Called to serve in the North Carolina, Charlotte mission?

Question

I just recieved my call today!

Any one have advice for me?

I was called by an apostle, not a bishop.

The church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

My brother is currently in the MTC and serving in the Dominacan Republic, Santiago mission.

I go to the MTC in the second week in august.

P.S. please star this so it gets around to our contacts... thanks

I'm from all over, but I currently live near WA D.C.

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Remember to pray for the missionaries all over the world!

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***to everyone who answered in a helpful and well meaning way: Thank you, and God bless you!***

*****there is no way I could chose a best answer, I'll let this one get voted on******
Thank you everyone... your answers really do mean a lot to me.

HURRAH FOR ISRAEL!!!!

Answer 1

Congratulations on your desire to serve the Lord! Missions are hard word, but the rewards are immense. I served my mission in Brazil and I've never been to North Carolina so my comments will be general.

Keep a good journal. Don't just write down the happy stuff (baptisms, temple visits, etc) but also some of the trials you face and how you dealt with them.

Keep a study journal. As you do your daily study, keep track of passages which jump out at you (also make note of the topic discussed in the passage). This is to be used to help investigators answer their questions. Don't use it to "Bible bash" because contention always drives away the Holy Spirit.

Learn to recognize the Spirit and don't hesitate to follow its promptings. You are called to find people who are already prepared. Only do random tracting if the Spirit isn't pulling you in a certain direction. Also, remember to follow the Spirit's promptings when given blessings.

Finally, be bold without being overbearing. You have been called as a witness of Christ. Never be ashamed of this calling. However, treat others the way Christ would have you do. Learn to accept rejection gracefully. Learn to keep friendly with those who have no desire to hear your message.

Answer 2

Congrats!!!!!! That is so awesome!!!!

Just remember that you are called to go to somewhere where the Lord wants you to go.

North Carolina is a very diverse place. Enjoy the food!!!! Nothing like good, down home cooken'!! They make these really good fried apple pies that are just amazing!! You'll probably eat your share of other southern cooken' too. So that should be fun for you!!

The people are really friendly there, but remember, it is the bible belt, so you will get a lot of people trying to bash you too. Just remember why you are there, and that the spirit will guide you if you are really doing your job.

Remember that everyone is different, and you may have problems from time to time with your companions. That's normal. Just try to remember to think of how Christ would have you act. That will help. Also, scripture study and prayer together will help too. If you do have problems, pray to understand where your comp is coming from. You may learn more from dealing with them then from anything else!!!

Remember to use the spirit to teach and to know where the Lord would have you go. Don't be afraid to follow the promptings of the spirit to go somewhere you weren't planning on going. You are being prompted for a reason, so follow it!!

Listen to your mission pres!! He really does know a lot and can lead you in the ways you should go for that mission.

Do some research about the area you are going to. Find out as much as you can about their customs, main religion in the area and the such. It really will help you to understand the people better.

Other then that, Have fun!!! Teach!!! Pray!!! Believe in the Spirit, and you should do wonderfully!!!!!

Answer 3

Depending on what part of Charlotte you are going to. Every city has a bad area. The areas of Charlotte I went to are nice and beautiful. I love Charlotte. I also went to an area that wasn't so good but hey, I have a bad area in the city I live in too. North Carolina is a beautiful state.

Answer 4

Good luck!

Interesting thing - my father served in what was called the Midatlantic States Mission back in the 50's (Virginia, West Virginia, and North Carolina). One thing he's commented on that I'm sure hasn't changed much in the past 50 years is the humidity there.

My oldest nephew also recently got his mission call - to the Cambodia Phenom Phen mission! He's entering the MTC July 25th, and will spend 12 weeks there learning the language (so if you run into Elder Godfrey, be sure to say 'Hi!'). The mission map indicates the mission covers all of Cambodian and Vietnam (since the Church can only do things like teach English in Vietnam, it'll be interesting to see what he does if he's transferred there any time during his mission).

As for advice...

There will always be challenges and opportunities to grow and serve, and there will be many mazing things happen. In some ways, though, a mission will never be quite what you expect it to be. Be prepared for good days and bad days. Some people will be glad to see you, and some...well, let's just say they could use a few lessons from Miss Manners.

Keep your head up high, a smile on your face, and a prayer in your heart. Remember who you're working for, and that His rewards for His faithful servants are literally out of this world!

Answer 5

Yea!! I lived in NC for a little while, and it is ALMOST as beautiful as TN (ha ha).

Take as many pics as you can stand to take, and then take more! And like someone else here said, make sure you keep a journal. You will want to recall things later in life that you won't be able to if you don't write it down! Savor every moment you're out! I've asked many missionaries who are ready to go home or who have just come home if it just flew by and they all said it did.

Obey the mission rules! Of course, that should go without saying, but make sure you do, and you absolutely cannot go wrong!

Have a wonderful, Wonderful, WONDERFUL time!!

Much love!

