Grab your friends, colleagues or loved ones to enjoy an outing that also gives back. Plastic is taking the world by storm, and a new type of gathering is popping up across the planet. People are planning give back gatherings that effect change. The gist is to get your friends together and plan something as simple as a picnic. You provide the food, plastic-free party supplies and host your friends at the nearest beach or lake. Gather together to pick up trash and then have fun hanging out. When bringing people together IRL and putting our phones down, it's also the perfect opportunity to help clean up the beaches that are under attack from plastic and litter at alarming rates. One of the biggest problems facing our oceans is microplastics: very small pieces of plastic that sea animals mistake for food, accidentally get caught in or involuntarily ingest. By 2050, there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish. Currently, over 90% of seabirds have plastic in their stomach. With the 8 billion tons of plastic getting dumped in the ocean annually, it’s easy to see how the plastic problem is accelerating so rapidly. We’re diving into how to do your part to clean up, and enlist the help of your friends while you’re at it.
Grab your friends, colleagues or loved ones to enjoy an outing that also gives back. Plastic is taking the world by storm, and a new type of gathering is popping up across the planet. People are planning give back gatherings that effect change. The gist is to get your friends together and plan something as simple as a picnic. You provide the food, plastic-free party supplies and host your friends at the nearest beach or lake. Gather together to pick up trash and then have fun hanging out. When bringing people together IRL and putting our phones down, it's also the perfect opportunity to help clean up the beaches that are under attack from plastic and litter at alarming rates. One of the biggest problems facing our oceans is microplastics: very small pieces of plastic that sea animals mistake for food, accidentally get caught in or involuntarily ingest. By 2050, there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish. Currently, over 90% of seabirds have plastic in their stomach. With the 8 billion tons of plastic getting dumped in the ocean annually, it’s easy to see how the plastic problem is accelerating so rapidly. We’re diving into how to do your part to clean up, and enlist the help of your friends while you’re at it.
Grab your friends, colleagues or loved ones to enjoy an outing that also gives back. Plastic is taking the world by storm, and a new type of gathering is popping up across the planet. People are planning give back gatherings that effect change. The gist is to get your friends together and plan something as simple as a picnic. You provide the food, plastic-free party supplies and host your friends at the nearest beach or lake. Gather together to pick up trash and then have fun hanging out. When bringing people together IRL and putting our phones down, it's also the perfect opportunity to help clean up the beaches that are under attack from plastic and litter at alarming rates. One of the biggest problems facing our oceans is microplastics: very small pieces of plastic that sea animals mistake for food, accidentally get caught in or involuntarily ingest. By 2050, there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish. Currently, over 90% of seabirds have plastic in their stomach. With the 8 billion tons of plastic getting dumped in the ocean annually, it’s easy to see how the plastic problem is accelerating so rapidly. We’re diving into how to do your part to clean up, and enlist the help of your friends while you’re at it.
Grab your friends, colleagues or loved ones to enjoy an outing that also gives back. Plastic is taking the world by storm, and a new type of gathering is popping up across the planet. People are planning give back gatherings that effect change. The gist is to get your friends together and plan something as simple as a picnic. You provide the food, plastic-free party supplies and host your friends at the nearest beach or lake. Gather together to pick up trash and then have fun hanging out. When bringing people together IRL and putting our phones down, it's also the perfect opportunity to help clean up the beaches that are under attack from plastic and litter at alarming rates. One of the biggest problems facing our oceans is microplastics: very small pieces of plastic that sea animals mistake for food, accidentally get caught in or involuntarily ingest. By 2050, there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish. Currently, over 90% of seabirds have plastic in their stomach. With the 8 billion tons of plastic getting dumped in the ocean annually, it’s easy to see how the plastic problem is accelerating so rapidly. We’re diving into how to do your part to clean up, and enlist the help of your friends while you’re at it.
