<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<rss version="2.0"
	xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"
	xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/"
	xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"
	xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"
	xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/"
	xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/"
	>

<channel>
	<title>Mormon Mission Prep</title>
	<atom:link href="http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link>http://www.mormonmissionprep.com</link>
	<description></description>
	<lastBuildDate>Wed, 16 May 2012 15:52:35 +0000</lastBuildDate>
	<language>en</language>
	<sy:updatePeriod>hourly</sy:updatePeriod>
	<sy:updateFrequency>1</sy:updateFrequency>
	<generator>http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1</generator>
		<item>
		<title>What to Expect in Argentina for Missionaries</title>
		<link>http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/mission-life/what-to-expect-in-argentina/</link>
		<comments>http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/mission-life/what-to-expect-in-argentina/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 07 May 2012 20:04:41 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jimmy</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Mission Life]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/?p=4567</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Summary: For the soon-to-be missionary in Argentina, here is a little of what to expect on your mission. For parents and friends, you too can read on to find some interesting information about missionary life in Argentina. I remember fondly my days as a missionary in Argentina; I will always cherish the time I spent [...]<p><a href="http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/mission-life/what-to-expect-in-argentina/">What to Expect in Argentina for Missionaries</a> is a post from: <a href="http://www.mormonmissionprep.com">Mormon Mission Prep</a></p>
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><blockquote><p><em><strong>Summary</strong></em>: For the soon-to-be missionary in Argentina, here is a little of what to expect on your mission. For parents and friends, you too can read on to find some interesting information about missionary life in Argentina.</p></blockquote>
<p>I remember fondly my days as a missionary in Argentina; I will always cherish the time I spent in Argentina and the friendships I made there. But I also remember that living there was a bit of a culture shock at first, with different foods, a different language, and different customs. Therefore, for the benefit of future missionaries from the US going to Argentina, I thought I would write a little about what to expect in Argentina, some of the unique parts of life there, and other things you may expect to experience. My experience, which will be somewhat different than other missionaries in other cities at other times, was in the Rosario Argentina mission from 1995 to 1997. Though some of these things may seem funny or unusual, they are part of what gives Argentina it&#8217;s character. I&#8217;ve divided my observations into six categories:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/mission-life/what-to-expect-in-argentina/#food">The Food</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/mission-life/what-to-expect-in-argentina/#people">The People</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/mission-life/what-to-expect-in-argentina/#environment">Environment and Surroundings</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/mission-life/what-to-expect-in-argentina/#transportation">Transportation</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/mission-life/what-to-expect-in-argentina/#apartment">Apartment Living</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/mission-life/what-to-expect-in-argentina/#church">The Church</a></li>
</ul>
<p><a name="food"></a><strong>The Food</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Mild Foods</strong>: When I first got my call to Argentina, in my ignorance, I was expecting spicy food, perhaps like you would find in Mexico. On the contrary, though, I found mostly mild foods, with a lot of Italian influence: noodles, beef, chicken, salads, pizza, potatoes, rice, etc. Salads vary, as they do in the US, though a common Argentine salad that may be new to Americans is tomato and onion and that&#8217;s all. Salad dressing generally consisted of oil, vinegar, and salt (sorry, no ranch or zesty Italian dressing).</li>
<li><strong><a href="http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/cooking-asado-argentina.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-4627" title="cooking-asado-argentina" src="http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/cooking-asado-argentina-300x248.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="248" /></a>Beef and Asado</strong>: Argentina is famous for it&#8217;s beef and asado is the national dish. Asado usually refers to a grilled steak, but can also refer to a barbecue event. I remember the first time I was ever served asado. I think I ate more food at one sitting than I ever had in my life. Good stuff. I should also mention, though, that during my time in Argentina, I was served just about every part of the cow, many of which I honestly could not bear to eat. I just couldn&#8217;t stomach stomach.</li>
<li><strong><strong>Pizza and Toppings</strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">: Pizza is another common dish in Argentina, which many Americans will be glad to hear, though the common toppings may be different than you expect. Green olives and hard boiled eggs are two of the most common toppings you&#8217;ll find on pizza there. Usually, I just got cheese pizza, and it wasn&#8217;t bad. In fact, frequently, we just made our own. You could buy a pizza crust, tomato sauce, and queso cremoso (literally translated &#8220;cream cheese&#8221; but it was more like mozarella) at many corner stores.</span></strong></li>
<li><strong>Little or No American Fast Food</strong>: My brother in Poland often wrote home about eating at American restaurant chains on a weekly basis (McDonald&#8217;s, KFC, etc.), but that will likely not be the case in Argentina. The only American restaurant chain I was aware of in Argentina was McDonald&#8217;s, and they were very few and far between.</li>
<li><strong>No Cold Cereal for Breakfast</strong>: If you are used to a daily breakfast of Lucky Charms, Golden Graham, Fruit Loops, or Honey Combs, you may be disappointed. The only cold cereal I was ever able to find was corn flakes, and still that was a relatively rare find. I did have a companion, though, who improvised cold cereal by using a bag of assorted cookies and pouring them in a bowl with milk. It worked for him. I, on the other hand, ate a lot of pancakes and french toast with dulce de leche. Dulce de leche is a very common caramel spread which made for a decent substitute for maple syrup which was not to be found there.</li>
<li><strong>Polenta</strong>: Polenta is ground corn meal that is boiled into a thick soup, very similar to grits. Though unlike grits, polenta is usually not served for breakfast. It is served for lunch or dinner, often with tomato sauce, chicken, or other ingredients. Many missionaries I knew dreaded being served polenta, but I actually liked it. My mother is a southerner, so I was no stranger to grits.</li>
