Waiting for my mission call

[seandaddy]

I've graduated from high school and I'm deferring from college to go on my mission but I've been extremely bored lately so I figured why not get in some last minute scripture study. I haven't done much in past years because of the rigors of school, lack of interest, etc. What I've found is that I'm learning more now than I ever have. Every day I'm reading more and more from the scriptures and on lds.org

I'm glad I found this forum because I like to get a more in depth analysis of the things I read. Plus I don't have anyone to talk to about this sort of stuff.

So... Hello all! I think my stay will be somewhat short but hopefully edifying.

Cheers!

[Like]

Welcome!

Congratulations on your upcoming mission call!

[Songbird]

Welcome. Do all you can to strengthen you testimony of Jesus Christ. It is the most important thing to bring with you on your mission. I will give you a warning: You can easily get "addicted" to this site (spoken from experience) and it will take you away for what is best (See "Good, Better, Best" President BKPacker.) While you can learn much here, you can and should be learning from the scriptures and the Spirit. You might think being at this forum is "vital" to your prep, but nothing is more vital than being on your knees, studying Preach My Gospel along with the scriptures, and seeking the wisdom and counsel of our Father in Heaven. Everything you do now will make it that much easier and more rewarding when you get into the mission field. We are good, but the best is what I mention here.
Good Luck,
Songbird

[seandaddy]

Welcome. Do all you can to strengthen you testimony of Jesus Christ. It is the most important thing to bring with you on your mission. I will give you a warning: You can easily get "addicted" to this site (spoken from experience) and it will take you away for what is best (See "Good, Better, Best" President BKPacker.) While you can learn much here, you can and should be learning from the scriptures and the Spirit. You might think being at this forum is "vital" to your prep, but nothing is more vital than being on your knees, studying Preach My Gospel along with the scriptures, and seeking the wisdom and counsel of our Father in Heaven. Everything you do now will make it that much easier and more rewarding when you get into the mission field. We are good, but the best is what I mention here.
Good Luck,
Songbird

Thank you for your advice. Since I'm not working or anything I've had all day to do scripture study and so I like to take a break every once in a while. This website allows me to do that and still absorb information. I love the gospel and its both rewarding and comforting to find people who find the scriptures as interesting as I do.

[iamse7en]

One piece of advice I always give prospective missionaries is to consider doing something that changed my mission: wake up early. I started off waking 30 minutes early, then slowly worked my way earlier. I usually woke up at 5:30am or 5am, to give myself even more personal study time. I tried earlier than 5 during a transfer, but it beat me up, so I made 5am my limit. It was hard, but so rewarding, life-changing even. Ironically, I felt like I had more energy than the missionaries who "slept in" 'til 6:30. My peers were so inspired by my actions that I usually got the whole zone to do it wherever I went, because the rewards were so amazing. In fact, the entire time, I only had one companion that wouldn't do it with me (he was struggling, lazy, wanted to go home, there for the wrong reasons, etc.) With just 60 minutes more study per day, you can get 728 more hours for your whole mission of study, opportunity to feel spirit, etc. My mission president allowed us to read any gospel book, so I read everything I could get my hands on, with an emphasis on the early brethren. Of course, you'll have plenty of time to study Preach My Gospel, to perfect your teaching, but make sure you work on that as well.

While you wait for your call, yes, I do agree with what has been said: strengthening your testimony of Christ, studying Preach My Gospel, etc. But since you have even more time (you can only study PMG in one sitting for so long), I say seek the early brethren. Find material that lights a fire underneath you. The early brethren did that for me. Reading their history, their doctrines, etc. It strengthened my testimony of Christ, gave me such a confident spirit, energy, and really inspired me to teach with the power of the Spirit. In addition, they shared enough meat for me to chew on that got my mind enlightened, my heart expanded, and my spirit filled. First books that really opened my eyes to the depth, power, and amazement of the Gospel were Key to the Science of Theology and The Seer (though it contains some speculation and a few false doctrines concerning Adam and the progression of Gods). I developed a love and unquenchable thirst for the spirit and power and knowledge of God. When I wasn't reading my scriptures, I was reading from the early brethren. I also really enjoyed the straightforward style of Joseph Fielding Smith and Bruce R. McConkie, though I may not agree with everything. Doctrines of Salvation was a popular book in our mission, and I really loved it.

