Missionaries behind closed doors

[Anonymous]

hawkgrrrl wrote:

Yep, 1989-90.

I think I remember you talking about it. Very hot… vacation spot for much of Europe, so there are worse, wetter & colder places to be

[Anonymous]

I served 2001-2002 in South Carolina Columbia mission.

I got the “tricky” sisters – including being a senior companion to a senior single sister 40+ years older than I was. My trainee found out the night before that she was staying in an area to train me rather than go to Myrtle Beach (even though she did not want to train and wanted to leave the area – especially going to Myrtle Beach). I also wound up moving around a lot (7 areas in 9 months), and 9 areas total.

My experience overall was when it was great it was absolutely amazing. When it did not work so well, it was horrible. With my first “tricky” companion, she induced so much anxiety in me at times that I was sick to my stomach. I remember we had a fight about something, and I wound up dry heaving in the restroom. She heard me, and the awkward conversation we had with me in the restroom and her outside the door was rather memorable – but it may have been what she needed to get it through her skull that her actions had consequences for others.

The senior sister “tricky” companion left the mission the same day I did. I told the mission president in our interviews before I left that I did not want to go on the same plane ride with her and that I was NOT sitting next to her if we were on the same plane ride. He made calming noises to shut me up because we were logically scheduled to sit next to each other on the plane ride home (being the only sisters going home that day). When I found this out at the airport, I refused to sit next to her on the airplane and made one of my elder friends go instead. The best I could do than and still do to this day understand that she came from a different generation then I did with her own struggles and baggage and try to love her even when she is not acting lovable.

I did see some of my companions become better people that had more faith in Jesus Christ and learned some humility (they needed it) theoretically because of my love and example (they attribute their understanding to my example – the verdict is still out on my side).

[Anonymous]

Amy, my parents served in the South Carolina Columbia mission. I can’t remember the years, but it would have been around the years you were there, give or take a few. They were in Spartanburg and another “burg” (can’t remember the name of the town).

Their mission literally was a miracle, in more ways than one, and they absolutely loved the people there.

[Anonymous]

My mission (Spokane, 2012-2014) taught me that missionaries ARE human. When they aren’t acting human, I get suspicious. Not as if they’re doing something wrong, but I just don’t trust them or like them as much.

People need to lower their expectations of missionary behavior. They don’t belong on a pedestal and they really are much happier and more effective when they can be human.

I had my antics as a missionary. There was a day where we played Settlers of Catan during lunch with the APs. I gave horsey rides to the youngest daughter of the family I lived with. (They saw our human side more than anyone else did) There were plenty of other things. I talked a lot about sex and girls or video games with the companions who were willing.

Now, when I have the missionaries over for dinner, I do my best to make sure they know they can relax (without saying it exactly that way) and I just try to have a good time with them. As far as I’m concerned, it is their dinner break and it needs to feel like one.

[Anonymous]

Beefster wrote:

Now, when I have the missionaries over for dinner, I do my best to make sure they know they can relax (without saying it exactly that way)

You know, maybe answering the door in a beer-holder helmet with a Marlboro Light hanging out of your mouth is a bit too much, though. Could have the opposite effect by making them suspect they’re being set up.

[Anonymous]

NightSG wrote:

Beefster wrote:

Now, when I have the missionaries over for dinner, I do my best to make sure they know they can relax (without saying it exactly that way)

You know, maybe answering the door in a beer-holder helmet with a Marlboro Light hanging out of your mouth is a bit too much, though. Could have the opposite effect by making them suspect they’re being set up.

😆 I’d never go that far, though I have considered answering the door naked.

[Author]

Posts