Mission calls and Monday nights

[cinepro]

My daughter got her mission call in the mail last week.  She was in school in Utah, so my wife opened it up facing the webcam and my daughter read it.  I was at work and they called and told me about it later.  So I didn't even get invited to my own daughter's call opening!  

Edited April 24, 2018 by cinepro

[Duncan]

51 minutes ago, cinepro said:

My daughter got her mission call in the mail last week.  She was in school in Utah, so my wife opened it up facing the webcam and my daughter read it.  I was at work and they called and told me about it later.  So I didn't even get invited to my own daughter's call opening!  

where's she going?!

[bluebell]

59 minutes ago, cinepro said:

My daughter got her mission call in the mail last week.  She was in school in Utah, so my wife opened it up facing the webcam and my daughter read it.  I was at work and they called and told me about it later.  So I didn't even get invited to my own daughter's call opening!  

That happened to my dad too. He was out of town for work and just listened to me read it over the phone.  

[Scott Lloyd]

4 hours ago, will227457 said:

I went on my mission in 1996, I remember getting a letter in the mail, like on a tuesday, I went to my moms room and opened it. It said where I was going and that was it. No big todo. Not necessary.

There are a lot of harmless things that are not necessary that we do for pleasure and happiness. 

A mission call is a major event for young women and men in this stage of their lives. I won’t begrudge them this social rite of passage, and I won’t look down on it just because we did things differently in my day. 

[cinepro]

4 hours ago, Duncan said:

where's she going?!

Houston, East. 

Interestingly, my brother went there 20 years ago, and met his wife there, so he was really happy to hear it.

Also interestingly, my brother was adopted from Mexico as an infant, and my daughter is going to the Mexico MTC, so my brother said "she'll be more Mexican than I am!"

[Duncan]

3 minutes ago, cinepro said:

Houston, East. 

Interestingly, my brother went there 20 years ago, and met his wife there, so he was really happy to hear it.

Also interestingly, my brother was adopted from Mexico as an infant, and my daughter is going to the Mexico MTC, so my brother said "she'll be more Mexican than I am!"

hahahhahahha! that's awesome! I knew a guy who went to that mission as well, like 20 years ago as well!!! he was an AP but he was a cool guy!

[Hamba Tuhan]

3 hours ago, Scott Lloyd said:

There are a lot of harmless things that are not necessary that we do for pleasure and happiness. 

I think concerns arise when we feel/suspect that something may not actually be harmless.

[Scott Lloyd]

1 hour ago, Hamba Tuhan said:

I think concerns arise when we feel/suspect that something may not actually be harmless.

One could as easily suspect that harm could result from undue austerity. These are young men and women who for the most part haven’t altogether emerged from adolescence yet, most of whom are undertaking the biggest challenge and sacrifice of their lives. 

[Calm]

I think if everyone in the group supports each other no matter their standing in the youth 'hierarchy' as I have seen happen in some youth groups, it can be great.  If on the other hand, kids only go to the popular kids celebrations, it just becomes one more thing that make the less popular feel like outsiders.

[Bernard Gui]

On 4/23/2018 at 6:36 PM, rongo said:

I don't like it. I started a thread on this several months ago. I think it leads, for this generation, to the opening and reveal being the highlight of the mission, after which all else is anti-clamactic. The actual work of missionary work isn't as fun and stimulating as being the big-deal showcase of the mission reveal (youtube hijinks, going for production values with soundtracks, slow motion, etc.). In some cases, it is part of the reason for an early return. Missionaries want to continue to be social media stars on their missions, and it doesn't work that way. 

Couldn’t agree more if it is over-done.

16 hours ago, JAHS said:

My mission call 1972:
Brought the mail in and saw the letter. Opened it. Said I was going to Austria.
Gave it to my mom who read it and she shouted Australia?
I said No, Austria.
Oh, she said. Where's that?
That was it. 

Got mine in May of 1966. Opened it with my parents. It said the Central American Mission. I said, “Cool! Ohio, Indiana, Illinois.” Then I read where it said I would report to the mission president in San Jose, Costa Rica. Oh. That Central America.

Edited April 25, 2018 by Bernard Gui

[Bernard Gui]

1 hour ago, Scott Lloyd said:

One could as easily suspect that harm could result from undue austerity. These are young men and women who for the most part haven’t altogether emerged from adolescence yet, most of whom are undertaking the biggest challenge and sacrifice of their lives. 

I’ve sensed disappointment in some family members and missionaries when the call is not to some exotic (foreign) country.

I can imagine Abinadi’s reaction when he opened his call and it said, “You have been called to serve in the Land of Lehi-Nephi.”