<li><strong><a href="http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/neighborhood-water-tank-on-house-argentina.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-4624" title="neighborhood-water-tank-on-house-argentina" src="http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/neighborhood-water-tank-on-house-argentina-300x220.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="220" /></a>Water</strong>: The water in Argentina, with a few exceptions, is generally safe to drink&#8230;once you&#8217;ve gotten used to it. And getting used to it generally involves having diarrhea for a week first. The alternative is to always drink bottled water, but that would mean turning down the glass of cold water or &#8220;jugo&#8221; (literally translated &#8220;juice&#8221; but it was more like a juice flavored punch) that virtually every member, and many non-members, will offer you. One funny thing about water sources in Argentina, is that most people have water tanks on top of houses. I once asked why this was and someone told it provided more stable water pressure to the house when the city water pressure was sporadic.</li>
<li><strong>Mandarin Oranges</strong>: Argentina had great fresh fruits and vegetables, often at very good prices. When mandarin oranges (mandarinas) were in season, we could get 20 or 30 for a peso (roughly a dollar when I was in Argentina). Deliciosa!</li>
</ul>
<p><a name="people"></a><strong>The People</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><strong><strong>Language = Castellano</strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">: Contrary to what they tell you in </span><a style="font-weight: normal;" href="http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/preparing-for-a-mission/the-mtc/">the MTC</a><span style="font-weight: normal;">, they do not speak Spanish in Argentina; they speak el Castellano. (Don&#8217;t tell the Argentine&#8217;s, but Spanish and Castellano are basically the same thing.) The name Castellano comes from the Spanish region of Castile where the language originated.</span></strong></li>
<li><strong>Economics</strong>: Argentina has wealthy millionaires and very poor people and every economic living condition in between. As a missionary, you will likely be exposed to more impoverished people, and more extreme cases of poverty, than you have seen in the US.</li>
<li><strong><a href="http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/futbol-stadium-santa-fe-argentina.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-4625" title="lining up outside of futbol stadium santa fe argentina" src="http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/futbol-stadium-santa-fe-argentina-300x139.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="139" /></a>Fútbol</strong>: Fútbol (i.e. soccer) is, of course, huge in Argentina. In our mission, we were not allowed to play soccer (too many injuries, I heard). My first companion, who happened to be a native of Buenos Aires Argentina, introduced me to the main soccer rivalry, two teams called &#8220;River&#8221; and &#8220;Boca.&#8221; I tried to not pick sides, but most Argentines are passionately behind one of those teams, though there are lots of other professional soccer teams.</li>
<li><strong>Catholicism</strong>: The overwhelming majority of the people of Argentina are Catholic. &#8220;Soy Catholico Apostolico Romano&#8221; (&#8220;I&#8217;m Roman Catholic&#8221;) is a phrase you&#8217;ll hear multiple times a day, frequently from people trying to get rid of you. In such cases, be polite, but be persistent.</li>
<li><strong>The Falkland Islands (&#8220;Las Islas Malvinas&#8221;)</strong>: The Falklands are a group of islands off the coast of Argentina. They are a British Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom. Yet to Argentina, the islands are theirs, and they are called the Malvinas. In 1982, Argentina invaded the islands, but their forces eventually withdrew in defeat. Still, many Argentines pursue their claim to the islands and, believe me, you&#8217;ll hear about it.</li>
</ul>
<p><a name="environment"></a><strong>Environment and Surroundings</strong></p>
<div>
<ul>
<li><strong>The Mosquitos</strong>: In my first week in Argentina, one day I saw a mosquito on my companions arm, so I swatted it. Big mistake. Blood splattered all over my companion&#8217;s white shirt. Not many days later, we crossed through a field and I ended up with mosquitos completely covering my companions back. This time, my companion taught me how to gently shoo them away. Dealing with the mosquitos was a constant battle throughout my mission. During the nights, in our apartment, we would have gotten eaten alive by the mosquitos if it wasn&#8217;t for the mosquito-repellent incense that we would burn.</li>
<li><strong>Dogs Everywhere</strong>: I have never seen so many dogs in my life as I did in Argentina. They seemed to run wild in the streets, and yet I don&#8217;t think I ever saw a dog catcher. Many of the dogs were ownerless and roamed the streets in constant search for food. Many of them were disease ridden. I had a companion who was a hunter who used to joke (at least I think it was a joke) about coming back to Argentina with his gun and taking out all the stray dogs.</li>
<li><strong>The Zanja</strong>: The zanja (translated: ditch), is the gully along side streets, in front of homes in neighborhoods. In the poorer neighborhoods, the zanja was often deep and filled with disgusting runoff water. Zanjas were definitely to be avoided, and if you are in a hurry, they are only to be jumped over with great caution. (I heard a disaster story or two of missionaries trying to jump the zanja and ending up in the middle of it.)</li>
<li><strong><a href="http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/rain-storm-argentina-smith-and-gertge.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-4626" title="rain-storm-argentina-smith-and-gertge" src="http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/rain-storm-argentina-smith-and-gertge-224x300.jpg" alt="" width="224" height="300" /></a>Rain Storms</strong>: Many of you, particularly those who have lived in Utah your whole life, may be shocked by the powerful rain storms in Argentina. With almost certainly, you will be caught out in one of these storms, so pray you are prepared. For my first big rain storm in Argentina, I was caught unprepared. Everything in my backpack got soaked, except my scriptures; they came out completely dry. It was a mini miracle. If you are serving in an area with a lot of dirt roads, count on walking through a lot of mud the following day.</li>
<li><strong>Flooring</strong>: It sounds funny to have a section on flooring, but this is a major difference that Americans will have to get used to. You will find mostly concrete or tile floors in Argentina. Dirt floors are still common in many areas. I also thought it was so funny to see women sweeping a dirt floor, but they did it. You will likely not see carpet while you are there (I didn&#8217;t), though some of the nicer places probably have it or throw rugs.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a name="transportation"></a><strong>Transportation</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Be Prepared to Walk</strong>: Your primary mode of transportation as a missionary in Argentina is walking. You will put a lot of miles on your shoes, so be sure to bring a couple of pairs of shoes that are good for walking. At first, I had a hard time keeping up with my companions, but by the end of my mission, I could speed walk with the best of them.</li>
