"I'll go where you want me to go, dear Lord,
Over mountain or plain or sea;
I'll say what you want me to say, dear Lord;
I'll be what you want me to be."
I have thought a long time whether to post this or not. I have been home a little over a year and feel it is time to do so. To all sisters about to receive their call, or begin their missions, there is something you need to understand about a mission and the joy that can come from it. A mission is hard, you've heard it before right? You may think it’s hard because all the walking, you may have to learn a new language (trust me, that is quite a challenge in and of itself), the rejection you face, and the disagreements that may arise between you and your companion, but that is not what makes a mission hard. What makes a mission hard is the personal struggle within yourself to be obedient.
A lot of missionaries are disobedient, more than you would think. You’ll see when you get to the field, being obedient requires a lot of integrity. Studying when you should, waking up when you should, studying and praying with your companion even when you’re mad at her, etc. But in all reality the most challenging act that requires obedience is in your attitude and your thoughts. Thinking about those you are serving and not about how hungry or thirsty you are, what food you miss from your country or having that worldly song in your head. I can tell you there is not a SINGLE missionary out there who has ever been obedient 100% all because of the thoughts they have had. Boyd K. Packer once said: “Probably the greatest challenge to people of any age, particularly young people, and the most difficult thing you will face in mortal life is to learn to control your thoughts. As a man ‘thinketh in his heart, so is he’ (Proverbs 23:7). One who can control his thoughts has conquered himself.”
So? You will probably get to a low point in your mission, and will start counting the days for when it will end. I think every missionary has to go through a point such as that so that you can prove to the Lord (and more importantly to yourself) that you can be trusted and you can do what is required. Looking back on my mission, I was the happiest and felt most peace with myself when I was being obedient – EXACTLY obedient. And what’s interesting is that it was the hardest I worked my entire mission, my companion and I promised to help each other be better. We fasted, prayed, we taught amazingly well together but we found NO ONE who cared enough to truly listen or come to church. But I was so happy! Because I was giving it my all. Right before my companion was transferred out of that area we found one woman who started to progress. She was baptized after I left that area.
True success on a mission is not measured by the amount of lessons you teach, or how many investigators you find, or how many people you baptize (because let’s be honest here, the baptismal font isn’t the goal -- it’s the temple. If your investigators get baptized you better help them towards the temple because that’s the POINT of baptism) no, true success is measured by a missionary’s loyalty to the Lord by being obedient. And only true happiness and satisfaction comes from a mission by being obedient. I look back on a certain point of my mission when I let my obedience slip and remember, bitterly, the horrible feeling I had of failure. Interestingly enough, I had more success in seeing investigators baptized during that time, and I was happy for them but not for my work as a missionary. I don’t want any sister to look back on her mission at ANY point and think the same.
Regardless of what anyone is doing around you, including your companion (or I may need to say especially your companion) be obedient to the Lord and you will enjoy your mission and be happy. The time flies, and you will find yourself coming home sooner than you think. Love it and live it to its fullest – you’ll never have a time like this in all your existence again.
The Church has added four new topics to Ministering Resources (ministering.lds.org), a resource that provides information to support stake and ward leaders as they minister to members.
New topics are:
Caregivers.
Missionaries who return home early.
Couples who struggle with marital conflict.
Individuals who struggle with mental health issues.
ERM Missionary Mommas (this is a private group and you need a friend in the group to invite you - Comment below if you need/want an invite)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1392358654372002/
Dont Stop Sargeant
https://www.facebook.com/Dont-Stop-Sargeant-1505024869715896/?fref=ts
From: Brother Ostergaard: Hello Everyone! We are starting a new Early Returned Missionary (ERM) support group at the Student Health Center on the UVU campus. It will be on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month at 11:30-12:45. Kris Doty and Angela Jackson are co-leading it with the hope that ERMs can find acceptance, resolution, and social support. All are welcome! Please spread the word.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MnS4uuxIZ4
The above video is is part of this group:
Don't Stop Sargeant
https://www.facebook.com/Dont-Stop-Sargeant-1505024869715896/?fref=ts
1. 2 Ne 32:1-5
2. Alma 37:35-37
3. Moroni 10:32-33
4. Ether 12:27
2nd Nephi 4 was really great for me, focusing mostly on 20 through 35. If you're looking for specifics, I really love 20, 21, 34, and 35. I love hearing about how Nephi is working through his worries and challenges. The reason I love Nephi isn't because he is an example without weakness, but because he is an example about how to overcome his own challenges with hope and faith and perseverance!