For many young Latter-day Saints, preparing to serve a full-time mission is an exciting time. From putting in your papers to finally receiving your mission call, it is filled with milestones you’ll remember for the rest of your life. However, as you approach the date you report to the Missionary Training Center, the anxiety and […]
Mission statements - What are they, how do you write one, why, and what are some personal mission statement examples
Whether you are thinking about serving a full-time mission several years from now or you already have your mission call in hand, this Mission Prep "Bucket List" is filled with 25 SIMPLE WAYS that you can prepare to serve a full-time mission! Many of these things can be started while you are a youth, but you can continue (or start) any of them as a young adult as well. Feel free to print out this Mission Prep Bucket List on your printer (or have it printed as a 4x6 photo) - this free printable is totally free for anyone to use and share with friends (please link back to me if you post this anywhere and please do not reproduce this with the intention to sell it). We created this list as a free printable for anyone who wants some simple ideas for preparing for their LDS Mission, so we want to keep it free! Some of these things can be done in one day, but most of them will take a while. You may need to continue doing many of these right up until you actually leave for your mission. You can check off items as you complete them or have done well in establishing permanent habits! For specific ideas on how to do these things, here are some tips: EXERCISE: See our blog post "Getting Fit for your LDS Mission" here SPEND MORE TIME AWAY FROM HOME: A former missionary companion of mine (my first companion/trainer) recommended this idea for preparing for a mission one the other day and it's a great idea. If you're used to staying around the house most of the time, you might have a harder time adjusting (emotionally) to being away from family/friends and being out in public pretty much all the time. Do volunteer work, get a part-time (or full-time) job, go to Mutual (for youth) or YSA activities (for adults), do team sports or dance, get involved in extracurriculars at school, do community theatre, take Parks & Recreation classes, go to college for a term, etc. If you are a youth, going to Scout Camp, Girls Camp, Youth Conference, EFY, etc are also ways to get used to being away from home. DATE: This might seem like a strange suggestion...If you are going to be serving a full-time mission, it's best (in my opinion and experience) to avoid getting into a committed relationship. I've seen this become a problem for a lot of people (including my own husband). It's possible to be a totally focused and obedient missionary when you have a girlfriend or boyfriend back home, but it does make it more difficult for most people. And you don't want to worry about getting a "Dear John" letter (like my husband did!). Then why date at all? The purpose of dating as a youth isn't supposed to be romantic, though many youth are interested in romances. Follow the dating standards in For The Strength Of Youth (which is geared toward youth, but is applicable even if you are a single adult who isn't ready to get married because you will be serving a mission soon). FTSOY suggests casual dating in groups with a variety of people with the purpose of making friends, learning about and getting to know new people, and having wholesome fun. When you are ready to get married (say, after your mission if you decide to serve one), then dating should be more focused on finding a future companion for marriage. If you approach dating with those expectations and attitudes, you will be able to have fun making new friends without being distracted from your goals. LEARN TO COOK: Learn to cook some basics. Don't worry about learning to cook a bunch of fancy stuff, because you either won't have time, won't have the money, or won't be able to get the ingredients! See our blog post "2 Really Important Things to Start Doing NOW if you want to Survive EATING as an LDS Missionary" for tips about cooking here and our blog post "Missionary Recipe - Twice-Baked Potatoes" here IMPROVE YOUR MENTAL HEALTH: See the "emotional health" section of the missionary page on lds.org here LEARN TO CLEAN: During your mission, you will be expected to clean your own apartment (you will probably have routine apartment checks conducted by the mission leaders) and you will even have cleaning service assignments when you're at the MTC...(our district was assigned bathrooms. I cleaned a LOT of toilets). I know it might sound silly, but you don't want to look like you've never cleaned anything in your life because you have no idea how to wash dishes or clean a toilet. And of course you will need to know how to do your own laundry (starting at the MTC), so figure that stuff out WAY ahead of time. Ask a relative for help, or find some tutorials on youtube or Pinterest. TIP #1- Some cleaning chemicals can't be mixed because they can create toxic chemical reactions, so know what kind of cleaners to use for different things, read the labels, and don't mix stuff together. TIP #2- Be careful with bleach because if it gets on anything (your clothes, towels, shower curtain, carpet, and even some surfaces like colored porcelain) it can permanently change the color. Guess how I know that! :) Only use bleach or cleaners with bleach in them if you know what you are doing. FULFILL CHURCH CALLINGS: Learn to keep your commitments and fulfill your assignments by following through on your responsibilities, such as church callings (including Ministering - formerly known as Home Teaching and Visiting Teaching) GET USED TO WALKING: Can you walk 6 miles or more a day? See our blog post "Getting Fit for your LDS Mission" here ATTEND COLLEGE: If you are able (financially) and the time-frame works out, you might be able to take some