A MISSIONARY'S FIRST DAY
I realized the other day, that before serving this mission, I really had no idea what goes on in a mission. So today I am going to write about what the first day is like for a new missionary.
The day we receive new missionaries is the beginning of the 3 busiest days in a cycle, (everything repeats each 6 weeks in the mission - we call this a cycle.)
We receive new missionaries and have missionaries depart each 6 weeks. Sometimes the number of missionaries we receive and the number we have depart are very similar - sometimes not. That number controls whether we have to open new areas, get new apartments, more furniture, or if we have to close areas, apartments, store furniture, etc. It is a big job.
Plus each each missionary we receive needs a trainer - and trainers are carefully and prayerfully chosen and trained to give each new missionary the best start possible in the mission field.
All new missionaries come on Monday morning. Our two assistants travel in a large van (here they are called comb-y's, I have no idea how that is spelled) to the CCM (MTC) 1-2 hours away (depending on traffic) to get our new missionaries at 9:00AM to bring them to the mission.
(This is what is called a Comb-y, (sp??). Our missionaries travel in these alot! They are kind of like big vans with sliding doors. They pay the driver depending on how far they travel. They are very economical
The driver makes changes, answers questions and looks for people waiting at various points for a ride - all while driving.)
The President and I receive them at an Institute Building in the Nezahaulcoyotl Stake. Neither the mission home nor the mission office is in our mission - so that is why we receive them there. When they arrive, we greet them warmly (it is so thrilling to receive new missionaries!) and then they bring all their piles and piles of luggage into the institute building, sign immigration papers, have individual photos with the President and me, group photos of their "generation" and then settle in for an orientation. The President spends about 40 minutes introducing ourselves, sharing his testimony, his vision for the work here in the Great Mexico City Southeast Mission and how they will become among the best missionaries in the world. It is such an exciting time!
At this point, the President begins individual interviews with each new missionary and the Assistants begin orienting the new missionaries to our mission, and to life in Mexico City. They try to just share the most important things in this meeting. Usually the new missionaries are excited, tired, nervous, and overwhelmed all at the same time - so we just want them to feel loved, supported and to know what an asset they will be as they work to diligently be the instruments in the Lord's hands here in Mexico City.
At about 1:30 pm the President is usually still interviewing and prayerfully assigning companionships. However, the new trainers have arrived at the Institute building now and are so very, very excited to be receiving their brand new missionary to train. It is one of the most exciting afternoons for all of us. We serve a pizza lunch (missionaries love pizza and it is such a treat here), with salad and cookies. It is fun to watch the new missionaries because they already know and love each other quite well from having been in the CCM together.
After lunch, we all go to the neighboring Neza Stake Center to a transfer meeting with all the missionaries who have transfers on this day. The day new missionaries arrive, is also the day before completing missionaries depart and so there is a big "shuffle" in the mission.
We meet in the chapel and after song and prayer, President Mann asks each new missionary to stand and introduce him/herself to the rest of the missionaries. Next the President shares some thoughts about various things he needs to share - always reminding the missionaries to remember their first day in the mission and to treat our new missionaries with love and kindness. After other instruction from the president and a closing song and prayer the President hands out sealed envelopes with all the changes to the current zone leaders. At this point every one is excused to the cultural hall to learn about their new assignments and just the new missionaries and their trainers are left in the chapel with the President. It is a special time! The President announces the name of each new missionary and then who his/her trainer will be. They always embrace enthusiastically and stand side by side. It is just a wonderful moment. Following a few more warm comments from the President and take a big photo of this new generation of missionaries with their trainers. And then, they are off to work!
Things happen fast....Taxi's and Uber's start arriving immediately to whisk these new missionaries off to their areas. Usually by 3:00 they are on their way to their apartments where they will drop their luggage and be out working by 6:00PM. It is a huge, wonderful, exhilarating day for all of us!
I will be writing another blog soon about what happens next for the rest of the missionaries that day...especially for the departing missionaries. It is just the beginning of a big 3, emotional days!
I have decided to end each blog with a few pictures that seem to say "Viva Mexico" - things I want to share and not forget...
"VIVA MEXICO"
Trash collection in many parts of our mission is still done by a horse or mule drawn cart. The driver rings a bell so people know to bring their trash out of their homes for him. They sort and recycle everything. People pay the driver a few pesos to take the trash away, and the trash collector
also makes money selling the recyclables.
This is a moto-taxi and some areas of our mission have a lot of these. A driver has a cart, usually enclosed in plastic for 1-4 people to ride in. Most of the motorcycles are not very big that pull these carts. It is also very economical and handy, especially during July-October which is the rainy season here in Mexico City. I personally really like riding in them!
Mexicans AND Missionaries love cell phones and cameras (and selfies!)
Aren't these missionaries cute! This is what happens when they get my phone. I just love them!
