altersteve Posted January 24, 2012 Posted January 24, 2012 ...and I'm freaking out.I'm not leaving for several months (I don't have my call yet), but I'm really starting to get nervous (but also very excited). I don't know if this is the right place to do this, but does anyone have any tips? I'm reading everything I can about how to serve a successful mission, so if anyone has any additional pointers to offer, it would be greatly appreciated. Anything would be fantastic. (Not that matters really, but I am 20 years old, so I'm leaving a little late -- will this affect anything?)Thank you in advance.
Duncan Posted January 24, 2012 Posted January 24, 2012 Lots of thoughts!http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705397781/30-things-to-remember-as-a-missionary.html?s_cid=rss-1228Good luck! Here's hoping you go to God's wonderland aka Canada or California is very nice too!
bluebell Posted January 24, 2012 Posted January 24, 2012 Missions are awesome, but i completely understand being nervous-i know i was. Very. Being 20 won't matter-no one will even know unless you tell them and even if you do I can't imagine that anyone would care.I don't know what advice to give. Just be courageous and work on growing closer to Heavenly Father and the Savior. Serving a successful mission is all about being willing to work hard, conquer your fear, and having the Spirit with you. Anything you can do to help you get into the mindset of being focused on those things is bound to help.
Peppermint Patty Posted January 24, 2012 Posted January 24, 2012 Only write about interesting events and avoid wasting your time writing about boring, mundane or repetitive things. Focus your journal on thoughts and people. Make sure you record in your journal their contact info (phone number and address). I guarantee that at some point after your mission you will want to send them a card or catch up with them. Finally, record your ideas. Be brutally honest here. Write about things you learn and what you are thinking about. Leave a trail of how your thoughts grow and evolve.I wish someone would have given me this advice before my mission. Good luck and I hope you get called to Japan.
ERayR Posted January 24, 2012 Posted January 24, 2012 ...and I'm freaking out.I'm not leaving for several months (I don't have my call yet), but I'm really starting to get nervous (but also very excited). I don't know if this is the right place to do this, but does anyone have any tips? I'm reading everything I can about how to serve a successful mission, so if anyone has any additional pointers to offer, it would be greatly appreciated. Anything would be fantastic. (Not that matters really, but I am 20 years old, so I'm leaving a little late -- will this affect anything?)Thank you in advance. Don't try to teach your knowledge without the spirit.
Storm Rider Posted January 24, 2012 Posted January 24, 2012 ...and I'm freaking out.I'm not leaving for several months (I don't have my call yet), but I'm really starting to get nervous (but also very excited). I don't know if this is the right place to do this, but does anyone have any tips? I'm reading everything I can about how to serve a successful mission, so if anyone has any additional pointers to offer, it would be greatly appreciated. Anything would be fantastic. (Not that matters really, but I am 20 years old, so I'm leaving a little late -- will this affect anything?)Thank you in advance. There are the normal things in mission preparation: what to bring, proper number of shirts, suits, clothing, etc. However, the one thing that I would encourage you to spend a considerable time contemplating is what it means to be a disciple of Christ and understanding that you have been called to be his minister. If you can understand these two things then you will be lead in love; love of the people, love of your companion, love of the work, love of your trials, and love of the pain you will come to know. You will be patient in trials and in your joys. You will know when to turn the other cheek and when to stand firm and testify of Christ. You wil also come to know that it is not about the number of lessons you teach, how many you baptize, or how many Book of Mormons you give away. Your calling is to testify and teach the gospel of Christ; to bring others to him. Baptism is the natural response to coming to a knowledge of Jesus Christ and his Church.I promise you that if you will become a true disciple of Christ and know the purpose of your calling you will know peace and joy as his servant. God speed.
JDave Posted January 24, 2012 Posted January 24, 2012 Don't stress too much about being a "perfect" missionary. Be an AWESOME missionary! 1
Bill “Papa” Lee Posted January 24, 2012 Posted January 24, 2012 ...and I'm freaking out.I'm not leaving for several months (I don't have my call yet), but I'm really starting to get nervous (but also very excited). I don't know if this is the right place to do this, but does anyone have any tips? I'm reading everything I can about how to serve a successful mission, so if anyone has any additional pointers to offer, it would be greatly appreciated. Anything would be fantastic. (Not that matters really, but I am 20 years old, so I'm leaving a little late -- will this affect anything?)Thank you in advance. My son has been out a year...he did not go until he was 20, not everyone is on the same time table. One book I would recommend...http://www.amazon.com/grace-are-we-saved/dp/0884946940
KevinG Posted January 24, 2012 Posted January 24, 2012 From a mundane and practical standpoint make sure you have some budget stashed away for equipping yourself. The cost of immunizations, suits, suitcases, socks, passport, mosquito spray, and widsom teeth removal almost depleted our sons mission savings. We had prepared for the cost of the mission itself but not the preparation (especially the requirements of an overseas mission in a remote area).It was worth the cost, but don't be surprised at the last minute. You may be required to do some medical/dental work in preparation and that can be expensive.Bring extra cash to the airport for bag fees and balance the two suitcases by weight so they are under 50 ils. each if possible.Write your mother regularly and include the little details of daily life and your mission work. Your family will want to know everything from the kinds of transportation you use, to the meals you eat, to the families you teach to the character of the wards you serve. It may all be obvious to you but we wont get any idea of what you are experiecing unless you share the details. The best call we got from my son was when he had to stand outside with a cell phone due to a metal roof. We heard chickens, motorcycles and giggling girls. It was great!Get a fathers blessing before you leave. Never, ever, ever think you can sneak away from your companion without putting yourself in danger physically and spiritually. Depend on each other!Eat the local food. It will thrill the sisters and honor them.