<li><strong>El Collectivo (the Bus)</strong>: For long distances or when walking was not practical, we would take the local bus. Most cities in Argentina have a really good bus system. In many areas we would buy bus passes, though we had to use them sparingly to stay within our budget. Taking the bus on P-day to the grocery store was common, as was taking the bus to go to zone conference. Taking the bus was also usually a good time to sit down, <a href="http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/becoming-an-effective-missionary/open-your-mouth/">open your mouth</a>, and talk to someone about the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.</li>
<li><strong>Remises</strong>: Remises are basically taxis, though Argentina had taxis too (I never was clear on the difference). In extreme situations where you have to get across town fast, you can call or flag down a remise. A remis, compared to taking a bus, is expensive, which is why you can&#8217;t take them often. When you do take a remise, hold off for your life. The drivers in Argentina are not generally known for driving safe and slow. And don&#8217;t forget to talk to your remise driver about the gospel; you&#8217;ll have several minutes of his attention.</li>
<li><strong><a href="http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/horse-cart-argentina.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-4628" title="horse-cart-argentina" src="http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/horse-cart-argentina-300x235.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="235" /></a>Horse-Drawn Carts</strong>: From the small towns and even to the big cities, you will see horse-drawn carts in the streets of Argentina. These are not your tourist-type horse-drawn carriages, but real, utilitarian carts being used to transport goods, often fruits and vegetables.</li>
<li><strong>Multi-Person Bikes</strong>: These bikes weren&#8217;t designed for more than one person, but I would often see two or three people only a bike going from point A to point B. One time I even saw a family of five (dad, mom, and three kids) on a single person bike. I wish I had had my camera for that one. Many people did not have cars, so a bike was frequently the way for people to travel around.</li>
</ul>
<p><a name="apartment"></a><strong>Apartment Living</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Shower and Calefón</strong>: A calefón is an appliance found in many (maybe most) homes in Argentina used to heat up the water for a shower. It is usually a metal tank attached to the wall in a bathroom or shower. Be extra careful plugging or unplugging it; I got a shock or two of Argenitna&#8217;s 220 volt electric current from the calefón. Most bathrooms don&#8217;t have a separate shower area, with a shower curtain as you are used to in the US. Instead, the calefón shower is usually placed right by the sink and toilet with no separation. Yes, water gets all over, and that&#8217;s why you have a squeegee and a drain in the middle of the floor.</li>
<li><strong>Electricity</strong>: As I mentioned above, Argentina&#8217;s electricity is 22o volts, double the US standard of 110 volts. So don&#8217;t forget a power converter/adapter if you want to plug in your electric devices. <a href="http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/bathroom-shower-argentina.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-4629" title="bathroom-shower-argentina" src="http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/bathroom-shower-argentina-211x300.jpg" alt="" width="211" height="300" /></a></li>
<li><strong>Laundry</strong>: In about half my areas we were able to make arrangements to pay a woman in the local ward to wash our clothes, but often times we had to <a href="http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/preparing-for-a-mission/practical-steps-for-mission-prep/#laundry">wash our own laundry</a>. I don&#8217;t think that&#8217;s something my mom really taught me, but thanks to my first companion&#8217;s training, I picked it up pretty quickly.</li>
<li><strong>Bidets</strong>: For those of you who don&#8217;t know what a bidet is (as I didn&#8217;t prior to my mission), it is a low-mounted plumbing fixture, generally located right beside the toilet, for washing your derriere. I never used one, but I guess a lot of people do because they are found in most bathrooms in Argentina. In one apartment, our land lord came into our bathroom one day to fix the shower and he asked if if the bidet was working okay. We said we didn&#8217;t know because we didn&#8217;t use it. He was shock and asked us &#8220;how do you clean yourself?&#8221; We told him toilet paper was enough for us.</li>
<li><strong>No Central Heat and Air</strong>: I&#8217;m sure some people have central heat and air, but no missionary apartment I ever saw did. Depending on where you are in Argentina, the north or the south, excessive heat or cold may be an issue. In the summer, I couldn&#8217;t sleep without a fan blowing directly on me to keep me cool. And in the winter, we generally needed to get an electric space heater to warm our bedroom (which we could only afford to run it in the morning when we were getting ready). For my first winter in Argentina, I asked me mom to send me a winter hat to sleep in, and once I had it, I slept much better.</li>
</ul>
<p><a name="church"></a><strong>The Church</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Church Buildings and Units</strong>. The first area I served in was a small branch called Gazano on the outskirts of a city called Paraná, and there we only averaged about 25 or 30 people a week at Church. Later I served in the big city of Rosario, where we had a beautiful building downtown and a large ward with hundreds of members. All told, I served in eight different areas, ranging from the big city to small towns, from large wards to small branches. About half of the areas had Church-owned buildings and half used rented building for their Sunday meetings.</li>
<li><strong><a href="http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/outdoor-baptism-above-ground-pool-argentina.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-4630" title="outdoor-baptism-above-ground-pool-argentina" src="http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/outdoor-baptism-above-ground-pool-argentina-300x219.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="219" /></a>Outdoor Baptisms</strong>. In areas without a Church-owned building, we would often have to drive long distances to use the baptismal font in another ward building. Or, in some cases, the wards/branches had gotten an above ground pool to use as a make-shift baptismal font. These fonts worked just fine to perform the <a href="http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/basic-doctrines/saving-ordinances/">saving ordinance</a> of baptism, though it could be quite chilly if the weather didn&#8217;t cooperate.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/mission-life/what-to-expect-in-argentina/">What to Expect in Argentina for Missionaries</a> is a post from: <a href="http://www.mormonmissionprep.com">Mormon Mission Prep</a></p>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/mission-life/what-to-expect-in-argentina/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Patrick Thompson</title>
