93% of RMs Experienced This On Their Mission…

Please welcome guest blogger and RM, Spencer Allen. Spencer served in the England London Mission (2007-2009), and attended BYU-I upon returning where he studied Digital Marketing. He now owns Vital Avenue and is helping missionaries and families all over the world!

Over the last few months, we’ve partnered with a group of local college students to help us understand what goes on during a mission. Although we’re active, happy members of the Church, including all of my siblings and I serving missions (Paris, France; Fort Lauderdale, Florida; London, England; Santa Maria, Brazil; Modesto, California), we wanted a closer look inside… at least as close we possibly can.

It’s time I let the cat out of the bag… going on a mission puts EVERY missionary in unfamiliar situations… shocker, I know!

Whether it’s a culture, language, geographical location, talking to complete strangers, or what’s on the dinner table, there is NOTHING like serving a mission.

Regardless of how much my mom tried to prepare me (thank you “Try Something New Night” dinners every week for the last 2 years before leaving on my mission), there’s nothing quite like being in the moment.

Nothing could have prepared me for the night I had pig trotters for dinner. While I’ll spare you the details, I’ll tell you one thing. It was a meal I’ll never forget.

It may be an impossible task to talk to every single RM, but something tells me that I’m not alone in saying you’ll find yourself eating food or drinking something that you’ve never tried before at least once on your mission.

In our research, we surveyed over 250 returned missionaries. As the results continue to come in, the data becomes more and more interesting.

Of the 250+ RMs we polled:

• 93% ate or drank something they had never been exposed to BEFORE their missions
• 63% said they ate something they felt was undercooked, underprepared, unsanitary, or otherwise harmful at least a few times a year
• 42% experienced gastrointestinal issues AT LEAST a few times a year
• 61% had to pause missionary work due to digestion / stomach related issue

While we’ve received tremendous insights from soon-to-be full-time missionaries as well as RMs, we’re still wanting to know more about the thought process for parents of missionaries.

Will you please take 5-10 minutes in taking the survey below?

https://byu.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eR8PbxUFqUjbcrj

Not only will your efforts help our team of college students, but your input and opinions will have a direct impact on those who are currently dealing with common stomach problems including constipation, diarrhea, and parasites as well as those who are looking for additional means of protection against the effects uncommon foods and drinks may bring.

In addition, Vital Avenue is offering a (1) month supply to (10) lucky winners as well as (1) of those (10) also receiving a $50 Amazon Gift Card.

Our team has put together a handful of video testimonials as well as some great content on their site that details their products and their mission of helping preserve and protect the digestive health and well being of your missionary while they labor.

You can visit their website at www.vitalavenue.com

Again, the link you can use to access the survey can be found here:

https://byu.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eR8PbxUFqUjbcrj

Vital Avenue can be found on the Missionary Momma Mall

Best-kept Secret in the Church!

My dear Brothers and Sisters,

It has been four years this month since I sent my boy off to the Mexico MTC. Do you know what that means? That means MMs is 4 years old now. However, long before there were Blogs, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or Pinterest... there were Missionary Mommas all over the world.

I have often said that the whole "MM thing" is one of the best-kept secrets in the church. You know, when you are expecting, there are all sorts of people that will tell you about child bearing... the good, the bad and the ugly! And there are libraries full of books written on how to handle newborns, toddlers and teens! BUT, I have never come across a book or class that teaches you how to act and what to do when you become a Missionary Momma! 

I have got to say that having a group of men and women that all have one thing in common --a missionary-- was one of the most helpful things ever. I had somewhere I could post pictures and concerns and share with people who truly *get it*! You know that glazed look you get when you start talking "mission stuff" with a non-MM friend... yeah, that didn't happen here! When I posted a pic of my son eating crickets (YES, CRICKETS), I had hundreds of you share pics with me of your missionary eating icky stuff too! It was GREAT!

