Companions

A couple of years ago I was relaxing on the couch and my mind wandered off to my mission. I started to think about my companions from my mission. I could see their faces and remembered their qualities and irksome behaviours. One thing I could not remember was their names!! What?! How could I have forgotten my missionary companions names, not even their first names (which is of course Sister) but their last names that they went by every day!! I was so shocked, then I thought of all my mission pictures and wondered what else I had forgotten.



We have to be honest here. I really loved my companions, but did not particularly like all of them. I must say that I did learn something form each of them. Not that I was the best, I am sure I was not a favorite for some of my companions. However companions are unique people. They are the one person who can relate to the current moment of your missionary's life. Once I had a Mom tell me "you know you are the only Sisters my son ever wrote home about." It made me feel good. This particular area was good area for me and I worked with great Elders and Sisters.



So here are some ideas for scrapbooking/journaling about your companions.....



If this is your own mission experience...



1. Write down their names because you will forget!

2. Do a quick statistic chart

name

area served

time served together

home

3. Scrapbook a page about what your companions taught you- diligence, love, patience, faith. How did they help you grow?

4. Do a specific page on a favorite companion (because we do have them).

5. Missions are hard, and that is OK. Write about or scrap the hard times with a companion, but remember you can talk about hard things without being mean.



If you are doing this for someone else who is on the mission currently....



1. Write a letter to your Missionaries current companion. Send them a set of questions to answer. They do not have to be about your Missionary. You could ask him about the area, the people, or the mission itself. It is always good to look through someone elses eyes.

The Call

My Dad is a convert to the Church of jesus Christ of latter Day Saints. He was born and raised in Ireland and met my Mom in England (while she was serving her LDS mission...they got engaged...it is a whole other story). So he was dreaming of Ireland. I picked up my call at my apartment and went to my Mom's work where I met my Dad and twin sister. I pulled the call out of the envelope...Columbus, Ohio. I knew immediately that was where I was supposed to be. My Dad's only response was "Columbus, Ohio" in a dejected voice. I laugh now, I don't think it even phased me then. I did have to look for Ohio on a map.

Getting to my mission call was a little rougher. I was engaged to someone, in love with someone else who had just returned from his mission (we are now married), but had the desire to serve. Through much prayer and a direct call in my patriarchal blessing the decision was made. It is one of the key decisions of my life. My mission taught me things I never would have learned at home.

I have no pictures of this story, but it still needs to be scrapbooked. We will post how we took this months kit "The Call" and adapted it to my story.

In the meantime we would love to hear your stories. There are a ton of them out there. Did you stalk the postman? Did you get a totally "wrong" call, just to have your call switched the day before you entered the MTC? What about the decision to go. Was it easy, was it hard...let us know and inspire someone else.