Dear John
- The name of a letter sent to a male missionary that indicates that the girl that was waiting for them is no longer doing so.
- Can also be used when a female missionary sends a letter to the guy that was waiting for them and asks them not to.
In essence, a dear John is a breakup letter. Although the classic form is a basic handwritten note, people have also been known to send wedding announcements. Missionaries once communicated with family and friends only through letters, packages, and email, with just two phone calls home a year (on Christmas and Mother's Day); since 2019 they have been allowed weekly contact by call or video, so the news now often arrives that way too.