college classes (or even attend college full time) for a while before your mission. Some future missionaries attend for only one term, others might even be able to complete a degree or certificate before they leave for their mission. This is a good way to meet different kinds of people and improve your skills and education. Discuss time-frame with your Bishop and your parents. GET USED TO BIKING: Can you bike 12 or more miles a day? If you don't have a bike, you could use an exercise bike to train! See our blog post "Getting Fit for your LDS Mission" here ATTEND THE TEMPLE: If you have a temple in your area, you can visit the grounds and/or visitors center. You may also be able to do baptisms for the dead. If you are endowed, you can do endowment sessions and maybe even be a temple worker. Consult with your Bishop about what is appropriate for you. If you don't have a temple nearby, don't worry - the most important thing for anyone (whether they can actually get to the temple or not) is to strive to be WORTHY to hold a current temple recommend. Everyone's situation is individual, so speak with your Bishop about qualifying for a limited-use temple recommend (for baptisms for the dead) or how you can prepare for a regular adult temple recommend. DEVELOP SKIN CARE & HAIR CARE ROUTINES: You don't want to take a bunch of extra stuff you don't need on your mission (you don't have much room in your luggage), so start now to find a skincare and haircare routine that is simple, stream-lined, and works for you. I brought a lot of stuff with me (lotions, face cleaners, masks, etc) that I never used an ended up tossing out to make room for other things. Just bring what you need and what you know works. Figure it out now. ESTABLISH A HABIT OF SCRIPTURE STUDY: Missionaries study the gospel for hours every day. It's important. You can read Preach My Gospel and other things, but most importantly, get to know the scriptures. As a missionary, you are going to be testifying of the truthfulness of the scriptures. Know what they say! Start by reading the Book of Mormon...every. single. day. ATTEND MISSION PREP CLASS: Talk to your Bishop about Mission Prep classes in your area. In our Stake, any interested youth ages 16 & up are invited to attend the stake-wide Mission Prep class, along with young single adults who are planning to serve a mission. It might be different in your area, so check with your Bishop. LEARN TO MEND CLOTHES: See our post "What you need (and don't need) in a Missionary Sewing Kit" here for information about missionary-related sewing & repairs ESTABLISH HABIT OF PRAYER: Get in the habit of praying when you wake up and before you go to sleep, whenever you eat, when you study, when you need help, etc. Try to practice praying as if you are speaking to a real person (because you ARE!) so that you don't get in a rut of just repeating the same thing every time. ATTEND SEMINARY: If you are a youth, attend seminary. I've heard that for some countries, attending seminary for a certain number of years can help you get permission for a Visa, because seminary is considered ministry training. ATTEND INSTITUTE: If you are a young single adult, try to attend Institute classes! It's similar to seminary, but usually only once a week. WORK: Even if you don't need to save for your mission funds, please consider getting a part-time or full-time job so that you can get some of this important life experience before your mission. It is recommended that a missionary work to pay for at least part of their mission. It helps you to feel more "invested" in your mission. Have you ever saved up to buy something and then took really good care of it because you know how hard you worked? Have you ever seen a friend trash a bike, car, or other expensive item that they were given as a gift because they don't really understand it's cost? Besides giving you a sense of investment in your mission, having a job will help you learn about following directions, working hard, being responsible, and if your job involves customer service, you have to learn to be polite even when people are rude (and that can be a really helpful skill to have as a missionary). GET USED TO TALKING TO PEOPLE: You don't have to walk up to strangers and strike up a conversation on the street, but use natural opportunities that you have in your everyday life to be a little more outgoing. If the cashier at the grocery store asks you how you are doing, don't just say "fine" - start a conversation with her! Ask how she is doing. or comment on the weather or something! When you meet your aunt's neighbor, show interest by asking her questions or paying her a compliment. The more you get used to talking to people you don't know, the better, because you will be doing this all day, every day as a missionary. ATTEND GOSPEL PRINCIPLES CLASS: This is an adult Sunday School class usually attended by new members, returning members, ward-missionaries, full-time missionaries, etc. Sometimes young adults who are preparing to go on a mission attend this class also. Youth should attend their regular youth Sunday School class until they are out of the youth programs. If you are a young single adult, check with your Bishop or Branch President to see if this is appropriate for you. LEARN TO GET STAINS OUT OF CLOTHES: See our blog post "5 Things you can MAKE NOW for your LDS Mission - even if your call hasn't arrived yet" here for information on stain removal MAKE MEMORIES: Do some fun things and don't forget to take photos so you can look back on your fun times - get together with family or friends and hike, go to a concert, go to the beach, etc. IMPROVE PHYSICAL HEALTH: See our blog post "Getting Fit for your LDS Mission" here ATTEND TEMPLE-PREP CLASS: Talk to your Bishop or Branch President about the timing of this (Kendall's Branch President said that they will talk about scheduling a Temple Prep class once she has submitted her mission papers) Have fun!