The day we receive new missionaries is the beginning of the 3 busiest days in a cycle, (everything repeats each 6 weeks in the mission - we call this a cycle.)
We receive new missionaries and have missionaries depart each 6 weeks. Sometimes the number of missionaries we receive and the number we have depart are very similar - sometimes not. That number controls whether we have to open new areas, get new apartments, more furniture, or if we have to close areas, apartments, store furniture, etc. It is a big job.
Plus each each missionary we receive needs a trainer - and trainers are carefully and prayerfully chosen and trained to give each new missionary the best start possible in the mission field.
All new missionaries come on Monday morning. Our two assistants travel in a large van (here they are called comb-y's, I have no idea how that is spelled) to the CCM (MTC) 1-2 hours away (depending on traffic) to get our new missionaries at 9:00AM to bring them to the mission.
(This is what is called a Comb-y, (sp??). Our missionaries travel in these alot! They are kind of like big vans with sliding doors. They pay the driver depending on how far they travel. They are very economical
The President and I receive them at an Institute Building in the Nezahaulcoyotl Stake. Neither the mission home nor the mission office is in our mission - so that is why we receive them there. When they arrive, we greet them warmly (it is so thrilling to receive new missionaries!) and then they bring all their piles and piles of luggage into the institute building, sign immigration papers, have individual photos with the President and me, group photos of their "generation" and then settle in for an orientation. The President spends about 40 minutes introducing ourselves, sharing his testimony, his vision for the work here in the Great Mexico City Southeast Mission and how they will become among the best missionaries in the world. It is such an exciting time!
At this point, the President begins individual interviews with each new missionary and the Assistants begin orienting the new missionaries to our mission, and to life in Mexico City. They try to just share the most important things in this meeting. Usually the new missionaries are excited, tired, nervous, and overwhelmed all at the same time - so we just want them to feel loved, supported and to know what an asset they will be as they work to diligently be the instruments in the Lord's hands here in Mexico City.
At about 1:30 pm the President is usually still interviewing and prayerfully assigning companionships. However, the new trainers have arrived at the Institute building now and are so very, very excited to be receiving their brand new missionary to train. It is one of the most exciting afternoons for all of us. We serve a pizza lunch (missionaries love pizza and it is such a treat here), with salad and cookies. It is fun to watch the new missionaries because they already know and love each other quite well from having been in the CCM together.
After lunch, we all go to the neighboring Neza Stake Center to a transfer meeting with all the missionaries who have transfers on this day. The day new missionaries arrive, is also the day before completing missionaries depart and so there is a big "shuffle" in the mission.
We meet in the chapel and after song and prayer, President Mann asks each new missionary to stand and introduce him/herself to the rest of the missionaries. Next the President shares some thoughts about various things he needs to share - always reminding the missionaries to remember their first day in the mission and to treat our new missionaries with love and kindness. After other instruction from the president and a closing song and prayer the President hands out sealed envelopes with all the changes to the current zone leaders. At this point every one is excused to the cultural hall to learn about their new assignments and just the new missionaries and their trainers are left in the chapel with the President. It is a special time! The President announces the name of each new missionary and then who his/her trainer will be. They always embrace enthusiastically and stand side by side. It is just a wonderful moment. Following a few more warm comments from the President and take a big photo of this new generation of missionaries with their trainers. And then, they are off to work!
Things happen fast....Taxi's and Uber's start arriving immediately to whisk these new missionaries off to their areas. Usually by 3:00 they are on their way to their apartments where they will drop their luggage and be out working by 6:00PM. It is a huge, wonderful, exhilarating day for all of us!
I will be writing another blog soon about what happens next for the rest of the missionaries that day...especially for the departing missionaries. It is just the beginning of a big 3, emotional days!
I have decided to end each blog with a few pictures that seem to say "Viva Mexico" - things I want to share and not forget...
"VIVA MEXICO"
Trash collection in many parts of our mission is still done by a horse or mule drawn cart. The driver rings a bell so people know to bring their trash out of their homes for him. They sort and recycle everything. People pay the driver a few pesos to take the trash away, and the trash collector
This is a moto-taxi and some areas of our mission have a lot of these. A driver has a cart, usually enclosed in plastic for 1-4 people to ride in. Most of the motorcycles are not very big that pull these carts. It is also very economical and handy, especially during July-October which is the rainy season here in Mexico City. I personally really like riding in them!
Mexicans AND Missionaries love cell phones and cameras (and selfies!)
Aren't these missionaries cute! This is what happens when they get my phone. I just love them!
Thank you for sharing this! As a mom of a missionary currently in the CCM, this was so exciting and interesting to read! I can't wait to share some of this information with Elder Belnap when I next write to him. Two and a half weeks until he's in your care! Laura Belnap
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