I say, seek out the best books as the D&C says. Find prophets who speak to your soul. For me, it was many of the early brethren, and the modern fire/brimstone ones. Read everything you can now (in addition to your normal PMG/BoM study). You might get a mission prez who is very strict about not reading anything other than the typical books. That's unfortunate, if that's the case. Because reading other books was the catalyst that made me the missionary I was, and it changed me forever. I know many would disagree with my waking up early advice. "You need your sleep!" "It's against mission rules!" "If it was better for you, then it would be the standard mission rule!" I say poppycock, and I saw firsthand in me and tons of others in my mission, that it was inspiring and life-changing. You can take less sleep than you realize. 7 hours is plenty. Train your body, exercise, eat right, so you don't "need" the 8 hours. It all started when 3 months into my mission, my new senior companion was waking up early. I asked, "Why in the world do you wake up even earlier than 6:30?!" I thought he was crazy. He said, "I'm a convert. I only joined the Church 3 years ago. Everyone else has had their whole lives to learn this stuff. I feel like I need to make up for lost time." What was so amazing, is that this guy knew more doctrine than any other missionary I had met. Only 3 years member, and he was more stalwart, more knowledgeable, more inspiring than any other missionary I knew. It inspired me to also wake up with him, and I never stopped. The results were life-changing. Those early mornings filled me with very special and spiritual experiences. So, try it out at least.

[Songbird]

Col,
I am trying to do this now and I have the worst time getting up early. I never used to be that way, but now I suffer from terrible insomnia and early morning is usually when I finally fall into a deep sleep. I am trying to change this....

[NoGreaterLove]

I would say, fill you heart and mind with things that you know you can trust 100%. This is a time for preparation, not a time for anti-lds stuff. You will get the anti stuff soon enough. Stay with the scriptures, prophets, apostles, personal revelation, conference talks and approved missionary study material. Forget the rest for now. This site in my own opinion is not the place to be treading prior to going on a mission. There are some great people here, but you never know what you are getting info from.

[clarkkent14]

Most important thing is to develop a passion for BOM study. As mentioned before, Early and Often. I know the missionary library has changed, but I would still recommend "A Marvelous Work and a Wonder" and "Articles of Faith." They are a great foundational approach, which is what missionary work primarily deals with. Just read the BOM a lot!

[NoGreaterLove]

Most important thing is to develop a passion for BOM study. As mentioned before, Early and Often. I know the missionary library has changed, but I would still recommend "A Marvelous Work and a Wonder" and "Articles of Faith." They are a great foundational approach, which is what missionary work primarily deals with. Just read the BOM a lot!

Amen!!!!!

[seandaddy]

My bishop called church headquarters to find out why my papers are taking so long to come back (7 weeks now).

The person on the phone from the church then told my bishop that it was funny he called when he did because they had just pulled up my profile that very minute to figure out where to send me.

I thought that was cool.

[Moss Man]

I cannot disagree with any of the previous recommendations and I would also advise your getting out and used to talking to strangers. Go and volunteer your time somewhere that allows you to come in contact with strangers - animal shelter, retirement home, etc. Practice your approaches to people by handing out pass-along cards. Rub shoulders with the people.

[seandaddy]

Got called to the Colombia, Barranquilla mission!! Yeah!!

I leave in 3 months...

[iamse7en]

WOW! Very cool. Best of luck to you in your preparation. These next 3 months should be exciting for you. I'm so happy for you. Although I love being a dad, I'm envious of you right now. My mission was a bubble of comfort away from Babylon, and I got attached to it. I miss that feeling.

[EmmaLee]

Got called to the Colombia, Barranquilla mission!! Yeah!! I leave in 3 months...

Congratulations!! Barranquilla is where one of the new temples that were just announced in General Conference a few days ago will be built - how exciting! It must be an area really growing in the gospel!

Our son (also named Sean ) is currently serving a mission in Santiago, Chile, and just loves it - loves the country, the language, the food - but most especially he loves the people. Best advice - don't put off getting everything you need fairly soon (especially passport and shots), the next 3 months will FLY by. Read/study the Book of Mormon every day, and other good books dealing with gospel doctrine. Go out as often as you can (several times a week, if possible) with the missionaries in your ward - go tracting with them, sit in on discussions with investigators, etc.. Just take what is on the list in the booklet that came with your call - that alone will fill up your two big suitcases!

All the best to you in this very exciting, and humbling, time! :ymhug:

[Songbird]

Congratulations! :ymapplause:

I have a story about delayed mission calls. This happened to a sister in my mission. Hers was delayed 2 years. First it was one thing and then another. Finally, when she went to the Stake President for her setting apart, he gave her the blessing. She was told that there were certain people who only she could touch that were there and she would be a blessing in their lives. When he turned to her, after the blessing, he told her that he had seen the family, and he would tell her who they were when she came home from her mission.

[LukeAir2008]

Got called to the Colombia, Barranquilla mission!! Yeah!!

I leave in 3 months...

Congratulations. Some stats on Colombia from a couple of years ago.

Population of around 390,000,000 - Spanish speaking.

Official LDS Statistics
LDS Members: 181463
Missions: 4
Temples: 1
Stakes: 26
Districts: 16
Wards: 212
Branches: 81
Total Congregations: 293

Derived LDS Statistics
Approx. Active Members: 45365
Percentage of Members Attending Church Weekly: 25%
Average members per congregation: 619
Average active members per congregation: 154
LDS, as percent of population: 0.4189%
Active LDS, as percent of population: 0.1047%
LDS, as percentage of churchgoers: 0%
National population per LDS congregation: 147815