Edited April 25, 2018 by Bernard Gui

[Calm]

My son was born in Provo, Utah and every summer vacation, if we went anywhere, we went there (professor salary not big in a one income family).

His call was to Ogden, Utah.  It was a foreign mission due to him living in Canada at the time.  It also had three of his cousins living there.

He was actually happy about it after the surprise (we thought he would likely go to Russia having lived there for half a year).  He got  to go to the Olympics and rarely had to tract, had lots of baptisms.  

[RevTestament]

4 hours ago, Calm said:

My son was born in Provo, Utah and every summer vacation, if we went anywhere, we went there (professor salary not big in a one income family).[to the Land of Lehi-Nephi?]

His call was to Ogden, Utah.  It was a foreign mission due to him living in Canada at the time.  It also had three of his cousins living there.

He was actually happy about it after the surprise (we thought he would likely go to Russia having lived there for half a year).  He got  to go to the Olympics and rarely had to tract, had lots of baptisms.  

Our second son got called to Peru, and was very stoked to go there. However, just before leaving he hurt his knee. Then in the MTC he hurt his other knee, so they sent him off to the Grand..................

Ogden mission. He actually, really liked it, and felt he was helping there. He didn't want to leave, but after a brief observation period and doctor visit, they sent him off to Los Angeles - Spanish speaking. He really likes that too, and has had a couple of baptisms.

[Rain]

9 hours ago, cinepro said:

Houston, East. 

Interestingly, my brother went there 20 years ago, and met his wife there, so he was really happy to hear it.

Also interestingly, my brother was adopted from Mexico as an infant, and my daughter is going to the Mexico MTC, so my brother said "she'll be more Mexican than I am!"

One of my missions! Houston split while I was there and I got to go to the Houston East for the last part.

[Duncan]

I swore when I opened my call, it was to Arcadia, CA right next door to the LA mission where my brother served 7 years before, if people didn't confuse us with everything before........

[JAHS]

8 hours ago, Bernard Gui said:

I’ve sensed disappointment in some family members and missionaries when the call is not to some exotic (foreign) country.

I can imagine Abinadi’s reaction when he opened his call and it said, “You have been called to serve in the Land of Lehi-Nephi.”

 

[bluebell]

11 hours ago, cinepro said:

Houston, East. 

Interestingly, my brother went there 20 years ago, and met his wife there, so he was really happy to hear it.

Also interestingly, my brother was adopted from Mexico as an infant, and my daughter is going to the Mexico MTC, so my brother said "she'll be more Mexican than I am!"

That's interesting that she's going state side but reporting to the Mexico Mission.  I'm guessing she's being called as a spanish speaking missionary?  

Congrats to her on her call!  Such an exciting (and terrifying!) time!

[Scott Lloyd]

On 4/25/2018 at 12:55 AM, Calm said:

I think if everyone in the group supports each other no matter their standing in the youth 'hierarchy' as I have seen happen in some youth groups, it can be great.  If on the other hand, kids only go to the popular kids celebrations, it just becomes one more thing that make the less popular feel like outsiders.

This is a point well taken.

I sometimes feel uncomfortable about huge attendance at the sacrament meeting where a departing missionary is scheduled to speak. I feel sorry for the missionary who, by comparison, does not draw a big crowd at his/her meeting. What can be done about it? I don't know. People outside the ward could be asked to stay away, I suppose, but I'm not sure that's a good or even a workable idea.

Similarly, I don't know what could be done about Inviting non-family members to be present for the opening of the mission call. It's not, after all, a Church-sponsored or Church-sanctioned event. The Church could, I suppose, direct that only members of the immediate family be present for the opening of the call, but that strikes me as a bit heavy handed.

 

[Oliblish]

I just went to YouTube and searched for "mission call opening."  There are hundreds maybe thousands out there to view.

I know my son has been invited to dozens of these in the past couple of years.  

I was at BYU when I got my call and my mother read it to me over the phone from out of state.  

Edited April 26, 2018 by Oliblish

[Rock_N_Roll]

On 4/23/2018 at 7:08 PM, Rain said:

My son is a junior.  Every Monday night he is being invited to someone opening up their mission calls.  None are family.  Is this happening in your area as well?

Yes!  It seems to be a fad here in Utah County.  I've been to at least 4 of these, just for my nieces and nephews, the past few years.  And because my calling was with the YM, I heard about and saw these videos and/or parties all the time. 

[Kenngo1969]

If memory serves, I was volunteering in dispatch at the local sheriff's office.  I called home and asked the powers-that-be how they wanted me to handle it.   They told me to go ahead and open it.  No script.  No "Lights, camera action!"  No background music (e.g., "Chariots of Fire").

