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Advice to a new missionary
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7/21/2019 Letter to Kayla
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/letter-to-kayla 1/2
October 11, 2015
Sister Kayla Calica,
I've shared this advice to all the missionaries that have gone out from our ward and I wanted to
do the same for you. I'm so excited that you're going to the Philippines! You're going to love it.
First, your experience in the MTC. You'll love your experience there, and one thing that can
greatly enhance the experience is joining the MTC choir on Sundays. I can't believe you'll only
be there for 2 weeks so I don't know if you'll have this opportunity but if you do, take advantage
of it
Also in the MTC, you’ll probably be told to get two journals, one as your spiritual journal, and
the other to write about what happens on your mission. Your spiritual journal will be great for
study and your preparation for talks and lessons that you will be asked to give in various
meetings throughout your mission.
Next is the power of the members. When you get to your first area, introduce yourself to the
Bishop or Branch President, and all the other members of the ward/branch council (Relief
Society president, Young Men’s president, Young Women’s president, Ward Mission leader)
and let them know how excited you are to be serving in their ward or branch. Say hi and shake
hands with every member that you can. Hopefully you’ll be able to meet with the ward council
every week or at least once a month. You’ll report to them about your week (how many lessons
you taught and who you’re currently teaching). Ask them to hold you accountable for your work.
This is all in addition to being accountable to your District and Zone leaders, and your Mission
President.
Love your trainer. Your mission president and his assistants have prayed and thought very
carefully about who would be the best trainer for you. I asked my trainer Tagalog questions all
the time throughout the day and would make notes in my planner. I'd also ask him about being a
missionary and would try and follow his example. That’s what they’re there for. Normally, you’ll
get a trainer who is in the middle of her mission and is excited to train and to be a good example
to you. If, however, you do get a trainer that is nearing the end of her mission or doesn’t
particularly have a strong desire to work hard, then y will have to be the strong one. Pray for
her and let her know what you are there to do, that is to bring souls unto Christ.
Love and serve your companions. You’re not going to like every single one but you should
still love them and pray and study with them so that you’ll both have the spirit as you walk
around and go to your appointments. I had to help a few missionaries who were having trouble
and it tested my patience but I tried to always be cheerful and just love them. My brother
Michael shared with me that he was having problems with one of his companions and what he
chose to do was to make his companion's bed every morning. This greatly helped their
7/21/2019 Letter to Kayla
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relationship and they were able to have the spirit together.
As you walk around looking for people to teach, always try and see the potential in every
person that you meet. I always liked to imagine that the guys that I met could become great
Elders Quorum leaders if they accepted the gospel and were baptized. Remember, every one of
us that is alive already accepted Christ’s plan the first time. We just need to help them
remember, to recognize the spirit, and accept it one more time. You will of course love the
people you meet learn to love the Philippines even more. There will certainly be days where the
weather will be so uncomfortable especially in summer, but you just need to learn to love it,
haha. I remember walking out of the house in the morning after our companionship study and
just thinking to myself how I loved the sun and the heat. When you smile, it tricks your brain into
feeling happy, so you just need to be smiling all the time. You don’t have any real reason to be
sad You’re working in the Lord’s vineyard, helping bring to pass the immortality and eternal life
of man.
on’t be afraid of rejection. You might hear “No” one hundred times before you hear one
“Yes”, and that’s ok. You’re planting seeds every time you bear your testimony and open your
mouth. President Morgan has said, you might never know the extent of your influence as a
missionary. People will be watching everything you do, and it is important to know who you are
representing and whose name is also on your missionary name tag. Remember Him always.
That’s our promise that we make every week during sacrament, and you have the opportunity to
really live this promise every hour of every day for the next 18 months. What a blessing. The
Filipino people are so nice and generally don't like to reject so your obstacle will be to get them
to keep their commitments such as reading the Book of Mormon and going to church. I know
you'll be a great missionary and am excited to hear about your experiences.
I’m thankful for your example and your willingness to serve a full-time mission. I know your
family will be blessed for your service and your letters home to them will give them strength. I
know that Jesus Christ lives and that He is our savior and redeemer. I know that He died for us
and that He also was risen again. I know that He guides His church today through Prophets and
Apostles. I know that Joseph Smith was called as a true prophet and that through him, we now
have the Book of Mormon, another testament of Christ. I know that the book is true and that we
can grow closer to God and to Christ by reading it and living by its teachings. I know that we can
all return to live with God in heaven if we all continue to keep the commandments and our
temple covenants.
Christian Johnson
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