Fun Things to Know about Missionaries - The Inside Scoop!
Have you ever watched a missionary back up their car? If you have, you’ve also seen their companion out to the side of the car guiding them. That’s called having a “backer.” Elder Kennan our vehicle coordinator told me that over half of missionary car accidents happen while backing up, so to steer clear (pardon the pun) of dings and dents in the cars, the missionary department has made the rule that the driver’s companion must be outside guiding them while in reverse. Missionaries of course want to avoid the hassle and embarrassment of having their companion out being the backer, so, whenever possible when parking, they pull through the parking spot, so their car is facing out. That way they can drive forward out of their parking spot. They affectionately have termed this “celestial parking.”
Fun Fact: 90% of our missionaries have cars. Only 20% use bikes. Our mission is not a very bike friendly area. Although, I actually would love to bike more myself. I went out the other day on my bike and it was pretty rough for a few reasons. 1. A lack of bike lanes. 2. Streets that wind around with many curves so cars just don’t see you. and 3. A lot of steep hills.
Celestial Parking! Photo taken at the Badger Building.
Having a backer and Celestial parking are just two of a few fun and unique things to know about missionaries and mission life. Here are a few more.
When a missionary spots an airplane, they laugh and point to it making the joke, “Hey Elder, “How far away is that plane?” The answer: Two years, it’s two years away. Meaning it will be two years before they are on a plane returning home.
Elder Wallace eating his cupcakes!
Every six weeks missionaries who have completed their missions return home and new missionaries are flown in to begin their service. It is also a time when current missionaries will be “transfered” to a different zone (area of the mission) or will receive a new companion. This is called transfer week. Right before transfer week missionaries tend to get a little anxious knowing that a big change is coming their way. Elder Wallace told me, “When I found out that my companion, who I love working with, was being transfered, I was so sad. I had a good cry, and then I ate my cupcakes. After that I felt like I was ready to go again.” I thought this was good advice – cry, eat a cupcake, and then square your shoulders and go forward.
President Quinn and I decided to pass out cupcakes this past week during transfers to all the missionaries getting new companions to help calm their nerves.
President and Sister Quinn passing out cupcakes on transfer day. The missionaries meet in the parking lot at the Badger church building.
Transfer Day! Badger building parking lot.
Speaking of transfers every six weeks. When on a mission, months are no longer the unit of time used. Instead, we talk in terms of “transfers.” For instance, if you ask a missionary. “how long have you been on your mission?” They will give you an answer such as “4 transfers.” Which in layman’s terms is 24 weeks or about 6 months. If you ask a missionary. “When are you going home?” Again they will answers something like, “I have 2 transfers left.”
Missionaries having fun on p-day!
Each Monday missionaries have what is called p-day, or preparation day. Once a week missionaries take this day to call home, go grocery shopping, do their laundry, etc. They also gather as a zone and play sports together. They play pickleball, soccer, ultimate freezbie, and basketball. Missionaries are asked to only play half-court basketball in an attempt to cut back on injuries. One sport that a few have taken up that doesn’t cause any twisted ankles is doing tricks as they play Kendama. Kendama is a traditional Japanese skill toy. It takes practice to play. There are some fun tricks to do.
Kendama Japanese skill toy
P-day picnic !
Snap shot of dots from the Area Book an app on the phone.
Missionaries go “dot knocking.” At first I thought they were saying “door knocking” in a funny way. But I was wrong. They were really saying “dot knocking.” Missionaries have what they call “an area book.” It is an electronic app that allows missionaries to access important information from previous missionaries in that particular zone. This helps them to keep track of the work that has been done in certain areas. When a new missionary is transferred into a new area the previous missionary will share the area book information with the new missionary. A section of the area book is a map with dots on it. Each dot means something. Yellow dots means this person may be interested in being taught. Red dots means this person has asked not to be contacted by the church. Blue dots are members of the church. Green dots are friends they are teaching currently. Gray dots are people that have been contacted but are not currently being taught by the missionaries.
Elders Bullock, Poulsen, Law, and Moala ready to go dot knocking
It’s 10:30 pm !
Missionaries are asked to be in bed by 10:30 pm so they can get 8 hours of sleep and be up by 6:30 am. Sometimes around 10:29 they suddenly remember what time it is and the 10:29 scramble begins. There is chaos as everyone rushes to put away things, brush teeth, say prayers, and jump in bed.
If you ask a missionary to use your phone to take a photo, you, will most likely in addition to the photo requested, find funny selfies in your phone’s photos. I love it. It always makes me laugh.
Sister Christensen, Sister Neidens, and Sister Clifton - love the selfie!
We respectively call the young men Elder and the young women Sister, (Hermanas if the sisters are Spanish speaking.) Many times you won’t even know your companion’s first name as we use their last name with Elder or Sister. We always wear our name tags to let people know we are representatives of the church and are called to bring people unto Christ. Another interesting fact is that missionaries are not allowed to date while serving their missions. A few Elders have met up with some Sisters after their missions to date. We love seeing that!
Sister Quinn with Hermana Fritzgerald (Spanish speaking missionary) Her smile is contagious.
I hope you enjoyed learning a few fun and unique things about missionaries and mission life. Missionaries are the best. They are always smiling.
Here are two more selfie photos of missionaries I have found on my phone this week. .
Elder Scoresby and Elder Hawkins
Sister Callison, Sister Thurber and Sister Shaw
If you have any questions about missions or missionaires please feel free to email me and I would be happy to answer them. Thanks for reading our mission blog. Take care and please keep in touch!
Sister Quinn
California Santa Rosa Mission Leader
elaine.quinn@churchofjesuschrist.org or ehquinn41@gmail.com
