So You're On/Going On a Mission

Dear Family and Friends,

Yes today was that long anticipated day of reckoning: transfers. The result? I'm in Palo Cedro for another six weeks. There are good things about this and there are definitely some hard things about this news. The most important thing, however, is that you can all start writing to me again. Promptly. Hopefully.

That said, I long ago ran out of interesting things to say about Palo Cedro, so what can/will I write for the next six weeks? This will be an exercise of my ingenuity. As for this week I thought I'd write some advice for all those who are about to embark in the service.

Last Minute Mission Advice (from a greenie on her last day as a greenie):

- Learn to make a bed (from the mattress up, particularly fun with MTC sheets that don't really fit the bed).
- arrive at your MTC room as early as possible so you can have your choice of bunks (the Elders in my MTC district said they didn't have ladders to get onto the top bunks)
- wear a shirt on your first day which allows you to roll up your sleeves far enough to get any shots they feel you really do need to have.
- Make sure you know some simple cooking and how to shop on a budget.
- we really only have to buy stuff for lunches which is pretty easy, but I have heard several Elders complain that they run out early in the month while the sisters always seem to have surplus.
- Be wary of the condiment dispensers at the MTC as I witnessed rancid ketchup exploding out of them all over missionaries' suits on several occassions.
- Also, the ice cream in the back corner freezers is really old.
- When anyone flushes the toilet while you're in the shower at the MTC, the showers run really hot (pretty near scalding) for a minute--often this is desirable because all the showers get cold quite quickly).
- if you get to the laundry room by 6:00 am on you Pday you should be able to get in and out pretty fast (you can take a nap later in the day) or go to like an 8:00 am temple session and do laundry at around 1:00-2:00 when everyone else is waiting in line at the temple.
- practice your 4 square skills as it is a very popular game during gym time.
- Be able to clean according to the "Mom Standard".
- get into regular sleeping habits before you go to the MTC so that you don't annoy all your companions by staying up reading until 1:00 (plus that's against mission rules and breaking mission rules is not cool.)
- ask your teachers if you can watch Elder Jeffrey R. Holland's "Miracle of a Mission" (or as the teachers know it "Don't ever go home") at the MTC because that is the only place you can see it.

Also, would someone please put this in front of Eric as I don't flatter myself that he actually reads my mission blog? Thank you.

Love,
Sister Sorensen