Missionaries Now To Live With Members!

[auteur55]

Did everyone else get the annoucement today that Missionaries across America will be hustled out of their apartments on September 1st and must find a member family to move in with? Missonaries will now be living with members instead of in the privacy of their own apartments. The missionaries in my area looked white as ghosts as they shared the news.

But don't worry about sharing your bathroom with two strange 19 yr old boys just yet...your house has to qualify. You must have a seperate room where the missionaries have access to their own bathroom. They will however need time in your kitchen to prepare meals and access to your laundry room on P-day. If there is a single sister in the home or your spouse is left home for long periods of time (basically 80% of the church) your home will not qualify. An emergency move out will occur if your daughter comes home from college for any length of time.

Member are to help the missionaries keep the law of chastity, avoid tv and music and generally be obedient. The church says this will save mucho dollores in missionary expenses.

Good luck Elders.

We also are having a food drive for our missionaries here because they are not getting enough food.

Between not being trusted to not hit on a married sister and avoiding holding an investigators kid due to fears of miscontrued sexual impropriety it is indeed a strange time to be a missionary.

[rick7475]

I find this to be an excellent win-win situation. For missionaries in isolated areas they can become part of a 'family', and for members they have an opportunity to serve and have a little bit of extra spirituality in their homes. Missionaries put up with a lot in the field and it can be really hard when you come home to your lonely appartment.

And it is not an original idea. Members familes have been trying to have misssionary appartments in their homes before but there was little control over regulations. Now the church has come up with those regulations. It will be cheaper for missionaries (and less burden on the parents paying for the mission) and they receive hopefully spiritual support from a good family. I can't express how much I apprecaite the great wisdom in this move. Can you imagine the kids growing up with missionaries in their homes? What finer examples for your sons and daughters in the gospel.

And yes, you naysayers can point out the potential problems with abuses that might creep up, but in the long run, I believe the program will be a great success for both the missionares and the families.

[SolarPowered]

An emergency move out will occur if your daughter comes home from college for any length of time.

Man, those wicked females, just waiting to lead the sons of Zion astray...

[auteur55]

And it is not an original idea. Members familes have been trying to have misssionary appartments in their homes before but there was little control over regulations. Now the church has come up with those regulations. It will be cheaper for missionaries (and less burden on the parents paying for the mission) and they receive hopefully spiritual support from a good family. I can't express how much I apprecaite the great wisdom in this move. Can you imagine the kids growing up with missionaries in their homes? What finer examples for your sons and daughters in the gospel.

I do think this is what the church hopes, somewhat naively, will happen. It will work in some areas for certain lengths of time but in other areas it could be a disaster. I don't see how homes with a female in the family are consistently going to keep the missionaries from being alone with them and we shouldn't put so much fear and uncomfortableness on members and the missionaries. We need to trust them to act like representatives of the Lord.

There were many missionaries I served with on my mission that I wouldn't want living in my home. One of these bad apples get's in here and there will be problems. For every good missionary there is a messy, lazy, socially inept one that will offend the members. I just don't see this, as a mandatory thing for members, as something that will work across the board.

Also, I don't believe members will be paying any less monthly for their missionaries so it will not benefit them financially.

[juliann]

Eh, missionaries were living with one members at least ten years ago in my area which has a high concentration of Mormons (our missionaries are in danger of getting fat). I donated a bed. The rules were they had to have their own room and bathroom. You forgot the part about the members being paid to do this, BTW. They weren't expected to support them. And they don't even send out male home teachers alone to single women so I don't know why that is shocking when it comes to living in the same house.

[juliann]

I do think this is what the church hopes, somewhat naively, will happen. It will work in some areas for certain lengths of time but in other areas it could be a disaster.

Well, isn't that the case with just about everything? I don't understand your negativity...you won't be forced to have them, you know. I am sure there is at least one person in a mission area that would appreciate the extra income. If you are going to rent out a room, this wouldn't be a bad way to go....they are not home much.

[Jan]

From the time of my conversion 6 years ago to just a couple of years ago, the missionaries in our ward lived in members' homes and not in apartments. I thought the move to apartments was a strange one since the other was so familiar to me. Apartments in our area (and it is not one of the prime areas with even higher rates) are $1000 per month minimum and there are only 2 bedrooms so that's 4 missionaries. I think the amount that members got was far less than this - more or less covering utilities and consumables.

Single sisters can have sister missionaries live with them, I would think.