So on this MM Anniversary Month, I would like to take a few minutes to say THANK YOU! Thank you for sharing your missionaries and their experiences! Thank you for sharing your pictures and videos. Thank you for sharing your joys and your heartache. Thank you for sharing your best letter, Skype and package ideas. Thank you for attending the Missionary Momma Workshops. And thank you for the farewell/homecoming recipes, decorations and ideas.

But most of all... thank you for loving me and each other!

~Heidi

Merry Skypemas

The holidays are over now, but my Skype with my Missionary is still fresh on my mind! Having our little family "all together" for a few minutes was definitely the highlight of Christmas day!

We laughed, shared stories and laughed some more... it felt so good! When our time was almost up, we asked our Elder to bare his testimony to us in Spanish... the Spirit was strong! And then our 10 year old offered the sweetest family prayer! It was a little slice of heaven!

In MM households all over the world, families gathered around computers, tablets and phones to share a few minutes with their Missionaries. Some got a "Family" picture, some had new members of the family to introduce to their Missionary, some couldn't get the connection to work very well, and some only got a phone call. BUT, we were all excited to hear from our Missionaries!

Let the countdown to Mother's Day begin!  ;)

***THE GOSPEL IS TRUE***
~Heidi  =0)

First Day Blues

Recently, Traci Hovey asked the question "How do you deal with the 

proud but "empty" feeling when that missionary finally leaves?"

Lots of Mommas jumpped in on this thread with lots of good suggestions! We discovered that everyone "deals" differently! Some Mommas have to stay out of their missionaries room and others get right in there and clean! Some Mommas go to movies to get their mind off the "missing", and some Mommas treat themselves to ice cream, soda pop, Krispie Kremes....and yep, you guessed it CHOCOLATE!

Some Mommas need lots of hugs, others just go to bed early. Some watch comedies, and others dive into family history! Some Mommas go to the Temple to find comfort, some get blessings and others focus on love'n on the kids they still have at home. Some Mommas use dearelder.com to send daily notes to their missionary in the MTC, and some Mommas just gotta let themselves cry.

We have Mommas that recommend taking the day off, and Mommas that go hug their local Sister Missionaries. We have Mommas that wear their missionaries hoodies and Mommas that set new goals to accomplish while their missionary is serving! AND one Momma even suggested bungee jumping!  LOL!

We all look forward to snail mail and weekly emails and everyone agreed that staying busy helps. Getting out there and serving your local missionaries helps a bunch!!! For me, hanging out on the MM group with other Mommas that "get it" has been the best cure for those first day (and every **BIG SIGH** day) blues!!!

****THE GOSPEL IS TRUE****

Heidi

It's P-Day Again!

We all know how Missionary Mommas feel about P-Day!

It's our favorite day of the week! 

Refresh - Refresh - Refresh - Yay!  An Email!! 
Double Yay!!  There are Pics!!

Missionaries work hard 6 and 1/2 days a week, and then they get a few hours to take care of business and if they are lucky, have a bit of fun on P-Day.  As you can see by the pics, they can get pretty creative with their fun.  We love all the pics - the goofy, the beautiful, the outrageous, and the serious.  Here's another tribute to the best day of the week - P-Day!!

I'm Just a Missionary Mom

I'm just a missionary mom. I have a child out. What is she (he) doing today? Did you get enough to eat? Did you sleep well? Is your companion your best friend? Were you warm enough today? Do your feet ache after a rough day? These are my thoughts all day long, because I love you, because I worry, because I am a missionary mom.

Did you see my child today? Did she (he) knock on your door? Did you offer her something cool to drink? Or did you slam the door? Please don't be angry with my child. She (he) is just serving the Lord. Please don't cuss at my child, she (he) is there trying to help you get to God someday. I think of these things because I am a missionary mom. 

Did you know, that Monday is my day too? I sit and wait for your email! I want to hear, did you have any baptisms this week? Did you teach the Gospel? Did you feel the spirit today? Were your appointments successful? I wait breathless, because I am a missionary mom.

Were you able to get fed today? Did you laugh and take a deep breathe? Were you able just to see God's work all around you in each face, each cloud, and every child? I see art work that God has done with you, because I am a missionary mom.