Pahoran Posted January 24, 2012 Posted January 24, 2012 My suggestions: Get into the habit of reading the scriptures and praying each day. As a missionary this will be built into your daily schedule, and it will be easier to adjust to if you're already doing it.Take out your endowments as soon as you can, and attend the temple regularly thereafter; but don't try doing any all-day marathons. Don't do any more than two sessions without a break.Stay physically active and keep yourself fit. Get a bike and ride it every day.Study Preach My Gospel.Make yourself available to trade off with the missionaries whenever you can.Be patient with yourself.Don't treat this list like a checklist; they're only suggestions.Regards,Pahoran
cinepro Posted January 25, 2012 Posted January 25, 2012 Lots of good suggestions.Some of the biggest problems I've been hearing about with guys on missions these days is "withdrawl" from texting, cell phones, facebook, TV and video games. I've even heard of missionaries leaving the MTC because they just couldn't take it.So if you find yourself contantly doing any of those things, the sooner you can ween yourself off, the better.Online discussion forums excepted, of course
volgadon Posted January 25, 2012 Posted January 25, 2012 ...and I'm freaking out.I'm not leaving for several months (I don't have my call yet), but I'm really starting to get nervous (but also very excited). I don't know if this is the right place to do this, but does anyone have any tips? I'm reading everything I can about how to serve a successful mission, so if anyone has any additional pointers to offer, it would be greatly appreciated. Anything would be fantastic. (Not that matters really, but I am 20 years old, so I'm leaving a little late -- will this affect anything?)Thank you in advance. I left a few months before I turned 22, so don't worry, you'll be fine.In addition to the excellent suggestions already offered, learn how to cook, how to carry out basic maintenance around the home, and put togehter a photoalbum of you, your friends and your family. People like to see who you are when you aren't on a mission. It builds a connection. Don't overdo it, of course. "This is Uncle Ted in front of the house. This is Uncle Ted at the back of the house. And this is Uncle Ted at the side of the house. This is Uncle Ted, back again at the front of the house, but you can see the side of the house."Learn as much as you can about where you are going to serve, as well as its culture and history. Helps you connect to the place and people better. This is particularly true for serving a mission overseas, but even in the USA it wouldn't hurt. 1
rpn Posted January 26, 2012 Posted January 26, 2012 I asked a nephew once how many people he baptized. His reply was that he had made it a goal not to baptize a single person. That converts have special relationships with the people they have baptize them, and it is far better for them to have that special relationship with someone who is going to be around. So he made sure his investigators knew and loved a local member sufficient to want them to do the baptizing. I thought he was very wise. 1
Nevo Posted January 26, 2012 Posted January 26, 2012 I'm reading everything I can about how to serve a successful mission, so if anyone has any additional pointers to offer, it would be greatly appreciated. Anything would be fantastic.You may already be familiar with this site, but there are some excellent resources here: http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/recommended-reading/lds-talks-on-missionary-work/
silvermoon383 Posted January 26, 2012 Posted January 26, 2012 -Do everything your mission president says, but take what the APs and Zone Leaders say with a very large grain of salt.-Early on figure out what the common investigator concerns are in your mission and learn how to help them through them.-Be ready to deal with a bad companion. Hopefully you won't have as many as I did.-Never, EVER get trunky enough to shut down in your last few weeks before returning home. If you do you'll become a huge burden to your companion.-Listen to your companion, no matter how much you hate his guts.-Always treat the sister missionaries with respect and treat them as people, not stat machines or loads.-"And remember, you gotta have a little fun everyday." (Artim) 1
Mansquatch Posted January 27, 2012 Posted January 27, 2012 Have fun and make friends with anyone you can find. A zone leader once said to me that he didn't come on a mission to make friends. Friendship is one of the fundamental principles of Mormonism.
cinepro Posted January 27, 2012 Posted January 27, 2012 -Be ready to deal with a bad companion. Hopefully you won't have as many as I did.I had some pretty bad companions, and when I complained about one to my mission president, he very honestly told me that there just weren't enough good missionaries for everyone to have a "good" companion. And there weren't very many "good" missionaries that could deal with a bad companion in a positive way.I know he meant it as a compliment, and I know he spent a lot of time trying to figure out constructive ways to deal with the bad missionaries, but I'm still a little bitter at the time I wasted with my bad companions. This was before the "raise the bar" program, and I've always hoped it was successful in reducing the need to assign bad companions to the missionaries that are there to work.
silvermoon383 Posted January 27, 2012 Posted January 27, 2012 I was out before the "raising the bar" period too. Heck, I was on my mission when President Hinckley made the announcement. From the missionaries I've dealt with since coming home I think it has worked, or at least as much as you can tell as a "civilian".
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