Also, a few other bonus scriptures. 1st Nephi 17:3, Alma 58:10-11, Helaman 3:35, and (a definite classic in all situations) Ether 12:27.
Here is a
resource for Elders and Sisters who have the desire to continue serving. Have
you thought about serving a Church Service Mission in Family History? The LDS
Church has recently started up a pilot program for Young Church Service
Missionaries to serve in many capacities. Visit the website for more
information or email me at joneswd@familysearch.org.
Additional ways to serve: Church Service Missionary https://www.lds.org/callings/missionary/church-service-missionary/?lang=eng&_r=1 Advice from a Church Service Missionary https://www.lds.org/new-era/2013/10/missionary-preparation/church-service-missions-real-service-real-sacrifice/advice-from-a-church-service-missionary?lang=eng&query=missionary+age+press+conference
Every returning missionary is entitled to six free counseling sessions through LDS Family Services. LDS Family Services https://providentliving.lds.org/lds-family-services?lang=eng
The Counseling Center (this was suggested by someone - we don't have much more info than the link)
http://thecounselingcenter.co/
Personal Advice
"My sweet Elder will be home in a few hours, returning early due to
medical problems. Because of some mutual connections, I was blessed to be able
to speak to a woman this morning who is on the Church's early returning
missionary committee. She had some fabulous insights. I posted this info on the
medical leave page, but it is good information and may help someone here:
A
member of the committee is assigned to talk with every Stake President when a
missionary from their stake returns early to walk them through the Church
procedures and resources for returning missionaries. A member of the committee
should also call your missionary after they have been home for a few weeks to
let them know what resources are available. Every returning missionary is
entitled to six free counseling sessions through LDS Family Services. And while
missionaries are often able to return to their assigned mission, new
assignments can be made to places like the Family History Library, or even
another proselyting mission. Getting those assignments made is largely the
responsibility of your Stake President. He might need to advocate for your
missionary to be reassigned, and if he is unaware of the options available he
might not pursue every avenue. Service missions are also a possibility. She
said the day is coming when missionaries will be able to choose between serving
a proselyting mission or a service mission and any type of mission will be
equal in the sight of the Lord and the Church. They feel that service missions
will eventually be just as responsible for baptisms as proselyting missions.
She also said there is a new push for training MP's on how to care for these
missionaries--how to really love them and focus less on numbers and more on
people. Church leaders are deeply concerned with the number of missionaries
returning home and are working to respond to the varying needs our missionaries
have. They feel a great responsibility to care for them. I came away with a lot
of hope for our "wounded warriors."
ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION:
In
the last couple of days I've spoken with the sister I spoke to before as well
as a brother who is the mental health advisor for the early return committee. I
thought I'd pass along a couple more things for anyone else going through this
process:
Your
Stake President is your greatest ally and asset in this process. They receive a
letter from the Church detailing what is needed for your missionary to return
to service. They are the ones who will make the recommendation if your
missionary wants to return, just as they were the ones to submit the original
application. The missionary department does not have anything to do with it.
You can call the missionary department for general information, but they cannot
do much for a specific missionary. All Stake Presidents have access to
ministering resources for ERM's through the Church website. They assured me
that over the last year that the contacting of early returning missionaries and
their Stake Presidents has been excellent, but if you feel that your SP or
missionary doesn't know all of the resources available, all of that information
is available to the SP's online. You or your missionary should talk directly
with the SP. Of all the people in this equation, he is the most influential.
She encouraged me to be the momma bear and not be afraid to fight for my
missionary. If a missionary is recommended for reinstatement by the SP, a
General Authority will review the information and make the decision at that
point based on the information from the SP, and any other supporting documents,
such as a letter from a treating professional about a missionary's health.
Sometimes the process doesn't seem clear to us as moms, and we get left out of
the equation (mostly because our missionaries are adults, and there are privacy
issues). Our bishop also said something interesting: that sometime SP's don't
realize the power they have. So your SP is really the person you need to work
with. I hope that's helpful information!"
** PLEASE COMMENT BELOW IF YOU HAVE OTHER RESOURSES. TIA **
"What is a two-transfer mission? A two transfer mission is a 3 month period of a proselyting mission. The schedule is the same as a missionary with a 18 month or two year call. The missionary has a companion and completes the same tasks including teaching, scripture study, and service and any other missionary. You do not go to the MTC."
Two-transfer LDS mission
serving a Two transfer LDS mission brings many experiences I share the good and the hard times from a mom's perspective http://2transfermission.blogspot.com/
