Chile La Serena Mission
Mission leaders
Pace J. and Marilyn McConkie
Began service ~July 2024 (three-year terms, “on or about July 1”) · estimated release 2027-07-01 estimate · source: Church Newsroom 2024 · as of October 8, 2026
Mission office
Office address and phone: Not yet verified. Use the address in your call packet or the Missionary Portal. as of October 8, 2026
Letters & packages
Import duties and customs delays are common here. Many parents send small padded envelopes or use the pouch/letter options from the call packet; declare low values honestly and avoid sending valuables.
- Your missionary can email weekly on P-day; letters and packages are optional extras.
- Confirm the current mailing address with the mission office or the call packet before sending — offices move.
- Small, padded envelopes usually travel faster and cheaper than boxes; declare contents honestly and avoid restricted items.
- Mail-by dates for holidays and a calendar reminder are in the interactive guide.
Weather & climate
Profile: arid · about 87 mm of rain a year.
Monthly averages
| Avg high | Avg low | Rain | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 79°F / 26°C | 60°F / 16°C | 0 mm |
| Feb | 80°F / 26°C | 61°F / 16°C | 0 mm |
| Mar | 78°F / 25°C | 59°F / 15°C | 0 mm |
| Apr | 74°F / 23°C | 55°F / 13°C | 4 mm |
| May | 70°F / 21°C | 51°F / 11°C | 24 mm |
| Jun | 66°F / 19°C | 47°F / 9°C | 29 mm |
| Jul | 65°F / 19°C | 47°F / 8°C | 17 mm |
| Aug | 67°F / 20°C | 48°F / 9°C | 17 mm |
| Sep | 70°F / 21°C | 50°F / 10°C | 2 mm |
| Oct | 72°F / 22°C | 52°F / 11°C | 3 mm |
| Nov | 75°F / 24°C | 55°F / 13°C | 1 mm |
| Dec | 77°F / 25°C | 57°F / 14°C | 1 mm |
Monthly averages computed from Open-Meteo historical weather data (2016–2025, ERA5 reanalysis) for a ~1° grid cell near the mission city. Approximate; local altitude and coast effects vary.
Language
Spanish
Spanish is phonetic: vowels are always a (ah), e (eh), i (ee), o (oh), u (oo). Stress usually falls on the second-to-last syllable unless an accent mark says otherwise. Use "usted" (formal you) with adults until invited to use "tú".
Assignments can include other languages; your call letter states your language.
Nearby temples
- Viña del Mar Chile Temple — Site announced (1 October 2023) · ~348 km
- Santiago Chile Temple — Operating (15 September 1983) · ~399 km
- Santiago West Chile Temple — Under construction (17 August 2024) · ~399 km
- Mendoza Argentina Temple — Operating (22 September 2024) · ~403 km
The Church in Chile
- Official Languages
- Spanish
- Church Membership
- 624,203
- Congregations
- 578 (456 Wards, 122 Branches)
- Number of Missions
- 11
- Operating Temples
- 3
Newsroom Facts & Statistics · updated Fri Mar 06 2026
Practical
- Time zone
- America/Santiago
- Currency
- CLP
- Country code
- +56
- U.S. travel advisory
- Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution as of 2026-10-08
- Organized
- 1 July 2024
Culture & food
- Greet with a cheek kiss (women) or handshake.
- Earthquake safety is important.
Foods: Empanadas de pino, Pastel de choclo, Cazuela, Completos
Next steps
Official: Missionary Portal · Missionary resources