Each letter I write, each package that I send to you, I wonder, did you like it? did that make you happy? Did it give you a little love from home? I do this for you because I am a missionary mom.

Each day I am on my knees asking God to protect you and your companion, and all the missionaries all around the world. I have other moms who are my friends, because they too are missionary moms. We pray for you, miss you, love you and think of you every day, because we are missionary moms.

I love you my child, because I am a Missionary Mom!

Anna Carbone

Oh, How We Need Each Other!

Our lovely Missionary Momma, Deena Gose, recently started an awesome thread over on the FaceBook group. In the interest of getting to know each other better, she asked us to share an odd fact or two about ourselves and where our missionary was serving and how long they have been out.  Thank you Deena for your curiosity!

The responses are simply wonderful!  This is an amazing group of women.  Thank you for taking a moment to share a little piece of yourself with the group.  When we know each other better, we can love each other better. What a beautiful blessing each of you are! We are a mighty force for good!

We are a vast group of women, almost 5,000 strong!  We have many differences.  We each have unique gifts that help us love and serve each other and our missionaries.  We discovered that in some cases we share the oddest things!    In the end, we share what is most important to us - our love for our missionaries.  We love them with all our hearts and express that love in so many varied and beautiful ways!

I made a few notes when I was reading through all 196 comments ... Yes, I read them all, most of them more than once.  I laughed and I cried.  I felt your spirits reaching out in love and friendship towards each other.

We have missionaries serving ALL over this world!  From every state in the US to Russia and tiny islands in the sea, some on the other side of the planet and others on the other side of the veil.  Our children are EVERYWHERE spreading the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ!  He is real and He loves all His children!

These missionaries have been out anywhere from 7 1/2 hours to 23 months.  We have moms who are anxiously awaiting the BIG WHITE envelope, those that are wadding through all the paper work of Passports, Visa's, FBI Clearance that accompanies a foreign mission and those that are on the final countdown.  We have mommas praying over sick missionaries, and those that have come home early.  As a group we have sent out thousands of Elders and thousands of Sisters.  We are the mothers of a mighty army of God! 

We have single moms and married moms.  Professional mommas and moms who are professionals.  We have big city girls and small town girls dreaming of the big city.  We have vagabond moms who have lived all over, and those with deep, deep roots in one place. 

We have grammar freaks, and video game geeks.  Dancers (both belly and hula) and one who turns a cartwheel once every year.  Marathon runners and movie marathon watchers.  Our mommas are drag racers and snowmobile racers. 

I counted at least 3 of our mommas that are currently over 40 and PREGO!  Wow!  What awesome mothers they are!  There are plenty of "surprise" babies and there are never too many "miracle" babies.  We never tire of talking about our babies! 

We are readers, writers, artists, photographers, teachers, singers, dancers, runners, cancer survivors, comedians (I mean crossing guards), equestrians, returned missionaries, pioneer stock, converts and Catholic!  We are Missionary Mommas!

We love baking, fencing, gardening, Dr. Pepper, Coca Cola, celeb gossip magazines, World of Warcraft, books, movies, country music, sugar, chocolate, chocolat (no, not the same thing), our missionaries and EACH OTHER!

Some of us live in an empty nest and others with a house full of kids, some with more pets than people, and even some with competitive jump ropers.

We have experienced heartbreak and profound joy.  We have witnessed many miracles.

We are women of the highest worth.  One of us was even offered 6,000 camels for her hand in marriage!  Some of us met our husbands on blind dates, or even married the guy who sold us a car!

Our lives are so different, yet at the core, we are the same.  We are daughters of our Heavenly Father.  He loves us, and we love Him.  We are Missionary Mommas and oh, how we need each other!

 

Wendy Minks

 

Do You Want a Book of Mormon?

Watch this great video by Missionary Momma JoDee Edwards' daughter, Bella.   She made it for her big sister, Sister Edwards, who is serving a full-time mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.


Do you want a Book of Mormon from JoDee Edwards on Vimeo.