		<link>http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/missionary-farewells/patrick-thompson/</link>
		<comments>http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/missionary-farewells/patrick-thompson/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 06 Apr 2012 22:30:19 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Missionary Farewells]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/?p=4568</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Mission Called to: California Fresno mission MTC Entry Date: April 25th 2012 Hometown: Norman, Oklahoma Why you are going on a mission? Testimony, or Other Comments: I am a convert and I progressed in the gospel I found that the truth was so apparent that I must serve for my brother and heavenly father. It&#8217;s [...]<p><a href="http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/missionary-farewells/patrick-thompson/">Patrick Thompson</a> is a post from: <a href="http://www.mormonmissionprep.com">Mormon Mission Prep</a></p>
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><p><b>Mission Called to</b>: California Fresno mission</p>
<p><b>MTC Entry Date</b>: April 25th 2012</p>
<p><b>Hometown</b>: Norman, Oklahoma</p>
<p><b>Why you are going on a mission? Testimony, or Other Comments</b>: I am a convert and I progressed in the gospel I found that the truth was so apparent that I must serve for my brother and heavenly father. It&#8217;s a priviledge to be doing exactly what he want and did! He did so much for us why not sacrifice for him.  </p>
<p><a href="http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/missionary-farewells/patrick-thompson/">Patrick Thompson</a> is a post from: <a href="http://www.mormonmissionprep.com">Mormon Mission Prep</a></p>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/missionary-farewells/patrick-thompson/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Funny Moments from General Conference April 2012</title>
		<link>http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/prophetic-word/funny-moments-from-general-conference-april-2012/</link>
		<comments>http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/prophetic-word/funny-moments-from-general-conference-april-2012/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 06 Apr 2012 01:36:19 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jimmy</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Prophetic Word]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/?p=4561</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Funny Moments from General Conference April 2012 is a post from: Mormon Mission Prep<p><a href="http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/prophetic-word/funny-moments-from-general-conference-april-2012/">Funny Moments from General Conference April 2012</a> is a post from: <a href="http://www.mormonmissionprep.com">Mormon Mission Prep</a></p>
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><p><a href="http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/prophetic-word/funny-moments-from-general-conference-april-2012/"><em>Click here to view the embedded video.</em></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/prophetic-word/funny-moments-from-general-conference-april-2012/">Funny Moments from General Conference April 2012</a> is a post from: <a href="http://www.mormonmissionprep.com">Mormon Mission Prep</a></p>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/prophetic-word/funny-moments-from-general-conference-april-2012/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Enter the Mission Field on the Run</title>
		<link>http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/preparing-for-a-mission/enter-mission-field-on-run/</link>
		<comments>http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/preparing-for-a-mission/enter-mission-field-on-run/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 04 Apr 2012 20:59:18 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jimmy</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Preparing for a Mission]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/?p=4540</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[When I arrived in my first area in Argentina (the city of Parana), I was shocked at how fast my companion walked. He didn&#8217;t quite run, but he sure did speed walk, and it took a file for me to get used to it. When Ezra Taft Benson was President of the Church in May 1986, [...]<p><a href="http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/preparing-for-a-mission/enter-mission-field-on-run/">Enter the Mission Field on the Run</a> is a post from: <a href="http://www.mormonmissionprep.com">Mormon Mission Prep</a></p>
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><p><a href="http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/missionaries-on-bikes-bronze-statue.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-4554" title="missionaries on bikes bronze statue" src="http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/missionaries-on-bikes-bronze-statue-300x237.jpg" alt="missionaries on bikes bronze statue" width="300" height="237" /></a>When I arrived in my first area in Argentina (the city of Parana), I was shocked at how fast my companion walked. He didn&#8217;t quite run, but he sure did speed walk, and it took a file for me to get used to it. When Ezra Taft Benson was President of the Church in May 1986, he encouraged new missionaries to &#8220;enter the mission field on the run.&#8221; While missionaries should be physically prepared for the hard work of missionary service, President Benson was talking more about hitting the ground running spiritually.</p>
<blockquote><p>&#8220;We love all of our missionaries who are serving the Lord full time in the mission field. But there is a difference in missionaries. Some are better prepared to serve the Lord the first month in the mission field than some who are returning home after twenty-four months. We want young men entering the mission field who can enter the mission field &#8216;on the run.&#8217;” (To the “Youth of the Noble Birthright” by President Ezra Taft Benson, May 1986)</p></blockquote>
<p>Here are specific things that President Benson said future LDS missionaries can do to  &#8221;enter the mission field on the run.&#8221;</p>
<ul>
<li><em><strong>Prepare Your Whole Life</strong></em>: &#8220;Prepare well for a mission all your life, not just six months or a year before you go.&#8221;</li>
<li><em><strong>Stay Morally Clean</strong></em>: A &#8220;vital ingredient in preparation for your mission is to always live a clean life. We want <a href="http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/preparing-for-a-mission/worthy-to-serve-a-mission/">morally clean young men in the mission field</a>. We want you to live the clean life all of your life. We want the morally clean life to be your way of life.&#8221;</li>