Frankly, as much as I remember my own call, my brothers call to Italy, was more memorable for me.  I was at the Seminary building after hours doodling on a piano, and my dad came into the room, came over to the piano bench, leaned down, and whispered in my ear, "Your brother got his mission call.  He's going to Italy."  I jumped up and ran across the room shouting, "Italy!"  Everybody thought I was nuts.  ;-D

[Jeanne]

30 minutes ago, Kenngo1969 said:

If memory serves, I was volunteering in dispatch at the local sheriff's office.  I called home and asked the powers-that-be how they wanted me to handle it.   They told me to go ahead and open it.  No script.  No "Lights, camera action!"  No background music (e.g., "Chariots of Fire").

Frankly, as much as I remember my own call, my brothers call to Italy, was more memorable for me.  I was at the Seminary building after hours doodling on a piano, and my dad came into the room, came over to the piano bench, leaned down, and whispered in my ear, "Your brother got his mission call.  He's going to Italy."  I jumped up and ran across the room shouting, "Italy!"  Everybody thought I was nuts.  ;-D

I know this is off the wall and not part of the convo; but I have always thought that being in dispatch would be such a scary job...how was it for you? I think you and I are from the same county and my cousin used to work there too..as well as my foster sister..so must wondering..thanks in advance.

[Kenngo1969]

45 minutes ago, Jeanne said:

I know this is off the wall and not part of the convo; but I have always thought that being in dispatch would be such a scary job...how was it for you? I think you and I are from the same county and my cousin used to work there too..as well as my foster sister..so must wondering..thanks in advance.

It's been awhile since I worked there, and, frankly, I did it just long enough to realize how badly I sucked at it.  As someone who grew up around law enforcement and who was a Police Explorer Scout for awhile, I spent a lot more time in the field than I ever did in dispatch.

What puzzled me about working in dispatch is that there doesn't seem to be the same esprit de corps among dispatchers as there is among officers: Officers may have their disagreements, but the ultimate wrong would be not being there to back someone up when they needed you.  Not so in dispatch. It seemed that people were a lot more willing to hang each other out to dry.  After I left the county and went to work for UPS, there was an opening in UHP dispatch, and I asked one of my coworkers who previously dispatched for UHP whether it was worth it to apply for the job.  She said, "Ken, you don't want to work there.  It's a snake pit."  I thought, Where have I heard that before?

Dispatching is hard from the standpoint that when all hell breaks loose, all you can do is send more help and pray that it gets there in time.  In the field, more often than not, no matter how bad any given situation might get, you're able to exercise at least a little bit of control over it.  I once heard a saying that's quite common in dispatch circles about officers keeping dispatchers apprised of their location: "You may know where you are, and God may know where you are, but if dispatch doesn't know where you are, you and God better be pretty good friends." 

Edited April 27, 2018 by Kenngo1969

[Hamba Tuhan]

5 hours ago, Scott Lloyd said:

The Church could, I suppose, direct that only members of the immediate family be present for the opening of the call, but that strikes me as a bit heavy handed.

It would just be ignored anyway, similar to the advice not to have big to-dos in relation to departing and returning missionaries, not to spend big on wedding receptions, etc. We still have families in our ward who feel slighted if they're not allowed to take over and run a ward baptismal service for their child as some kind of elaborate production.

[Jeanne]

31 minutes ago, Kenngo1969 said:

It's been awhile since I worked there, and, frankly, I did it just long enough to realize how badly I sucked at it.  As someone who grew up around law enforcement and who was a Police Explorer Scout for awhile, I spent a lot more time in the field than I ever did in dispatch.

What puzzled me about working in dispatch is that there doesn't seem to be the same esprit de corps among dispatchers as there is among officers: Officers may have their disagreements, but the ultimate wrong would be not being there to back someone up when they needed you.  Not so in dispatch. It seemed that people were a lot more willing to hang each other out to dry.  After I left the county and went to work for UPS, there was an opening in UHP dispatch, and I asked one of my coworkers who previously dispatched for UHP whether it was worth it to apply for the job.  She said, "Ken, you don't want to work there.  It's a snake pit."  I thought, Where have I heard that before?

Dispatching is hard from the standpoint that when all hell breaks loose, all you can do is send more help and pray that it gets there in time.  In the field, more often than not, no matter how bad any given situation might get, you're able to exercise at least a little bit of control over it.  I once heard a saying that's quite common in dispatch circles about officers keeping dispatchers apprised of their location: "You may know where you are, and God may know where you are, but if dispatch doesn't know where you are, you and God better be pretty good friends." 

Wow...thanks for your response.  Very interesting..I just can't imagine kind of having office politics on top of all the responsibility.  Thanks!  I am glad you got out of that.