on my first day. (Juarez)
• Putting onions in my napkin and hiding them in my sock to not offend cocineras. The dog kept sniffing my sock. (James)
• I was serving in Progreso, Yucatan during the rainy season (spring) and after a few days of rain there were so many frogs that came out of hibernation you couldn’t take a step without stepping on one. It was almost biblical. The frogs didn’t hurt anything or anyone, but it was hard to sleep at night because of their incessant croaking. (Tucker)
• Drunk guy trying to steal my bicycle and falling over. (Talan)
• Climbing the radio tower in Felipe Carrillo Puerto. (Devin)
• Poder estar conviviendo con todos los misioneros y mas los días de preparación cuando jugábamos en las canchas todos fútbol. (Fabiola)
• December 1985 in Cancun, we (missionaries) celebrated Christmas ourselves …and we ended eating a super overcooked totally burned turkey…(cause we did cook and prepare the dinner ourselves…but it was fun to watch our faces trying to eat that). (Jose)

What was a crazy experience?

• Once a drunk guy followed us for about a block and then ran up and hugged us, and we ended up smelling like alcohol the rest of the day. (Nathan)
• Opening a closed area for people assaulting missionaries but at the end we turned it good and got baptisms. (Juarez)
• I never felt in danger in Merida or on my mission. Last summer I took my family back with me to Merida and we stayed downtown in the Dolores Alba hotel and I walked the city with my wife and four daughters (the youngest was four) and the people are so nice and giving we never felt or perceived any danger at all. We also stayed, traveled and ate in a few small towns around and we always felt welcome and safe. It was good to see the people hadn’t changed. Sometimes the weather gets a little bit crazy with rain and thunder storms. In Campeche and Champoton it was amazing to see storms build on the ocean and make their way to shore. Getting caught in a downpour there is definitely crazy. (Tucker)
• None, it’s pretty safe there. (Talan)
• Almost stepping on a poisonous snake in Uayma. (Devin)
• Someone wanted to stab another missionary with a knife. (Thomas)
• Cuando a mi compañía la perseguían los perros. (Fabiola)
• We had some crazy storms, some gang activity and some foaming dogs. (Brady)
• July 1985 in Macuspana, we used to baptize in a river, but it was necessary that another two persons get into the river little far away to catch us…cause the current was too strong. After that. we built a small baptismal font…..but it was so small, the day we use it the first time my companion, Elder Soto almost kill the guy because he hit his head three times…jajajajaja (Jose)

What was a spiritual experience?

• One of the most spiritual experiences I had was when we prayed with an investigator to know if the Godhead was real. The spirit was so strong in the room that we were in! It was like a cloud. (Nathan)
• Feeling the Lord’s power through the hymns with all the missionaries and seeing the lives change in people that wanted happiness in their lives. (Juarez)
• Going to temple with a family after a year of being baptized and watching them get sealed to their children. (James)
• There were a lot of spiritual experiences. Some of the best experiences I had came from working with inactive members of the church. It wasn’t uncommon for there to be many baptized members of the church who hadn’t attended for many years. I recognize now how we were led to those members who needed the Gospel in their lives. We tracked down one member who had been baptized with his wife and children several years prior and had stopped attending a few months after his baptism. He had been married to his wife and together they had 18 children together. His wife had been praying for help with their marriage and we showed up the next day. (Tucker)
• The whole mission. (Talan)
• Getting my own confirmation of the truth. (Devin)
• Casting out evil spirits from a home. (Thomas)
• Poder desafiar a mi primer familia a bautismo y que ellos acceptaron. (Fabiola)
• This is an unfair question. I have hundreds of pages of spiritual experiences written in my journal. If you do the work, there will be too many to name. (Brady)
• I had so many…once I was worried for the transfers because I needed to have medical treatment. Instead I received a transfer to a place far…far away with no clinics or medical care at all….then I started to complain and a person who was handicap asked me …”how sincere are you”…I went to another room and took my Book of Mormon and suddenly it opens itself and the only thing I saw was the scripture Mosiah 26:20…then I started to cry, repent right there and get ready to go…at that moment, a promise to me!!!! (Jose)

What were some interesting facts about the Merida Mission?