<li><em><strong>Have Faith</strong></em>: &#8220;We want young men entering the mission field&#8230; who have the faith born of personal righteousness and clean living that they can have a great and productive mission. We want missionaries who have the kind of faith that Wilford Woodruff and Heber C. Kimball had, each bringing hundreds and thousands of souls into the waters of baptism.&#8221;</li>
<li><em><strong>Stay Active in the Church</strong></em>: &#8220;Give me a young man who has kept himself morally clean and has faithfully attended his Church meetings. Give me a young man who has magnified his priesthood and has earned the Duty to God Award and is an Eagle Scout. Give me a young man who is a seminary graduate and has a burning testimony of the Book of Mormon. Give me such a young man, and I will give you a young man who can perform miracles for the Lord in the mission field and throughout his life.&#8221;</li>
<li><em><strong>Realize the Privilege of Missionary Service</strong></em>: &#8221;Not only should a mission be regarded as a priesthood duty, but every young man should look forward to this experience with great joy and anticipation. What a privilege—what a sacred privilege—to serve the Lord full time for two years with all your heart, might, mind, and strength.&#8221;</li>
<li><em><strong>Date People Who Give Encouragement</strong></em>: &#8220;You can do nothing more important&#8230;even temple marriage should wait until after a young man has served an honorable full-time mission for the Lord. And I would admonish you to date only faithful young women who also believe this and give you that encouragement.&#8221;</li>
<li><em><strong>Understand the Purpose of Missionary Work</strong></em>: &#8220;Know that the real <a href="http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/missionary-work/purpose-of-missionary-work/">purpose in going into the mission</a> field is to bring souls unto Christ, to teach and baptize our Heavenly Father’s children so that you may rejoice with them in the kingdom of our Father. (See D&amp;C 18:15.)&#8221;</li>
<li><em><strong>True Repentance</strong></em>: &#8220;The miracle of forgiveness is real, and true repentance is accepted of the Lord. But it is not pleasing to the Lord prior to a mission, or at any time, to sow one’s wild oats, to engage in sexual transgression of any nature, and then to expect that planned confession and quick repentance will satisfy the Lord.&#8221;</li>
<li><em><strong>Look Forward to Missionary Service</strong></em>: &#8220;Young men, look forward to full-time missionary service&#8230;.Prepare now for your mission by doing these things we have discussed this evening.&#8221;</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/preparing-for-a-mission/enter-mission-field-on-run/">Enter the Mission Field on the Run</a> is a post from: <a href="http://www.mormonmissionprep.com">Mormon Mission Prep</a></p>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/preparing-for-a-mission/enter-mission-field-on-run/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Lydia Vermeer</title>
		<link>http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/missionary-farewells/lydia-vermeer/</link>
		<comments>http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/missionary-farewells/lydia-vermeer/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 02 Apr 2012 13:38:22 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Missionary Farewells]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/?p=4531</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Mission Called to: England London Mission MTC Entry Date: April 26 Hometown: Berkel en Rodenrijs, Netherlands Website/Blog: http://gwnmii.blogspot.com/ Why you are going on a mission? Testimony, or Other Comments: I am going on a mission because I know the lord wants me too&#8230; it&#8217;s been a constant struggle and it took me 4 years to [...]<p><a href="http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/missionary-farewells/lydia-vermeer/">Lydia Vermeer</a> is a post from: <a href="http://www.mormonmissionprep.com">Mormon Mission Prep</a></p>
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><p><b>Mission Called to</b>: England London Mission</p>
<p><b>MTC Entry Date</b>: April 26</p>
<p><b>Hometown</b>: Berkel en Rodenrijs, Netherlands</p>
<p><b>Website/Blog</b>: http://gwnmii.blogspot.com/</p>
<p><b>Why you are going on a mission? Testimony, or Other Comments</b>: I am going on a mission because I know the lord wants me too&#8230; it&#8217;s been a constant struggle and it took me 4 years to finally receive the mission call. even now i still have some things that needs resolved but it&#8217;s getting there and won&#8217;t take much longer. The lord has given his life for me and made it possible for me to repent, and follow his gospel, the least i can do is give 18 months of my life up to be bring others the same joy the gospel gives me. I want every single one of his children to come back to him and live in his presence again. I love the Gospel and I can&#8217;t wait to report at the England Preston MTC. </p>
<p><a href="http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/missionary-farewells/lydia-vermeer/">Lydia Vermeer</a> is a post from: <a href="http://www.mormonmissionprep.com">Mormon Mission Prep</a></p>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/missionary-farewells/lydia-vermeer/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Martin Casafranca</title>
		<link>http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/missionary-farewells/martin-casafranca/</link>
		<comments>http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/missionary-farewells/martin-casafranca/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 23 Mar 2012 20:26:35 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Missionary Farewells]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/?p=4511</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Mission Called to: Dominican Republic Santiago Mission MTC Entry Date: May 16, 2012 Hometown: Lima, Peru Martin Casafranca is a post from: Mormon Mission Prep<p><a href="http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/missionary-farewells/martin-casafranca/">Martin Casafranca</a> is a post from: <a href="http://www.mormonmissionprep.com">Mormon Mission Prep</a></p>
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><p><b>Mission Called to</b>: Dominican Republic Santiago Mission</p>
<p><b>MTC Entry Date</b>: May 16, 2012</p>
<p><b>Hometown</b>: Lima, Peru</p>
<p><a href="http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/missionary-farewells/martin-casafranca/">Martin Casafranca</a> is a post from: <a href="http://www.mormonmissionprep.com">Mormon Mission Prep</a></p>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/missionary-farewells/martin-casafranca/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Khanitta Puttapong</title>
		<link>http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/missionary-farewells/khanitta-puttapong/</link>