.....and if you do, click here... Free Book of Mormon

It's Been a Rough Week

I saw this on Facebook the other day.  I know it's not the end of the week yet, but...this is how I'm feeling!  The life of a MM is not all fun email and creative packages...there's grocery shopping, cleaning, cooking, scouts, soccer, (you get the picture)....not to mention all the things we do to serve in our church callings!

...and then I found this...

Which made me think of this...

In 6 1/2 months, the Missionary Momma's Facebook page has grown from just a few MM to now almost 2,900!  I have seen more miracles in these past few months than I think I have seen in my entire life!!!  Each MM is strong...but we are definitely unstoppable when we put our efforts together!!! 

What's on Your Menu????

“When my son was about five or six he decided he wasn't going to go on a mission because his dad ate snails on his mission. He didn't believe me that he wouldn't have to. He decided to write a letter to President Hinckley and ask him. I was so touched when a couple of weeks later, he received a letter from President Hinckley's personal secretary, guaranteeing him that he wouldn't have to eat snails if he didn't want to. My son is on his mission now. And he hasn't had to eat snails.” ~Vicki Lloyd

 

 

Missionaries get fed some weird foods.  Deena Gose recently asked our MMs “what's the most interesting thing your Elder or DD have eaten while on their mission?”  Here are some of the responses…

* A whole fish with the head still on.

* Pig feet soup... He LOVED it!!

 

* Gazpacho. He said it's repulsive, but it's starting to grow on him. Lol.

* My son is in the California Arcadia mission and here is a photo of the cooked grasshoppers he and his companion  ate. He mentioned that "they really weren't that bad." 

* My son ate a Filipino delicacy called balut while he was visa waiting in the California Oakland-San Francisco mission.  Balut is a duck egg where the duck embryo has formed...gross.

 

* Chicken feet. Yep, what is there to eat on a chicken foot? But she ate it.

 

* Cow heart,stomach and tongue!! Our daughter is a trouper and said they were all pretty good. Weird textures. She loves Guatemala!!!     

 

* Bear and guinea pig!

 

* Menudo... know what that is?

 

* Hog Head Cheese!!!! Nasty!!

 

* Opossum (road kill) by a little old lady  in Alabama.

 

* Russia...sour milk soup, fat jellies with little meat and slices on bread, anything pickled.
 

* Goat stomach soup which includes everything the goat ate that day including grass, and even had a piece of wire in it.  Achebe is another dish which is sheep intestines stuffed w fat.

*  Cow and pig stomach/intestines.

 

* My son ate Python, Alligator, Pigs feet, Goat, Blood Dishes.

 

* My son has had cat and rat. He said the cat was dang good haha! He also eats fish...that is the whole fish bones and all.

 

 * He has eaten monkey, goat testicles, fish eyes (says they're crunchy).

 

* Ceviche, a raw fish salad is also a popular Peruvian dish.

 

* Iguana.. Guatemala City South. They also eat spaghetti in tortillas.

 

* Frog in the Philippines

 

* Jellyfish, guinea pig, and alpaca. He says guinea pig is good.

 

* My son is in the South Pacific in Vanuatu. Almost everything they thre is horrible he says, but his new favorite is dog.

 

* DOG! dog!!! Not ok! Ha...she said it was good. Lol!

 

* He has eaten chicken hearts, oxen intestines, and ox tongue. And armadillo on Christmas Eve.

 

What's on your menu...

You are My Sunshine by Wendy Minks

Oh, I never know where to start a story! If I go back to the beginning, we could be here all day!  So, I'm going to jump right in to the middle of things and hope it works out.

The bright ray of sunshine that has lived in my home for the last 20 years is in South America.  She has been shining her light on the other side of the world since October of 2013.  She is having the time of her life with all sorts of grand adventures, but around here, things have dimmed just a bit.

Without the constant warmth and light emanating from our bright ray of sunshine, (let's call her Hermana Q), I have had to work harder to stay in the light.   I am so grateful that I recognized the impending darkness and looming depression before it gripped me with full force.  I feel like I have narrowly escaped the danger of falling into a deep, dark cave.