[Deborah]

I've been in wards where the missionaries lived in members homes where available; I do think this is the preference. It is interesting though they are going to make this an official program. I was wondering what to do with my household space when my kids decide to move. Maybe I can get a couple of sister missionaries.

[fatherofone]

Did everyone else get the annoucement today that Missionaries across America will be hustled out of their apartments on September 1st and must find a member family to move in with? Missonaries will now be living with members instead of in the privacy of their own apartments. The missionaries in my area looked white as ghosts as they shared the news.

But don't worry about sharing your bathroom with two strange 19 yr old boys just yet...your house has to qualify. You must have a seperate room where the missionaries have access to their own bathroom. They will however need time in your kitchen to prepare meals and access to your laundry room on P-day. If there is a single sister in the home or your spouse is left home for long periods of time (basically 80% of the church) your home will not qualify. An emergency move out will occur if your daughter comes home from college for any length of time.

Member are to help the missionaries keep the law of chastity, avoid tv and music and generally be obedient. The church says this will save mucho dollores in missionary expenses.

Good luck Elders.

We also are having a food drive for our missionaries here because they are not getting enough food.

Between not being trusted to not hit on a married sister and avoiding holding an investigators kid due to fears of miscontrued sexual impropriety it is indeed a strange time to be a missionary.

Are you serious?

[juliann]

I think the amount that members got was far less than this - more or less covering utilities and consumables.

I recall it being in the $200 range but it was an long time ago. At any rate, this particular member would not have been doing it if it wasn't helping pay her bills.

[Jan]

I recall it being in the $200 range but it was an long time ago. At any rate, this particular member would not have been doing it if it wasn't helping pay her bills.

Yeah, something like that. IIRC, it was about $360 for 2 elders in our area a few years ago. My point was that it wasn't near what rent in the area is so it is a considerable savings for the missionaries - especially when multiplied by 54,000 (give or take) per month.

[auteur55]

You forgot the part about the members being paid to do this, BTW

They get $75 a month for increased utility bills. This is the only compensation.

Juliann, I think there are areas where a certain member home will be a perfect fit. My problem is with the mandatory responsibility wards have to find a home for the missionaries. There was a big discussion today in priesthood where the missionaries would go and we, as of yet, can't find a home that would even qualify.

The missionaries discussed the fear of being with a family who has a daughter or one in which the spouse is home alone a lot. After arriving home from a discussion, should they sit on the porch until the husband arrives.

If a member would love to have a pair of missionaries staying with them they should be encouraged to petition the church. I just find it odd that missionaries are homeless come September 1st. The ward is left scratching their heads as to where to put them.

[Jan]

BTW, the letter was NOT read in our ward meeting today (at least, not in sacrament or RS).

And the mission president was one of the speakers today.

[freakin a man]

I did not hear this news and I would think it would be announced in general conference and a transition period would occur that would be more than a few months. I am sort of skeptical of this being a North American thing. Perhaps they should try it out in a single mission first to see if it works.

[Deborah]

I think the ideal situation would be the home of an elderly couple where the chicks have flown the nest and there's extra space and no young daughters at home.

[Calm]

I think the ideal situation would be the home of an elderly couple where the chicks have flown the nest and there's extra space and no young daughters at home.

Our place would be ideal in a few years. They could even set up their own kitchen for less complicated meals and we could put in a smaller washer and dryer unit. Would love to do it, as long as the mission were responsible for cleanup when the transfer took place (wouldn't even mind doing that except for health reasons).

Only problem is me being home a lot, but the house is very separated and from what I know of missionary schedules, it wouldn't be a problem except for an occasional night class husband teaches.

I wonder if you can have a separate entrance and shut off the communicating door, if the restriction of having a daughter in the house would apply.

[nana]

Did everyone else get the annoucement today that Missionaries across America will be hustled out of their apartments on September 1st and must find a member family to move in with? Missonaries will now be living with members instead of in the privacy of their own apartments. The missionaries in my area looked white as ghosts as they shared the news.

But don't worry about sharing your bathroom with two strange 19 yr old boys just yet...your house has to qualify. You must have a seperate room where the missionaries have access to their own bathroom. They will however need time in your kitchen to prepare meals and access to your laundry room on P-day. If there is a single sister in the home or your spouse is left home for long periods of time (basically 80% of the church) your home will not qualify. An emergency move out will occur if your daughter comes home from college for any length of time.

Member are to help the missionaries keep the law of chastity, avoid tv and music and generally be obedient. The church says this will save mucho dollores in missionary expenses.

Good luck Elders.