		<comments>http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/missionary-farewells/khanitta-puttapong/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 19 Mar 2012 13:45:42 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Missionary Farewells]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/?p=4503</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Mission Called to: Utah Salt Lake city Temple Square mission MTC Entry Date: June 19, 2012 Hometown: Ubon ratchathani, Thailand Website/Blog: www.facebook.com/khanitta.Ging.puttapong Khanitta Puttapong is a post from: Mormon Mission Prep<p><a href="http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/missionary-farewells/khanitta-puttapong/">Khanitta Puttapong</a> is a post from: <a href="http://www.mormonmissionprep.com">Mormon Mission Prep</a></p>
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><p><b>Mission Called to</b>: Utah Salt Lake city Temple Square mission</p>
<p><b>MTC Entry Date</b>: June 19, 2012</p>
<p><b>Hometown</b>: Ubon ratchathani, Thailand</p>
<p><b>Website/Blog</b>: www.facebook.com/khanitta.Ging.puttapong</p>
<p><a href="http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/missionary-farewells/khanitta-puttapong/">Khanitta Puttapong</a> is a post from: <a href="http://www.mormonmissionprep.com">Mormon Mission Prep</a></p>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/missionary-farewells/khanitta-puttapong/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Recruiting for the Lord in the Battle between Good and Evil</title>
		<link>http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/prophetic-word/battle-between-good-and-evil/</link>
		<comments>http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/prophetic-word/battle-between-good-and-evil/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 26 Feb 2012 23:03:04 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jimmy</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Prophetic Word]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/?p=4491</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[With the game on the line in the battle between Good and Evil, in the talk from October 2011 LDS General Conference, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland serves as a one-man recruiting station for the Lord and missionary work. What are some of the devil’s tactics in this contest when eternal life is at stake? Here [...]<p><a href="http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/prophetic-word/battle-between-good-and-evil/">Recruiting for the Lord in the Battle between Good and Evil</a> is a post from: <a href="http://www.mormonmissionprep.com">Mormon Mission Prep</a></p>
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><p>With the game on the line in the battle between Good and Evil, in the talk from October 2011 LDS General Conference, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland serves as a one-man recruiting station for the Lord and missionary work.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/prophetic-word/battle-between-good-and-evil/"><em>Click here to view the embedded video.</em></a></p>
<blockquote><p>What are some of the devil’s tactics in this contest when eternal life is at stake? Here again the experience in the Sacred Grove is instructive. Joseph recorded that in an effort to oppose all that lay ahead, Lucifer exerted “such an astonishing influence over me as to bind my tongue so that I could not speak.&#8221;</p>
<p>As President Boyd K. Packer taught this morning, Satan cannot directly take a life. That is one of many things he cannot do. But apparently his effort to stop the work will be reasonably well served if he can just bind the tongue of the faithful. Brethren, if that is the case, I am looking tonight for men young and old who care enough about this battle between good and evil to sign on and speak up. We are at war, and for these next few minutes, I want to be a one-man recruiting station.</p>
<p>Do I need to hum a few bars of “We Are All Enlisted”? You know, the line about “We are waiting now for soldiers; who’ll volunteer?” Of course, the great thing about this call to arms is that we ask not for volunteers to fire a rifle or throw a hand grenade. No, we want battalions who will take as their weapons “every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God.” So I am looking tonight for missionaries who will not voluntarily bind their tongues but will, with the Spirit of the Lord and the power of their priesthood, open their mouths and speak miracles. Such speech, the early brethren taught, would be the means by which faith’s “mightiest works have been, and will be, performed.”</p>
<p>I especially ask the young men of the Aaronic Priesthood to sit up and take notice. For you, let me mix in an athletic analogy. This is a life-and-death contest we are in, young men, so I am going to get in your face a little, nose to nose, with just enough fire in my voice to singe your eyebrows a little—the way coaches do when the game is close and victory means everything. And with the game on the line, what this coach is telling you is that to play in this match, some of you have to be more morally clean than you now are. In this battle between good and evil, you cannot play for the adversary whenever temptation comes along and then expect to suit up for the Savior at temple and mission time as if nothing has happened. That, my young friends, you cannot do. God will not be mocked.</p>
<p>So we have a dilemma tonight, you and I. It is that there are thousands of Aaronic Priesthood–age young men already on the records of this Church who constitute our pool of candidates for future missionary service. But the challenge is to have those deacons, teachers, and priests stay active enough and worthy enough to be ordained elders and serve as missionaries. So we need young men already on the team to stay on it and stop dribbling out of bounds just when we need you to get in the game and play your hearts out! In almost all athletic contests of which I know, there are lines drawn on the floor or the field within which every participant must stay in order to compete. Well, the Lord has drawn lines of worthiness for those called to labor with Him in this work. No missionary can be unrepentant of sexual transgression or profane language or pornographic indulgence and then expect to challenge others to repent of those very things! You can’t do that. The Spirit will not be with you, and the words will choke in your throat as you speak them. You cannot travel down what Lehi called “forbidden paths” and expect to guide others to the “strait and narrow” one—it can’t be done.</p>
<p>But there is an answer to this challenge for you every bit as much as there is for that investigator to whom you will go. Whoever you are and whatever you have done, you can be forgiven. Every one of you young men can leave behind any transgression with which you may struggle. It is the miracle of forgiveness; it is the miracle of the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ. But you cannot do it without an active commitment to the gospel, and you cannot do it without repentance where it is needed. I am asking you young men to be active and be clean. If required, I am asking you to get active and get clean.</p>
<p>Now, brethren, we speak boldly to you because anything more subtle doesn’t seem to work. We speak boldly because Satan is a real being set on destroying you, and you face his influence at a younger and younger age. So we grab you by the lapels and shout as forcefully as we know how: &#8216;Hark! the sound of battle sounding loudly and clear; Come join the ranks! Come join the ranks!&#8217;</p>