When Hermana Q left her grandparents were visiting and they stayed for a couple more weeks, and then I had a business trip.  The distraction of house guests and my trip kept my fire burning through the first few weeks.  I was just too busy to even really register the change. 

While flying home from my trip I thought about what I was coming home to .... an empty nest.  Oh, not really empty, my husband was there and our 3 dogs, but no kids.  For the last 2 decades they had been my main purpose, and now I had to figure out how to do this mothering thing from a distance.  A l o o o o o o o ng distance!  (Our son, who is the oldest, is married and they were living in China at the time.)  I wasn't sure how I was going to face this new arrangement.  Hermana Q is sometimes affectionately referred to as "the Dog Boss", and they were lost, and misbehaving in her absence.  She is my beach and hiking buddy and is always up for an adventure, with her, even Costco is fun.  I knew I needed a plan or it wouldn't be a pretty 18 months.

Here is my plan:
Walk my dogs every day for at least 2 miles, while listening to the Book of Mormon and looking for beautiful images to photograph and post online.

This simple plan has accomplished the following:

1. My dogs are happy and better behaved.
2. I get out of bed and get dressed every day. 
3. Exposes me to 30-45 minutes of sunlight every day.
4. Invites the Spirit into my heart through the Book of Mormon.

5. Focused my mind on the beauty that is all around me instead of what is missing.
6. Regularly pumps endorphins into my brain, keeping my brain chemistry in a positive state.

7. Keeps my body healthy and active.

I have stuck faithfully to this plan since the first of November.  Dogs are the best workout buddies.  They hold you accountable like no human friend ever could.  They do NOT let me stay in bed and wallow.  We walk every day, rain or shine. 

I am more than half way through the Book of Mormon again.  This time around I have learned much about how the Lord directs missionary work.  His work cannot be stopped.  The designs of evil can try, but God's purposes will be fulfilled.  That is comforting to me.  I feel the Spirit every day and that has opened my mind to inspiration and personal revelation.  There is no greater healing power than that of the Atonement, the ultimate expression of Christ's love for us.  His light, is the bright ray of sunshine that comforts my soul and calms my fears. 

You know you are a Missionary Mom if....

Hello! I am so excited that Heidi asked me to contribute to this new blog! I know this will become another source of inspiration for each of us as Mothers as we travel along this journey of having our Sons/Daughters serve missions!

My husband and I have been blessed with three children. The two oldest being twin boys. TWINS! 

My boys graduated from High School in June of 2012. Several months before graduation, the reality of them graduating from high school then soon leaving for missions was causing me great anxiety. I just could not process the idea of them actually leaving home and not being with us as a family like we have been for 18 years. That fall, the age change was announced in general conference and I remember feeling relieved that the change did not affect my boys and they already had their plans underway. 

Our son Teagan decided to serve right away. His twin brother, Michael, decided to attend a few months of college then submit his papers after the school semester. 

So the anxiety started. Teagan submitted his papers in the fall of 2012 and we received his call just a couple of weeks later. 

Preparations began for him to leave. All the while, my fear and anxiety reaching an all time high. I remember feeling very alone in my thoughts. I didn't want to express to my Son my fears because I felt a deep sense of responsibility to stay strong. I was the one checking off the list. Taking him to shop. Planning his farewell. Packing his luggage. I was the Mom! 

Far too often, I would end my day in tears. I would lay in bed at night next to my husband and just cry. I felt an overwhelming fear and anxiety for the unknown and I honestly could NOT process not seeing my Son for two years. 

I even felt a bit of resentment towards ward members. I was tired of feeling like I needed to force a smile when asked about my Son and his mission. Those sweet ladies in my ward promised me that it was going to be an amazing experience. I even had a sister tell me that she missed having a missionary serving from their family. I thought she was crazy!

My Son has now been gone for 15 months and his twin brother has been gone for 5 months. While I felt more prepared  for our second Son to leave it still didn't insure against many tears being shed and the same anxiety being felt.