We also are having a food drive for our missionaries here because they are not getting enough food.

Between not being trusted to not hit on a married sister and avoiding holding an investigators kid due to fears of miscontrued sexual impropriety it is indeed a strange time to be a missionary.

How pathetic is that? a food drive for the missionaries because they are not getting enough food? Good Grief, maybe a mall in every mission would be a good idea, they could have vouchers for the food courts.

But it wouldn't come from tithing .

This just makes me sad. That the church can spend over 2 billion on a mall, but can't feed their missionaries.

[Calm]

How pathetic is that? a food drive for the missionaries because they are not getting enough food? Good Grief, maybe a mall in every mission would be a good idea, they could have vouchers for the food courts.

But it wouldn't come from tithing .

This just makes me sad. That the church can spend over 2 billion on a mall, but can't feed their missionaries.

Of course it can feed the missionaries, but I think it's a wonderful idea to get help from the members like in inviting missionaries over to eat, the most common way for a member to contribute directly to the effort in their area; a food drive sounds like another great idea to provide them with breakfast and lunch. If missionaries are starving, it is more likely a management issue at the local level either with the missionaries themselves (including spending food money on nonfood items--I've seen that) or a lack of communication.

[oats]

If the missionaries are not eating it is more than likely a problem that is caused by their own mismanagement of funds. That or they are on mandatory steak and lobster diets and their funds are depleted after the second week of each month. Or they have eating disorders, or they are trying to maintain their luscious 400 lb figure.

[nana]

If the missionaries are not eating it is more than likely a problem that is caused by their own mismanagement of funds. That or they are on mandatory steak and lobster diets and their funds are depleted after the second week of each month. Or they have eating disorders, or they are trying to maintain their luscious 400 lb figure.

Allow yourself 130.00 a month for food. Eat health and be happy.

[oats]

I'm a pretty recently returned missionary.

People are not doing the missionaries favours by pampering them. While their main purpose to teach the gospel and bring people to Christ, the mission is a growing experience in many ways. People shouldn't try to take the missionaries' responsibilities on their own shoulders and encourage them to continue in their slothful ways.

Despite the poverty many missionaries may have experienced in the past, it is much different in the mission field today. The missionaries receive adequate amounts of support from the missionary fund. I am certain that it is uncommon to non-existant that you would be able to find under supported missionaries.

Some missionaries could learn valuable life lessons for the future if they were not babied so much.

[nana]

I'm a pretty recently returned missionary.

People are not doing the missionaries favours by pampering them. While their main purpose to teach the gospel and bring people to Christ, the mission is a growing experience in many ways. People shouldn't try to take the missionaries' responsibilities on their own shoulders and encourage them to continue in their slothful ways.

Despite the poverty many missionaries may have experienced in the past, it is much different in the mission field today. The missionaries receive adequate amounts of support from the missionary fund. I am certain that it is uncommon to non-existant that you would be able to find under supported missionaries.

Some missionaries could learn valuable life lessons for the future if they were not babied so much.

Define pampering please.

[oats]

Food drive. Maybe that isn't pampering. Sorry.

It's good intentioned, but what led to this? How much effort are the missionaries spending garnering pity about their lack of funds?

[Ray Callis Hatton III]

My family history is very used to this. There is a very funny story of Missionaries that stayed in his house and used his room. Were any of you, as a child, were scare of the dark, and when you were going to sleep turned out the light and then ran and jump in the bed? ... Yeah, you guessed it. As the missionaries went to bed, one of them apparently did this. I suppose, slightly unfamiliar with room, the missionary turned the light out, ran and jumped, and missed the bed and the whole house heard a large BAM, and knew exactly what just happened.

[Calm]

Allow yourself 130.00 a month for food. Eat health and be happy.

Prepared foods tend to be more expensive--breakfast cereals are more expensive than making pancakes or eggs or hot cereal. Lunch at fast food places rather than making their own sandwiches, etc. It's usually the dinner that chews up the dollars, something that is supposed to be subsided by the wards.

From what I've personally heard of missionaries that are reduced to eating ramen, it's usually because of other choices including not speaking up if their any of their needs aren't being met.

If missionaries are able to eat at members' or investigators' homes almost every night, that is going to cut down on their food board. If a ward is not willing to do something along these lines and are able, they should be scolded big time. If it is a ward that is not able to afford this type of help, then appeal to the stake for food drives sounds like a great alternative.

Again, I think it's very important to try and solve the problem as close to the source as possible, whether it's the missionary him or herself or problems within the ward support system.