The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - Barrie Ontario Stake

09/15/2026

An update from Hermana Chaggares

Hi everyone!

Umán is amazing and there is so much work to do!! I feel so happy and glad to be here right now.

We have soooo many friends in teaching right now but a lot of them are family's so its okay. We've been doing a lot of teaching and not as much finding.

It is such a joy sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ, and seeing the change it can make so quickly in peoples lives. What a privilege it is so be a missionary in this time. The Lord is truly gathering his people.

We set a date for baptism with our friend Mar this week! She is amazing and has such a strong testimony already. We also have a baptism this Saturday with our friend Fausto! 🌊🌊 which is so great because this branch hasn't had a baptism in 6 months

This wednesday is mexico independence dayyyyy so that will be so fun. Yay mexico!! I love it here. The heat is still a lot but it should start to cool down in the next couple months!

The gospel of Jesus Christ is for EVERYONE. I promise that it can and will change your life for the better.

I love this quote from brad wilcox:

God’s grace is sufficient. Jesus’s grace is sufficient. It is enough. It is all we need. Don’t quit. Keep trying. Don’t look for escapes and excuses. Look for the Lord and His perfect strength. Don’t search for someone to blame. Search for someone to help you. Seek Christ, and, as you do, you will feel the enabling power and divine help we call His amazing grace.

All we need is Jesus

Okay love you all so much!!!
Until next time,
Jaryn

09/15/2026

09/09/2026

An exciting event coming up soon!

09/09/2026

A new update from Hermana Chaggares.

Holiiiiiiissssss

I had a great week!
Tuesday was my last day in Campeche! We had a great lesson with our friend braulio, and later that week he accepted the invitation to be baptized! So exited for him 😆

Wednesday we left early in the morning to head to Mérida, I met my new comp Hermana Bigler, and then we headed to our area which is Umán. Its a pueblo about 30 from merida and its so fun and cute. We take moto taxis everywhere, theres cute flags and the people are great.

My comp is amazing! Were having so much fun together. She loves to sing too so we just sing all the time. She's from Thatcher Arizona and only has 3 months left on the mission 🤗

I'm excited for what this transfer will bring and what we'll accomplish together 😛

Also apparently theres a dog that has been with the missionaries in our area for years but I've yet to meet her because shes lost right now lol, hopefully she comes back 🐕

This week I was thinking a lot about the importance of accepting Jesus as our Saviour, and giving our lives to him.

When we can trust in the Lord, our lives will change! Our stress will be lightened, and our days will be filled with more joy 🙃🙃

Anyways love you all miss you all and love hearing from you!!
Hermana Chaggares

09/07/2026

These photo's go with Elder McLaren's latest email.

09/07/2026

Another email from Elder McLaren.

He acknowledges the sad passing of his grandfather Wilbur Puddicombe. Another sweet email.

Salut!! I sincerely hope y'all are doing well! As always I'm excited to hear from y'all.

Before I share about the work here in Kegué I wanted to acknowledge the passing of my grandfather last week. I received the news while calling my family on p-day and it was a very sad for me and, of course, my family. In times like this I can't help but remember Jacob's hopeful declaration, “O how great the plan of our God!” because I know where my papa is. I know that his compassionate spirit is sharing his kindness in the spirit world alongside his son Timothy to the spirits in needs of Jesus’ gospel. I will miss his presence in my life but his impact is forever felt.

In regards to the work this week it was another hard one, and yet miracles espoused this Sunday. We had our friend Kossi come back to church while also having 3 new faces!! THE POWER OF FASTING!!! Though the friends he had planned on coming to church didn't make it, we were blessed with other ones that are ready for this gospel. Hopefully we can help and serve them this week.

Also this week should be a fun one!! Elder Goury of the West Africa area presidency is touring the mission this week!! I am so excited to meet him again because I was able to meet him about a year ago right before my mission. He used to be the Mission President of the Benin Cotonou mission so I'm sure he'll be excited to see how much it has grown!!

On the companionship side of things Elder Rushforth has been so fun to serve with!! I often find myself using my best U.K. vocab. “Elder Rushforth do you reckon these chaps would want to hear from us today?”, “Surely you don't actually think Tottenham is the best club”, "Do you have any quid for some crips tonight?”, it usually goes something like that. He's a super kind guy and has been really fun to get to know. 💂‍♀️

Office duties have been about the same, I've learned most of what we do apparently so all should be well!! The other pair of Elders that work in the office are Elder Bradshaw and Elder Mangani which has been fun; I love those guys.