Answer 6

Congrats!!! My youngest son comes home around October 3rd. We are counting the days!!! He is in the Canada Montreal Mission - French speaking, well sort-of French - Quebecois. My husband was in the Paris France mission so he's glad to have another French speaker in the family.

My other son was in the Ogden Utah Mission - he got razed "don't they have enough Mormons in Utah?" I'd tell then, "no!" Brian has been home for almost a year.

Advise - write/email to your parents! Even if it's short, parents NEED to here from you. "Elder Steve" sends emails once a week and sometimes they are only a couple of sentences. Anything is better than nothing but more is better yet!

When you get to call on Mother's Day and Christmas, understand how important that phone call is. We look forward to it for months! Don't play it down that it's not important because, Elder, it is!

Go get 'em, "Sister Robbin"

Answer 7

Ah, it finally came! Congratulations to you for the upcoming mission ahead. The Lord is blessing you so keep the faith.

I served much of my 20-year career in and around Fayetteville, North Carolina, and I'm sure Charlotte isn't much different weather-wise, but the town is chock-full of interest--most of which you won't be able to enjoy because of your mission.

As for the Dominican Republic? I served two tours there in 1965 and 1966. Beautiful place after the shooting stopped.

The missionaries I travel with frequently are just like you--eager to serve and ready to take the Gospel to no-man's land and other sundry places. You know what must be done, so exercise your faith and works accordingly to the area. You will do fine!

Answer 8

Congrats!

Lets see, I think you already know the good stuff to prepare yourself spiritually, so maybe I can throw some random, everyday advice for you.

- Bring as much "wrinkle free" clothes as possible.

- When you go to the MTC all the missionaries will be greeting you in the various languages they're learning. Make some effort to learn how to say "hello" in some different languages - chances are, you'll use some of them.

- Enjoy the culture and the fun little details of North Carolina, learn to use their figures of speech, etc.

- Don't expect to suddenly be a different person when you're set apart, you will still very much be you with your own personality and weaknesses, and that's okay because there's somebody in that mission that needs to hear the gospel from you in only the way that you can present it.

- You'll start to notice that your different companions will have different strengths - I had one companion that was great at member retention, another that was great at giving baptism challenges, another that could tract all day with a smile, another that was incredible at talking to people in the streets - as you change companions, change what your daily schedule is to make the best use of their strenghts.

I could go on and on, and you'll hear so much between now and when you go the MTC.

best wishes

Answer 9

Wow-- DC- My little bro just got home from there!...

I served in Wisconsin. Yes, my long johns and I became very close....


1) D&C 82:10-- "I, the Lord, am bound..." There is power in obedience. Follow the mission rules. Dumb as they may seem, they were written for a reason.

Funny story-- We had a General Authority visit. He spoke to us in a meeting at the local chapel. There were a bunch of Sisters in the two zones that were meeting together, so we all sat on one row. Somehow, my comp ended up sitting near one end, and I sat near the middle of the row. At one point in the meeting, she got up to go to the bathroom- she'd been sick with brochitis, so this wasn't anything new- go cough up a lung, come back.... Well, I got up and followed her. Yeah, we were in a ward building; no, there weren't any other people around; but the rule is that you stay with your comp.... I stood around in the bathroom while she took care of business, and then we went back into the meeting... Then Elder (don't remember his name-- Anderson or Kikuchi) pointed to me, back in the middle of the row of Sisters, and asks me why I left. "Uh, because my companion left..." This GA pointed out that we were in a chapel, there weren't any other people around, asked me again, why... "Because it's a rule," so I ended up being an object lesson for obedience.



2) Love your companion. Life is a whole lot easier if you choose to get along. I didn't always like my companions, but I certainly appreciated them, learned something from each one.


3) Love the people... ok, so that's a given...


4) If you're not having fun, you're there for the right reason(s). Get on your knees and find the right reason(s).


5) Love the Lord. He wants you in NC for a reason. Keep in touch with Him (CONSTANTLY!!!), and He'll lead you to the people you are there to teach.


6) Sprint to the end, Elder!!... I was with my last companion for only a month, she was the best- she'd always tell me, "Sprint to the end, Sister, sprint to the end!" Make your last month as awesome and exciting as your first (just with less fear of the work ;)




One last idea- call the mission office while you're doing your shopping, preparation. Ask to speak to the elder who's been there the longest, ask him what one thing he is glad he brought with him... Make sure you get that thing, whatever it is! I called and the sister I spoke to recomended some lightweight long thermal-type underwear to keep warm in the winter. I'm oh-so glad I got some!! I wore them all freakin' winter!

Answer 10

Congrats! I've heard NC is beautiful! I wish you the best. I hope they call me on a mission one day. Even though I was baptised at 19 I never had a desire to go on a mission when I was younger. Now, I'm looking forward to retirement so I can go on one then. Of course that's still a long way off, so until then I'll just try to serve in the ways I can. Thanks for taking this opportunity. I don't regret my decision not to go, because I just wasn't ready then, but I'll always be thankful to those who taught me the discussions.