• The church has only been there since 1960. There is a temple in Merida. The weather is super humid and very, very hot especially in April and May! We slept in hammocks. (Nathan)
• It helped me understand and prepare for having a family and continuing God’s work in the world. (Juarez)
• Mayan ruins. (James)
• I only served in Mexico for 16 months because I had to wait to get my visa approved by the Mexican government. I waited in the California Los Angeles Mission for about six months so I feel kind of like I served two missions. There was a stark difference between LA and Merida and it took me a while to adjust to how different things were. Merida has changed so much in the last 18 years and it is a much more modern city with a lot more modern conveniences. First, you don’t sleep in a bed, you sleep in a hammock. I always loved sleeping in a hammock and it was always comfortable for me. Some missionaries struggle getting used to it. Merida was mostly a walking mission. In your area you will walk. The bus system is pretty good for getting around, but be prepared to walk…a lot…in the sun. I think most people think this about their own mission, but I can say I’ve never encountered a more humble and giving people. The culture in the Yucatan is different than the rest of Mexico and they really are a world apart. There is still a lot of poverty and a lack of things that we take for granted. If people want clean drinking water they have to purchase it. In outlying areas sometimes you get water to clean, shower and do laundry from a well. I’m not sure if this is still the case, but I did a lot of my laundry by hand and hung it on a line to dry. I would do it all over again. (Tucker)
• Biggest mission geographically in Mexico. Highest retention rate of converts. Tracting is actually effective. (Talan)
• The ruins are magical. (Devin)
• Las personas son muy sencillas pero te dan todo lo que tienen de corazón ellos son lo mas valioso. (Fabiola)
• Hammocks, Maya language, hotter than you can believe, and it may be the most beautiful place on the planet. (Brady)
• There was so many…..the fact that through our service you became the hands of the Lord helping others to know and come to Christ. The fact that you’re about to know that love is infinite and powerful enough to make someone to change…etc. (Jose)

What was the weather like?

• Like I said, it was always humid. From September to November, it was rainy season, and if you’re in a small town there are a tons of mosquitoes. In April and May, it is super hot. (Nathan)
• The weather was very humid, hot, and sometimes very wet. (Juarez)
• Hot and humid. (James)
• It is hot and humid all the time. Most of the time you sleep in your hammock next to or under a ceiling fan. (Tucker)
• Hot and humid Rainy season it rains all day every day. (Talan)
• Hot, humid. (Devin)
• It was warm and humid, a lot of rain. (Thomas)
• Fantastico. (Fabiola)
• HOT. People aren’t kidding, it is HOT. When it is “cold” there it is still hot. The nights – HOT. The days HOT. There can be a few cooler (80s) days during the winter but don’t count on it. I have since visited the area several times and have been lucky enough to hit some cooler weather – but don’t count on it. (Brady)
• Extremely hot and very humid in almost all the mission……( now the area is not that big). (Jose)

Any things you really like about the area/people?

• I love how genuine and nice the people are. The members love the missionaries. The place is beautiful, super tropical. (Nathan)
• The members, the food, and the diligence that they put in their testimony of going to church every Sunday. (Juarez)
• They’re friendly. (James)
• The people and the culture are amazing. Get to know the Mayan members of the church, ask them about their language and culture. You will learn so much from them. I served in Progreso, Champoton, Merida & Campeche (the city) and I spent a lot of time near the ocean and it is beautiful. My mission president didn’t allow us to do much in terms of seeing the marvelous culture/ruins of the area, but I think it is important to visit those areas to get a sense of the culture there. I went to Chichen Itza as a missionary and since returning last summer I realized how much I missed out on. Be prepared to love and serve your companions. The native companions are wonderful people and most of them come from different parts of Mexico. Some of them come from humble circumstances. It is all right for you to share things with them. Help them if they need new clothing or shoes. Be prepared to serve the people, they are so willing to give and it is a blessing to help them because they are so grateful. There a little shops selling soda, water and sundries all over the place. Try to get to know all the people there that you can. (Tucker)
• Very humble. (Talan)
• Friendly people. Great culture. (Devin)
• I loved the people I served, they were really friendly, would give you the shirt off their back. (Thomas)
• Del lugar todo y de las personas su gran sencillez y Carrillo que dan. (Fabiola)
• In the beginning, I hated everything. Think about this. It was hot, dirty, frustrating and different. After a few months, I began to love EVERYTHING. I love the people, culture, buildings, traditions, accent, dress, climate, smells, food, way of life, sunsets, landscape…(Brady)
• They are very friendly……there are many ancient structures (pyramids) that help you to teach about the Book of Mormon. (Jose)