What is a mission statement? Your church mission statement can be used as a tool to inspire and lead. It’s foundational and every church should have one. But what exactly is a mission statement? Your statement takes what the church does and consolidates it into one or two concise sentences. Sometimes, but not always,
Check out this nuts and bolts timeline to help plan a family mission trip.
Ideally, you will already be healthy (physically and emotionally) before you even start thinking about preparing for a mission. In reality, most prospective missionaries probably have some things they can work on to improve their health - either their physical fitness or their emotional health. This blog post will focus on preparing for the level of physical fitness that is required for LDS missionaries, but we will also feature a post on emotional (mental) health) in a future post. If you need more information about emotional health guidelines for LDS missionaries now, don't worry- I will post a link to the Church's official page on the subject at the end of this post. There seems be an infinite supply of advice on how to "get healthy" or lose/gain weight and if you ask 100 people their opinion on the healthiest way to eat or the best way to exercise, you're probably going to get 100 different answers. I am not a medical professional, but in general I will start off by recommending TWO things for future missionaries: #1- Follow the advice of trusted medical professionals (such as your primary care doctor). #2- Do your best to follow the Word of Wisdom. I'm going to assume that you already understand that the "Primary answers" basics of the Word of Wisdom (no alcohol, no tobacco, no coffee or tea, no illegal drugs) are definitely required of any prospective missionary. But those 4 "don'ts" aren't the Word of Wisdom - they are only a part of the Word of Wisdom. What else is explicitly stated (or implied) in what we call the Word of Wisdom (Doctrine & Covenants section 89)? Hint- not everything is a "don't"... what ARE we told to do? Sometimes people tend to overlook the "do's" The Word of Wisdom was given to help us know how to best to care for our mortal bodies. Sometimes OFTEN, the principles Word of Wisdom doesn't mix well with fad diets or health trends. OR, you may have certain health restrictions (such as a legitimate gluten allergy) that will make keeping part of the Word of Wisdom impossible. You will need to discern for yourself (using your knowledge, medical advice, and most importantly the Spirit) what is appropriate for your specific body. This applies to what you eat as well as what exercise is appropriate for you. Just like they state in every exercise video, consult a doctor before starting an exercise regimen! Your doctor is aware of your physical limitations (due to medical conditions or concerns) and can help you to understand what is appropriate for your body and your fitness goals. Did you know that you need your doctor to sign off that you're physically (and emotionally) fit to serve a mission? They will determine whether they believe that you are healthy enough to handle the physical requirements of serving a mission. If they don't (in their professional opinion) feel that they can sign off on your health form, they won't do it! It is better to know what needs to be done ahead of time! I have suggested to several missionaries that they might consider visiting their primary care doctor WAY before it is time to submit their papers (maybe even a year or 2 in advance if you have serious medical concerns or significant weight issues). The reason for this visit would be to explain your plan to serve a mission (even if you aren't 100% sure you are going yet) and discuss what changes you would need to make to your lifestyle in order for them to feel comfortable with approving you for missionary service. Your doctor may or may not be LDS, but even if you don't live in a highly-populated by Church members, many doctors are at least somewhat familiar with LDS mission papers because all prospective missionaries needs them signed by their doctor. Even if your doctor isn't familiar with the mission requirements, you can explain what is expected as far as missionary health (see below). There are BMI (height/weight) requirements AND requirements for physical ability (which I will explain below), so your doctor could say "Well, I'm not sure you can handle these physical requirements, I want you to walk 6 miles a day for 3 months and then come back after you've done that" or "I need you to lose 40 pounds before I can sign this"... can you imagine how disappointing that would be if you thought you were all ready to submit your mission papers? It would be better to know AHEAD OF TIME, so that you can make any changes that you may be required to make. Donald B. Doty M.D. (Chairman of Missionary Department Health Services) says, "I recommend that health preparation begin at least two years in advance of the anticipated missionary service. Those who wait to prepare