Irene Lobo Simon

New York, New York South Mission

2014- 2015

My name is Irene Lobo Simon. This is how my family came to know about the church. My grandfather, the Late Mr. Manuel Abel, met a newly returned missionary named Michael Anthony who introduced him to the restored gospel. My grandfather got baptized in the year 1984. Followed by him, my uncles Babu & Chandar Abel and my mother Helen Lobo got baptized.

Later my mom fell in love with my father Bernard Alfred Lobo and she asked him to get baptized before they can get married. My father kept his promise by learning the gospel after which he got baptized and then they both married.

We three children were born to these good parents. I have two siblings, Priscilla Lobo and Romario Lobo. I was baptized in the year 1996 on the day of my birthday making it a very special occasion spiritually and temporally.

As I grew up in the church, my testimony on the truthfulness of The Book of Mormon started growing. During that time, like every other kid of my age, I was neither reading nor understanding the gospel. It is the time when I moved from primary to young women that I started doing my Personal Progress workbook diligently, which has helped me in gaining a strong testimony about the Church, our beliefs and most importantly the restored gospel of our savior Jesus Christ.

After graduating from being a young woman to a young single adult, I was persuaded by many members of my family and church leaders to apply and go on a full-time mission. As I fasted and prayed about serving a full-time mission, a question popped up saying “How am I going to repay my savior for his atonement which he has done for me?”

I realized that serving a mission would be the best way to show my gratitude to my Heavenly Father and my Savior Jesus Christ. When I started working on my mission application there were many challenges and trials I faced right from the beginning of that process. Even with all these challenges, I did not stop looking up to heaven and praying for help. After facing all the trials valiantly, I had the final interview with my Mission President and completed it successfully.

As I was waiting for my call letter, I remember praying every day that I should get a call to serve in my country. Eventually, the day came and I received my mission call letter on October 28th, 2013. I joyfully received the letter from the mission office and rushed home but I was very scared to open it.

My family, who saw me getting nervous and anxious, helped me cool down. I, slowly, opened my call letter assuming my mission call would be within the country. As I was too scared and unable to read properly, my sister helped me by reading the letter. My entire world changed when I heard “You are called to serve in New York, New York South Mission”

I quickly realized that Heavenly Father had different plans for me. My reporting date was March 31st, 2014.

On the day of the journey, all the members of my family had gathered from a farewell and a family prayer. I was scared but a strong feeling surrounded me saying “everything will be ok”.

I remember Sister Judy, who works in the mission office, call me and she quoted D&C 84:88 “…I will be on your right hand and left for I will go before your face and my spirit shall be in your hearts and mine angels round about you to bear you up”

I can never forget this first journey I took through airways across different countries and beautiful terrains.

Temple was a heaven on earth. The joy and happiness I felt by being inside that holy place and doing all of the endowments are unimaginable. The best part of it is that it all happened on my Grandfather’s birthday.

The eighteen months of my mission changed my life completely. My testimony grew a hundred times stronger. I had the privilege of teaching many and baptize 8 children of our heavenly father. That moment was and is very special to me. Looking at them getting baptized and making their covenants was the best thing that I have witnessed in my life. The experience I have gained by serving a full-time mission is immense.

I have learned more about the love that our heavenly father has for his children.

Serving in the Lord’s Vineyard was the best thing that has ever happened to me in my life.

I left home with an inch of faith and now I know with certainty that the restored gospel can change people’s lives and it has certainly changed me.

I am very grateful for Prophet Joseph Smith and the priesthood keys he restored.

Now, I am married to a handsome priesthood holder who loves me and cares for me.