<p>My young friends, we need tens of thousands of more missionaries in the months and years that lie ahead. They must come from an increased percentage of the Aaronic Priesthood who will be ordained, active, clean, and worthy to serve.</p></blockquote>
<p><a href="http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2011/10/we-are-all-enlisted?lang=eng">We Are All Enlisted</a> by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, LDS General Conference, October 2011</p>
<p><a href="http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/prophetic-word/battle-between-good-and-evil/">Recruiting for the Lord in the Battle between Good and Evil</a> is a post from: <a href="http://www.mormonmissionprep.com">Mormon Mission Prep</a></p>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/prophetic-word/battle-between-good-and-evil/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Elder Wilkins</title>
		<link>http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/missionary-farewells/elder-wilkins/</link>
		<comments>http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/missionary-farewells/elder-wilkins/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 20 Feb 2012 23:17:51 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Missionary Farewells]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/?p=4481</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Mission Called to: Scotland/Ireland Mission MTC Entry Date: May 17th Hometown: Norwich, England Why you are going on a mission? Testimony, or Other Comments: Im going on a Mission to serve the Lord, also i know that without the Missionaries&#8230;..i probably wouldnt be a member of the His church. I want to teach others to [...]<p><a href="http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/missionary-farewells/elder-wilkins/">Elder Wilkins</a> is a post from: <a href="http://www.mormonmissionprep.com">Mormon Mission Prep</a></p>
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><p><b>Mission Called to</b>: Scotland/Ireland Mission</p>
<p><b>MTC Entry Date</b>: May 17th</p>
<p><b>Hometown</b>: Norwich, England</p>
<p><b>Why you are going on a mission? Testimony, or Other Comments</b>: Im going on a Mission to serve the Lord, also i know that without the Missionaries&#8230;..i probably wouldnt be a member of the His church. I want to teach others to come unto Christ and feel His and Heaven Fathers love for us. I really cant wait to get out there and start the work.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/missionary-farewells/elder-wilkins/">Elder Wilkins</a> is a post from: <a href="http://www.mormonmissionprep.com">Mormon Mission Prep</a></p>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/missionary-farewells/elder-wilkins/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Rasmina Samuelson in the New England Mission, 1937</title>
		<link>http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/mission-reports/rasmina-samuelson/</link>
		<comments>http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/mission-reports/rasmina-samuelson/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 14 Feb 2012 16:20:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jimmy</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Mission Reports]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/?p=4442</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Rasmina Samuelson Price Beck is my wife&#8217;s grandmother. She served a mission in her youth to the Eastern States Mission and New England Mission. As I read her account in her written personal history, I was struck by how similar some things are to missions today, but also how different many other things are. The training, [...]<p><a href="http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/mission-reports/rasmina-samuelson/">Rasmina Samuelson in the New England Mission, 1937</a> is a post from: <a href="http://www.mormonmissionprep.com">Mormon Mission Prep</a></p>
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><p><a href="http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Rasmina-Samuelson.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-4461" title="Rasmina Samuelson -  LDS Missionary 1937" src="http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Rasmina-Samuelson-280x300.jpg" alt="Rasmina Samuelson" width="280" height="300" /></a>Rasmina Samuelson Price Beck is my wife&#8217;s grandmother. She served a mission in her youth to the Eastern States Mission and New England Mission. As I read her account in her written personal history, I was struck by how similar some things are to missions today, but also how different many other things are. The training, both spiritual training and with language and teaching techniques, has vastly improved. But the sacrifice and impact a mission has on the life of a missionary was just as powerful then as it is now.</p>
<p><strong>The Mission Home (Yester-Year&#8217;s <a href="http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/preparing-for-a-mission/the-mtc/">MTC</a>)</strong></p>
<p>Rasmina received her mission call to the Eastern States Mission in 1937 and was assigned to report to the Mission Home in Salt Lake City four weeks later. She arrived at the Mission Home in April 1937, and spent only ten days there with about 30 other missionaries. They ate all their meals at the nearby Lion House, the former residence of Brigham Young and his family. The Mission Home no longer stands on temple square, but the Lion House is still there and is available for tours and events.</p>
<p>She went to the Salt Lake <a href="http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/preparing-for-a-mission/lds-temples-integral-part-of-missionary-work/">temple</a>, with all the other new missionaries, soon after arriving to receive her endowment. While in the temple, they were able to tour many of its room and even climbed the spiral staircase to the roof for a view of the city.</p>
<p>At this time in the history of the Church, there weren&#8217;t any formal lessons taught to the missionaries. One day though, the new missionaries spent an entire morning with the prophet, President Heber J. Grant. During her short time in the mission home, Rasmina and the other new missionaries were asked to memorize some scriptures.  They heard many inspiring talks and testimonies to help them understand the importance of their calling.</p>
<p><strong>First Area in Hartford, Connecticut</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/rasmina-and-first-companion-carol-reed.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-4465" title="Rasmina and First Companion Carol Reed" src="http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/rasmina-and-first-companion-carol-reed-231x300.jpg" alt="Rasmina and First Companion Carol Reed" width="231" height="300" /></a>Rasmina says that the time spent in the mission home was just enought to make her realize how much she didn&#8217;t know. Before she knew it, the ten days were up and she was on a train headed for New York. The first area she was assigned to work in was East Hartford, Connecticut, where there were no members, so she went tracting every day. Rasmina says that when they had knocked on every door in the town, they started over and tracted the entire area again.</p>