Any packing/clothing advice?

• Take black athletic socks to wear. Normal dress socks get worn too easily. Make sure you get good shoes. There is a shoe company there called Flexi. It is really nice and high quality. (Nathan)
• Short sleeve white collar shirts and comfy shoes. (James)
• Several pairs of shoes (I wore through two pairs of Doc Martins). Make sure they are good shoes for walking. Lots of good socks. Style is not the most important thing when it comes to shoes and socks. Doc Martin makes a great shoe, but it wasn’t ideal for walking around. My old packing list had 2-3 long sleeve white shirts and I only used one in Mexico. Because there is a temple there now, 2-3 long sleave shirts might make sense. Get comfortable pants that you can walk and sit in. Don’t buy expensive ties because you will sometimes sweat through your shirt and your tie and it will get ruined anyway. Bring or acquire handkerchiefs. I was never a guy to carry a hankie, but you will use them because it gets so hot. Don’t worry about toiletries, the drug and grocery stores there have everything you need. (Tucker)
• No long sleeved white shirts Waterproof everything you can. (Talan)
• Wear boots not shoes for the snakes. Shower at night…get really clean each night. Sleep with a fan blowing from head to toe….sleep with a sheet on. Switch your sleeping side every night if you sleep in a hammock or you’ll end up with a twisted spine and uneven hips. (Devin)
• Pues de ropa solo lleve lo que le piden en su llamamiento no mas. (Fabiola)
• Microfiber pants. Other pants fade and or bleed their color. Also, make sure you have plenty of handkerchiefs. You will need them for your sweat. You also need great shoes. If you end up in the villages, your shoes will suffer. Don’t bring a rain jacket, it is too warm to ever dream of putting on another layer. Make sure you have an umbrella. (Brady)
• Nothing fancy……light packing (as necessary)…..mosquito repellent will be helpful…..(Jose)

What blessings did you receive from serving a mission?

• I was able to be humbled a lot and receive so many blessings from my mission. I became so much closer to Heavenly Father and the Savior, Jesus Christ. (Nathan)
• Seeing the happiness of the people we baptized and also seeing them get sealed in the temple. (Juarez)
• I received countless blessings from serving a mission. The spiritual and practical things you learn are invaluable. My mission has helped me in every aspect of my life and I think about my experiences there every day. (Tucker)
• A beautiful wife and daughter and a successful career. (Talan)
• Many…very personal. (Devin)
• Being able to speak Spanish, being able to communicate with people at my work. (Thomas)
• En que sin pensanlor a ya conocí a mi esposo. (Fabiola)
• Every good thing in my life today can be linked to my mission. (Brady)
• A strong testimony of the gospel and Christ, a strong discipline, a marvelous faith to know Heavenly Father will fulfill his promises, a great love for the people… there are so many……but you need to live all this by yourself……you will not regret it!!!!! (Jose)

What are some skills you gained?

