Message from President Chapman

Dear Parents and loved ones: We wanted to send out an update about your missionary regarding recent and upcoming events impacting the Texas Fort Worth Mission. First and foremost, please know that all of the missionaries in the mission are safe and healthy.

Here are some events we wanted to address more specifically:

• COVID-19 Pandemic: None of our missionaries has exhibited the symptoms of coronavirus. That has been a remarkable blessing to the mission. Your prayers have played a huge part in that protection. We largely continue to shelter in place due to the pandemic. Last week, due to decreasing numbers of COVID-19 cases within the cities and counties of our mission, approval was given by our area presidency for missionaries to have additional outdoor time on preparation days, an increase in service opportunities, the opportunity to begin meeting again at the church buildings as districts on a weekly basis, and the opportunity for missionaries to teach friends and members at the chapel. There are social distancing requirements (and wearing of a mask) that the missionaries must follow in these settings. We also anticipate sacrament meetings beginning within the coming month.
• Public Protests: Dallas and Fort Worth both saw large protests in the downtown area this past weekend. The missionaries working near these communities are still working from their apartments and have not been affected by this situation.
• Tornado Clean-up in Bowie: The community of Bowie, TX, which is located in the Denton Texas Stake, experienced a tornado on May 23. Gratefully, no serious injuries were reported (our missionaries who are assigned to Bowie live 30 miles away in Decatur and were not in the vicinity of the tornado) however, over 200 homes and businesses were damaged. Yesterday, May 30, missionaries from many of our northern zones participated with members by helping with the on-going clean-up. Pictures of our missionaries aiding in the clean-up can be found on the Chapman-Fort Worth Missionaries Facebook page. 
• Readjustment of Mission Boundaries: July 1, 2020 will see the creation of two new missions out of three existing missions. The two new missions are Texas Dallas East and Texas Austin. The current Texas Dallas mission will be renamed Texas Dallas West. All of these missions are receiving new mission leadership. The Texas Fort Worth Mission currently has fourteen stakes and we will contribute 5 stakes into two of the missions--
  • Texas Austin Mission-President Scott and Sister Brittan Fox : the Waco and Killeen stakes where 36 missionaries are currently serving will become part of this new mission. The Texas San Antonio mission will send six stakes to this mission.
  • Texas Dallas West Mission-President Duane and Sister Kristi Farley: the Lewisville, Carrollton, and Irving stakes, where 46 missionaries are currently serving will become part of this renamed mission. Six stakes will come from the current Dallas mission. 

The faith of our missionaries in the face of these challenging times has been deeply moving to us. We love them and can't bear to part with any of them. Yet we are so proud to send some of our own to help establish and unify these missions. We've had the chance to meet both the Foxes and the Farleys and are so excited by the enthusiasm and love they are feeling for the missionaries and look forward to the work we will all be doing together. Thank you for all the support and faith you continue to show to our missionaries as they work to fulfill their purpose to spread the Gospel and share the love of our Savior.

Much Love from Texas,

President and Sister Chapman
Texas Fort Worth Mission