<p>Rasmina tells one funny story of knocking on a door and a woman inside started yelling, &#8220;Get away from my door. We don&#8217;t want you Mormons here. You are coming to take our women back to Utah for your old men to take as another wife.&#8221; Rasmina continues, &#8220;I was embarrassed, and knew the whole neighborhood could hear her, but my companion spoke up and told her we were not here for that purpose. Sister Reed (Rasmina&#8217;s companion) told her she was having a hard enough time finding a husband for herself and she wouldn&#8217;t think of taking any more women back to Utah.&#8221;</p>
<p>At this time, missionaries had no set lessons plans, instead they left &#8220;tracts&#8221; (pamphlets) with people on topics such as the plan of salvation and the Joseph Smith story. When they did sit down to teach people, they were instructed to spend most of their time teaching from the Bible and carrying a message that &#8220;we Mormons are your friends.&#8221; The message was one of love and service, and says Rasmina, &#8220;we tried to carry out this love for all of God&#8217;s children with all we met.&#8221;</p>
<p><strong>The First Hill Cumorah Pageant </strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/hill-cumorah-pageant.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-4464" title="Hill Cumorah Pageant in Modern Times" src="http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/hill-cumorah-pageant-300x200.jpg" alt="Hill Cumorah Pageant" width="300" height="200" /></a>Not long after arriving in her mission, Rasmina was involved in staging &#8220;the first Palmyra Pageant, A New Witness for Christ, at the Hill Cumorah.&#8221; In the weeks before the pageant, Rasmina and the other missionaries tracted all throughout the nearby communities handing out invitations. The missionaries also spent a lot of time building sets, painting, and rehearsing for the parts they would play in the pageant. Rasmina says, on the night of the first performance, &#8220;I was the only blonde Lamanite in King Lamoni&#8217;s court.&#8221;</p>
<p>Another thing that happened during the first Hill Cumorah Pageant was nothing short of miraculous. Though it had not been raining, &#8220;right on cue as the Savior was crucified, the thunder rolled and the lightning struck. We didn&#8217;t need to use our sound effects because the skies really put on a show. The trumpets blared, all became quiet, no thunder, no lightning, then the spotlight shown on the top of the hill, the Savior appeared. We all cried it was so dramatic and we were showing the world that the Savior did appear on this continent to His people after he appeared as the resurrected Christ to His people in Jerusalem.&#8221;</p>
<p><strong>Testimony of the Book of Mormon</strong></p>
<p>After the pageant, Rasmina had three days where she was waiting for her new companion to arrive. She decided then that she would read the Book of Mormon, cover to cover, for the first time. Says Rasmina, &#8220;I loved what I read. I was so grateful for time alone and felt better prepared to serve. I have read the Book of Mormon many, many times since then and thrill with the story and the love our Savior has for all of His children making sure they have His words as a guide to more righteous living.&#8221;</p>
<p><strong>New England Mission and the Mission Office</strong></p>
<p>Some time after the pageant, the Eastern States Mission was divided, and a New England Mission was formed. Rasmina was called to go to the new mission. She was sent to Springfield Massachusetts and became a senior companion for the first time and was asked to mostly work on strengthening the members there.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Dictaphone-Cylinder.jpg"><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-4458" title="Dictaphone" src="http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Dictaphone-Cylinder.jpg" alt="Dictaphone" width="214" height="214" /></a>Rasmina was next transferred to the mission office where she served as a secretary for two months while she awaited the arrival of a new companion. One of her main jobs was to type up letters that the mission president would record on a Dictaphone. While in the office, Rasmina put her piano skills to use. There were four Elders in the office who formed a quartet. Once a week they would perform music and the spoken word on a half hour radio program in Boston, and Rasmina would accompany them on the piano.</p>
<p><strong>Grandmother&#8217;s Love and Support</strong></p>
<p>It was about this time that Rasmina felt that something was wrong with her family at home. She wrote her parents to ask what was wrong and the answer came back that her father had lost his job and that her mother was pregnant. Due to the circumstances, Rasmina&#8217;s grandmother had been paying for her mission expenses. Rasmina volunteered to come home immediately to help out the family but her grandmother wouldn&#8217;t hear of it. She insisted that Rasmina stay and do what the Lord had called her to do. Rasmina was ever grateful for her grandmother&#8217;s love and support.</p>
<p>Towards the end of her mission, Rasmina was looking forward to another pagaent at the Hill Cumorah, but because she had been transferred to the New England mission, it was out of her area and she could not attend. She was able though, to attend a special mission conference at the birth place of Joseph Smith in Sharon, Vermont, which was within her mission boundaries, and this was another meaningful experience to her.</p>
<p><strong>A Stormy Conclusion to Her Mission</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/1938-New-England-hurricane.jpg"><img class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-4463" title="1938 New England hurricane" src="http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/1938-New-England-hurricane-150x150.jpg" alt="1938 New England hurricane" width="150" height="150" /></a>In September of 1938, just one week before she was scheduled to go home, Rasmina lived through a major hurricane that hit the New England area. This was one of the most powerful and deadliest hurricane to hit New England in in the past century. The eye of this Category 3 hurricane made landfall at Long Island, some distance from Rasmina, though the whole New England area was affected. While the power was out, Rasmina and her companion joined the missionaries at the mission office. They lit candles and sang hymns and prayed. Once the water levels had dropped, she got on a train and headed back to the Salt Lake City. Members from her San Diego, California branch, who were attending General Conference, met her in Utah and drove her back to San Diego where she &#8220;had a grand reunion with my family.&#8221;</p>
<p><a href="http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/mission-reports/rasmina-samuelson/">Rasmina Samuelson in the New England Mission, 1937</a> is a post from: <a href="http://www.mormonmissionprep.com">Mormon Mission Prep</a></p>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/mission-reports/rasmina-samuelson/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>3</slash:comments>
		</item>
	</channel>
</rss>

<!-- Performance optimized by W3 Total Cache. Learn more: http://www.w3-edge.com/wordpress-plugins/

Minified using disk: basic
Page Caching using disk: basic

Served from: www.mormonmissionprep.com @ 2012-05-17 10:17:28 -->