• I learned many leadership skills I will use later in life. I learned how to talk to people better as well. (Nathan)
• I’ve gained the attributes of Christ and caring and listening for the needs of the people. (Juarez)
• Door knocking skills, learning the language. (James)
• The most important skill I learned was to think before speaking. When you learn a foreign language you really have to think about how you want to convey the message you have. Having to think about how my words would affect the people was a good thing for me to learn. I learned that not everything goes according to plan and that trying my hardest is good enough for me and the Lord. I think becoming content with the results of my labors is good enough, even when things are not ideal. I learned that having and making a plan for every day is the key to productivity and motivation. Short and long term goals are important, but again, consistent effort is even more important because some goals take longer to reach than you anticipate. (Tucker)
• People skills both professionally and in family and church settings. (Talan)
• Learned to talk to people. Learned to become a companion. Learned I could do things I thought I would never do. (Devin)
• Leadership skills. (Thomas)
• Paciencia. (Fabiola)
• Work. Do the work or don’t go. Nobody wants a lazy missionary. Language – put the work into learning it well. It has been a huge asset in my life. Study. (Brady)
• More social person, efficient to listen and understand, discipline, organizational skills, reliable, understanding of how to set up realistic goals, know how to work under pressure and stay calm…..etc. (Jose)

What do you wish you knew/did at the beginning of your mission?

• How important sincere prayer was. It is something that everyone should learn before they leave. Also to learn about the strengthening power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. (Nathan)
• Know the language of the people. (Juarez)
• I wish someone had told me that I didn’t have to feel guilty about not achieving someone else’s goals. I wish I realized then that everyone progresses spiritually at a different pace and I wish I had been more patient with people I was teaching because their progress is more important than an artificial and arbitrary timeline. I wish I realized that becoming converted to the Gospel isn’t just about what you know and what you learn, but also about what you do and the commitments that you keep. (Tucker)
• I wish I’d known more about how important the Spirit is and how unimportant everything else is. (Talan)
• Wish I really had a real testimony before I had gone. (Devin)
• How to speak the language better. (Thomas)
• Solo el clima. (Fabiola)
• I wish I knew that I might hate it in the beginning. I was the first to serve a mission in my family and this was very surprising to me. Just know that if you stick to it, you will love it. (Brady)
• How to speak Mayan…..!!!! (Jose)

Any advice/testimony for pre-missionaries going to Merida?

• Get ready to sweat a lot, and to walk a lot but don’t complain, ever. It may be hard at times but it passes fast so enjoy it. Also, get ready to sleep in a hammock for 2 years!! (Nathan)
• There will be huge trials waiting but by keeping the faith in our lord Jesus Christ we can overcome any obstacle that’s in our way and work diligently and enjoy your mission because its a once in a lifetime experience. (Juarez)
• Missionary work in the Yucatan is both spiritually and physically taxing. Be prepared to work long hours in the heat and humidity. Don’t forget the you were called because of who you are and you don’t have to be a robot. Have fun, enjoy the work. Laugh. Get to know the people there by serving and loving them. Do you best to obey the mission rules. (Tucker)
• Listen to the Spirit. (Talan)
• Get ready to sweat! (Devin)
• Que la disfrute al máximo. (Fabiola)
• Plan on working hard or don’t go. If you are a slacker missionary, you will regret it for the rest of your life. (Brady)
• GO…..do not let anything take this divine, marvelous opportunity to become a true disciple……as I said before….you will not regret it, but will be thankful the rest of your life. (Jose)

What was a funny language mistake?

• Once I was trying to describe a lobster to someone without knowing the word for lobster. It took me so long to describe it well enough that the moment passed and the conversation had already moved on when they finally understood. (Nathan)
• In Spanish the work for soap is Jabon and the word for ham is Jamon. The Pope is known as El Papa and a potato is la papa. Talking to young children helps with the language a lot because they are trying to figure things out too and they don’t judge you if you say something wrong :). (Tucker)
• Thinking I could sign my way through the mission for the first few weeks. lol. (Devin)
• You will be the funny language mistake for at least 6 months. (Brady)
• Trying to learn and speak another language will be always funny…..but do not stop. Go on to make mistakes…it is the only way to learn and develop your potential. (Jose)