until the last minute or until after they have received the call to serve may not be ready and may even have their missions delayed" If you are already 18 (Elders) or 19 (Sisters), or are getting close to turning missionary age, you might be planning to leave in less than 2 years. Ideally, you will have been preparing for several years, but if your health is good this won't keep you from serving. Use whatever time you have left before you plan to submit your mission papers to prepare to the best of your ability- again, using sound medical advice from trusted sources. Just like get-rich-quick-schemes, shortcuts to achieve weight loss or "health" are never a good idea. Basic exercise (physical ability) requirements: To sum up Dr. Doty's assessment of the physical exercise ability requirements of a full-time missionary: "a missionary must be able to walk an average of 6 miles per day and ride a bicycle 12 miles a day". WALKING: Can you walk 6 miles in one day (either all at once or broken up throughout the day? You might need to do both!) and can you do it without a problem? Even if you don't think you are "out of shape," you might be sore for a while if you aren't used to walking that much. Your muscles will be sore and your feet will be sore (blisters, etc). And being sore will slow you down as a missionary. Eventually you will get used to walking so much, but its better to get used to it NOW vs. getting used to it as a missionary. I recommend starting slow with shorter distances and eventually working up to 6 miles if you aren't used to walking long distances. Ask your doctor for recommendations on how much walking to start with. I live in a part of the country where it is POURING rain for most of the year. As a missionary, you will need to walk whether it is raining or not. For now, you can take advantage of a treadmill if the weather is bad. However, if the weather is good enough, try to do most of your walking outside (because a treadmill doesn't accurately replicate missionary walking where you will be on uneven surfaces, stepping on rocks, etc). BIKING: You may or may not need to ride a bike, but the issue for you to consider now, is CAN YOU? You should be physically able to ride 12 miles, even if you don't end up in a mission/area with bikes. If you don't have a bike (or the weather is way too rainy to ride right now - like it is in our town!) you can practice on an exercise bike. Most missionaries who are on bikes probably don't bike 12 miles in one stretch, most likely the average 12 miles per day is spread out in smaller chunks over the day. But in some areas, you may need to bike many miles at a time. Whether it is small chunks of biking or 12 miles at one time, 12 miles is 12 miles...if you aren't used to biking that much, you are going to be hurting. If you are just starting biking (or exercise biking), start out slow and work your way up to 12 miles per day over time. Ask your doctor for recommendations on how much biking to start with. Dr. Doty suggests that future missionaries can prepare physically for missionary service by having a regular pattern of aerobic exercise (walking, running, or cycling) for at least an hour a day. Again, this is a general guidelines that doesn't take into account your personal physical limitations or medical conditions, so you will definitely want to check with your doctor to see if he/she would recommend something different for your specific situation. BMI/WEIGHT ISSUES: "The Missionary Department requires that missionaries have a body mass index no higher than 37. This is actually on the border between obesity and morbid obesity. Prospective missionaries should strive to keep their weight in the normal range, thereby avoiding obesity-related health problems. Being markedly under normal weight can also have serious health consequences" To determine your current BMI (body mass index), you can use an online BMI calculator like this, which takes your personal information like height and weight and calculates your BMI for you. Basically, the result will tell you whether you are considered medically underweight, overweight, etc. based on your height to weight ratio. It does not take into consideration body type and things like that, so please try not to freak out if you don't like your result. Your doctor is the best resource to help you determine what an appropriate BMI is for you. If you need to make changes to your lifestyle (food and exercise) to change your BMI, your doctor can also recommend the best way to do that. FOOD/DIET/NUTRITION: I already mentioned the importance of carefully studying and living the Word of Wisdom earlier in this post. Dr. Doty says, "Rather than living on sugar and fat, young people should learn to enjoy meals consisting of protein and fiber, such as lean meat, yogurt, vegetables, and fruit. Also, drinking more than 12 ounces of carbonated beverage per day is too much". ADDITIONAL PHYSICAL HEALTH CONCERNS: "Adequate sleep: Although sleep needs vary, young adults generally need to sleep