We've been getting into some great “Monopoly Deal” games at night. Monopoly Deal is essentially the card game version of Monopoly and I find it to be a lot more than actually Monopoly (because it doesn't take hours to finish a round). However I haven't won yet. Everytime I'm about a card or two away from my 3rd full set I get hit with a deal breaker from Elder Rushforth 🤷‍♂️. I don't even know how he always gets that card right as I'm about to win but it takes all the joy I have from playing. I don't play to win though I play to hangout with the Elders.

Anyways I've said too much so I'll leave you with the invitation to write to me again. I always love hearing from y'all!!!

This is the way.

- Elder McLaren

09/03/2026

Description of the photo's

To friendship and happiness" - Gabriel and Gideon
"It's bright innit". - 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿⚽️☕️💂‍♀️👸
Contacting neighborhood with a lot of "rubbish"
DA DISTRICT.
Not dead. Just tired

09/03/2026

A new email from Hermana Chaggares!

Hola todos!!

Our trio had a lovely week.
Today we're going to Edzna where there are lots of cool ruins! And lots of iguanas.
Campeche is sp beautiful and everyday I'm greatful that I got to stay here! We climb huge hills everyday which is so hard but worth it when we get to see the ocean and pretty views of the city. Its nice that we also get the breeze off the ocean which helps with the heat a little bit. On the super hot days the wind only makes it worse and it feels like a sauna.

I think 5 weeks into the field i'm getting the hang of things and feeling more confident! Which is fun. I found a lot of joy in teaching lessons this week and getting to connect with our friends and the members too.

Me and my comp hermana harvey found out that we are third cousins. So crazy. Thank you family search.

Also we just found out that I am being transfered early to merida! Transfers are on september 8th, but due to some changes over there and other things im not to sure exactly, but I'm leaving Campeche and moving to Umán, Mérida this wednesday!

I'm sad to leave my companions 🤧 I love them so much. We have had such a good couple weeks together. And im also so sad to leave our friends in teaching. But I know the Lord has a plan. I can already see that everything that has happened on my mission so far has been for a specific reason. So I'm excited to see what this new area will be bring. I think its also so funny that I will have had 4 compañeras in my first transfer.

I love this gospel! The gospel of Jesus Christ is so beautiful and so simple. Sometimes its so easy to get caught up on abstract questions or little things that bother us, but we need tp just focus on Christ. The most important thing is Him. Always!
2 Nephi 25:26 says: And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.



Photos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/621pPbrFE7HG346N7

I miss and love you all and hope you had a great week!!
Peace out,
Hermana Chaggares

Shared album · Tap to view!

09/03/2026

Another email from Elder McLaren, they have sister missionaries. He is in his new area, and driving, which is crazy in Africa.

Mes amis, je suis tellement heureuse de vous écrire aujourd'hui!!!

So my first week in Kelegougan (Kegué) has been a super fun and new experience. We've had a few great experiences in and out of the office.

In the office this week I've been thrown right into work, which is a good thing and it's been exciting to learn so many new things. Elder Rushforth and I are in charge of handling many of the missionary finances for the mission. We've also had the opportunity to send home a group of beloved missionaries while welcoming in a new wave of missionaries. Also it's been great to work closer with the senior missionaries, the Smiths!! Just the sweetest and most fun people ever! Another benefit of being in the office has been that my trainer Elder Hays is AP now and he's also at the office often so I've been able to see him more! Also I've been driving 🚗 throughout the week which has been a long-missed feeling. Driving in Africa is insane though…

Out of the office this week has been a grind. The area is definitely a difficult one, but nonetheless it was great work. Elder Rushforth and I have given all our efforts this week and we've seen miracles already. We've miraculously had a friend come to church this week! I would ask you all to pray for our friend Kossi that he may continue to progress and to receive the teachings from us.

Also if any of y'all know me you know I am not fan of talking with Sister missionaries, in fact since getting to the field I've only ever held one conversation with a Sister missionary. However all that has gone down the drain. I am no longer in all Elder zones and I've been forced into so many conversations. Currently the Kelegougan ward consists of Elder Rushforth and I and two Sister missionaries, so it has been fun sharing a ward with some Sisters. This is the first time Kelegougan has had Sister missionaries so many members are excited. By the way I don't have anything against Sister missionaries I'm just making a joke… sort of.

Anyways I've said too much so I'll let you guys go with a hymn to listen to. More specifically I would invite you to listen to, “I'll Go Where You Want Me to Go” sung at the 2022 April General Conference. So good.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/9bZaufZfW9vAFAnk9

This is the way.

- Elder McLaren

Shared album · Tap to view!

09/02/2026

We wish to express our condolences to the Puddicombe family of the Brampton Stake on the Passing of Brother Wilbert Puddicombe. Many members of the Barrie Stake have fond memories of Brother Puddicombe who was regularly found faithfully serving in the Toronto temple.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, September 12 at 11:00am at the Wanless chapel in Brampton.