Missionary Month

This month our ward youth group is having "Missionary Month." We kicked it off last Sunday with a fireside, were the youth received mission calls, were divided into districts, and received their "white handbook" with the schedule, missionary theme scripture (D&C 4:1-3), song (Called to Serve), goals, and of course rules.

Last Tuesday we had our first FMTC night (F=Future). We watched the "Called to Serve" video, then had some recently returned missionaries teach out of Preach My Gospel (PMG). The missionaries included a set of "elders": a youth man in our ward who recently got home from his mission and his brother, and a set of sisters: my dear sister, Lisa, who has been home about 3 months and one of her cute companions. In retrospect there are a few things I would change, particularly wishing the youth had more time to learn from these wonderful missionaries. But all in all, I thought is was fabulous.

Yesterday (Sunday), our Sacrament meeting centered around missionary work. It was such a great way to get the ward involved and for the youth to see really how important this is. Two youth spoke (and did a great job), then all the youth and youth leaders went up and sang "Called to Serve" (I cried, but I'm sure that is no surprise... What power these youth have and are capable of!) Then a full-time missionary spoke (This is a rare treat here! Yay, for missionaries!) and then a sister in our ward spoke, who is a convert. Again... FABULOUS! The bishopric also invited the ward to join with us this week as we follow our mission rules! (Which I'll share momentarily... I'm sure you are excited.) And I will extend the same invitation to you!

Also on Sunday, during class time, the youth divided into their districts and practiced lesson 1 from PMG. For beginners, it went pretty well, but there is a lot of work still to be done. It makes me realize how far the elders and sisters have to come to be able to share the gospel in a competent and, most importantly, Spirit-filled way. As leaders, we can facilitate this learning, but the real learning takes place in the home and in personal study.

Tomorrow, we will meet again, for our second FMTC night; however this one will be more practical learning skills. There will be four mini classes on sewing/ironing, quick/healthy eating, fixing a bike tire, and language learning. Then we are going to have a rousing missionary relay. I picture it being really fun, so I hope it all goes off well! For the relay the youth (divided into 4 teams) will have to complete the following tasks:

1. Scripture Study (look up our missionary theme scripture)
2. Exercise (do 10 bicep curls and 5 push-ups)
3. Sew a button
4. Iron (iron a white dress shirt)
6. Tie a Tie
7. Flat (pump up a flat bike tire)
8. Run'n Late! (race a bike through cones)
9. Stick with your Comp (3-legged companion race)
10. Tracting (simply knocking 3 doors)
11. What?! (using a foreign language dictionary look up a phrase)
12. P-Day (shoot and make 3 baskets)
13. Laundry (sort a pile of laundry into lights, darks, and reds)
14. Transfers (get the laundry and stuff it into a small suitcase and zip it up)

Tomorrow evening also marks the beginning of our "missionary rules" that we have to follow for a week. They are:

Mission Rules of Conduct:

Listen only to music that is Church approved.
Read your scriptures daily.
No TV, movies, cell phones, texting, email, internet, video games.
Be in bed by 10:30, wake up by 6:30.
Perform 15 mins of exercise daily.
1. Wear church clothing on April 27^th (Tuesday).
Pray frequently – morning and night at a minimum.

We know there will be times when things such as cell phones and internet will be required for work or school; however we are asking that the youth (and all of us) do so as needed and not as leisure activities or merely out of habit. There are also missionary "goals" which are simply "encouraged."

Missionary Month Goals

1. Write your testimony in a Book of Mormon and offer it to someone.
2. Write a letter to a missionary.
3. Memorize a favorite scripture.
4. Prepare a meal for your family.
5. Perform an act of service.
6. Read from the Missionary Library (Jesus The Christ, Our Search For Happiness, Our Heritage, True to the Faith).
7. Study further from Preach My Gospel
8. Perform your own laundry for the week.

I know these rules and goals can be a great blessing to you and to your family. They will bring the Spirit into your home, bring us closer to our Heavenly Father and Savior, as well as make us stronger individuals and families! A sacrifice?! Yes! Especially for these youth who are engrossed in technology. But we can do it.

So I bid you, my blogging friends, farewell... for a week! (Unless I need to get in another quick post before tomorrow night!) I can do this. The real goal is to not let Hannah watch any TV or movies either. We can do this. We can do this! And...you can too! (Any takers?!)