seven to eight hours per day...Missionaries live a scheduled life. They are in bed by 10:30 p.m. and up by 6:30 a.m. every day. This schedule will be difficult unless prospective missionaries get into a similar routine well in advance of the call to service" "Meal preparation skills: ... I stress the word simple because missionaries often cook food on a hot plate or a single gas burner and may not have an oven. Every prospective missionary needs to know the basics of cooking and sanitary food handling" "Personal hygiene. Personal cleanliness and good grooming habits are vital to missionary success. Favorable first impressions are lasting. Clean hands also help missionaries stay healthy and prevent the spread of communicable diseases" "Skin problems. Acne is a common teenage problem. Those with a severe acne problem should get help from a medical doctor well before entering the Missionary Training Center. Some acne medicines require monitoring over time and are not used in the mission field" "Dental health. Prevention is the key to good dental health. This means a habit of brushing teeth at least morning and night, daily use of dental floss, and consistent visits to your dentist. Any required dental repair should be finished before the missionary recommendation is submitted. Orthodontic treatment—which often takes two years or more—must be completed before arrival at the MTC" (AND, we all know how long we often have to wait for dental appointments, so its better do get everything taken care of ASAP! You don't want to delay submitting your mission papers because you have to wait another 4 weeks for an appointment to get a cavity filled) "Chronic health issues. Headaches are a common, difficult health problem that may worsen during missionary service and that can be difficult to evaluate and treat in the field. Occasional stomach and bowel problems may also become chronic during missionary service. Heart problems and breathing problems such as asthma should be thoroughly evaluated before missionaries begin service. With proper treatment, many health problems become controllable, making missionary service possible if treatment continues throughout the mission...Prospective missionaries (who have bone or joint issues) must obtain appropriate orthopedic care well in advance (four to six months) of entering missionary service. A young man or woman who arrives at the MTC on crutches two weeks after knee surgery will not be able to walk the distance required in the mission field" "Immunizations. Those preparing to serve missions should obtain all available routine vaccinations and booster injections at appropriate ages. Well before beginning their missionary service, they should also receive any special immunizations required for the particular country where they will serve" Dr. Donald B. Doty has written an excellent article about preparing for missionary service that includes information on both physical and mental health called "Missionary Health Preparation" that you can read on lds.org here. All quotes used in this blog post are from this article. You can also find additional information on the church's official "Missionary Preparation - Physical and Emotional Health" page here.
Looking for service projects ideas for your group, your family or yourself. I've compiled a list of 60 ideas. Check them out!
Crafting a solid women's ministry mission statement is critical for the growth of your women's ministry. Learn how here.
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How to make sure to plan a mission trip with excellence. See Romans 12:1-2. youth mission trip 2020 | highs school mission trips | mission trip planning checklist | mission trip
Most of the respondents said they were “delighted” or “surprised,” and that the one event made guests return to the church.
Crafting a solid women's ministry mission statement is critical for the growth of your women's ministry. Learn how here.
Live intentionally by creating a family mission statement. Use Christian family mission statement examples and a family mission statement pdf to make yours!
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Every year, many local churches put together a missions conference. Planning a missions conference can been very challenging, especially when trying to come up with ideas to make the conference fr…
12 Missionary Cupcake Toppers to celebrate your missionary! This is an Instant Download Digital PDF File. No physical product will be shipped to you. Perfect for mission call openings, missionary farewell, missionary homecomings, mission reunions, mission prep classes, young men and young women activities, etc. How to Order: • Add this listing to your cart and purchase • After your payment has been approved, you can download and save your file under purchases/ reviews Print at home or at your favorite print shop. For best results print on white card stock. For personal use only! The file cannot be shared or sold and printed copies cannot be sold in any form. ©JACBalloons