I look horrible in this picture! Just as my husband took the photo I started to cry. I couldn't help it!

This was my lap while driving away from the MTC. Yes it's true. This is just from one hours time!

So here we are now.... 15 months into this journey as a family. I have had many opportunities to talk to others that also have children serving. I have been asked to share my testimony of missionary work in our sacrament meeting, friends call me asking me for advice and where to "start' once that calls arrives. 

I created facebook groups that have provided me much support and connection with local ward members of each of my Sons missions. I found Missionary Moms!

Over and over I have reflected about these last two years. From the time papers were started to submit to where we are now. 

Over and over I have thought about those sweet ladies and how they were indeed right! We are doing this... we are being blessed and it is an amazing experience!

This week I posted a question on the Missionary Moms Facebook Page and have been tickled with the responses! Oh how I can relate to each and every comment!

The question was "You know you are a Missionary Mom when/if" 

I think each of us laughed and cried and said to our selves.. yep.. been there.. done that.. with all 200 responses!

Here are just a few of my favorites!

1. You have learned to LOVE Mondays!

2.  You stop, pull over, turn around and go back to meet and talk to the Missionaries walking down the side of the road. You insure them that you are NOT CRAZY and ask them if you can take their pic to send home to their Moms. They smile and agree but all the while think.. yes.. she is crazy..,

3. You know how many miles you would have to travel and how long it would take to get there just in case you need to make a quick emergency trip. You renewed your passports!

4. You're holding the last shirt he wore and refuse to wash it because it smells like him and he just left 8 hours ago.

5.  You have a clock in the home set to your missionaries' current time of day AND you know more about what's happening in their neck of the woods than they do.

6. You all of a sudden consider moving to Canada when they get home because they tell you it is THE BEST PLACE ON EARTH! 

7. You have used Google Earth to locate their apartments. 

8.  You spend more money to ship the box of goodies then the cost of the goodies!

9. When you adopt everyone else's sons/daughters while they're serving in your area

10.  It took a year and half to change his cell number contact in your phone to his brother's name - even though it changed hands the day he was set apart!!  (Oh, and a year to let the new owner change the voice mail message)

Those are just a few of my favorite responses that brought me to tears from laughter!

Sisters... we are in this together! Never feel alone in your thoughts like I did. Trust me when I say that there are many others feeling and thinking the exact same way. We can do this! 

Love,

Sister Kim Rose

Idaho Falls, Id

MM to Elder Teagan Rose serving since January 2013 in the Canada, Vancouver Mission

MM to Elder Michael Rose serving since November 2013 in the Iowa, Des Moines Mission.

Wife to Elder Darren Rose who served from 1988-1990 in the Mexico, Mexico City South Mission
Mom to Katelyn (15) going on 21!

TWO WHOLE YEARS???

Last September this happened...

I have never been good at goodbyes. This boy that that made me a Mom for the very first time, this boy that I braved all weather conditions to watch play every sport known to man, this boy who can make me laugh even on the lousiest of days....this boy was leaving....FOR TWO WHOLE YEARS!!!

My heart ached as we drove the l-o-n-g hour drive home from the airport with one less family member in our car.  How was I supposed to get back to my life??? On Sundays I felt like a freak show as a struggled to keep my emotions in order.  You should know that I am NOT a pretty cryer! My lips get huge and my face gets splotchy and my contacts fog up so I can barely see...it's not attractive!!! It seemed to me that all the other moms of missionaries held it together so beautifully.... "Called to Serve" didn't seem to faze them, I didn't see anybody else stocking up on Dove Chocolates and how the heck did they have clean houses on Mondays???

And then...it happened.  I was visiting with another Missionary Momma and she said she wished there was a place for us MMs (Missionary Mommas) to go and talk about our missionaries.... I thought "yeah, there should be" and then I got this great idea... why not have a Facebook page just for MMs!!!  So, I hit the little "create a page" button and Missionary Momma's was born! AND DO YOU KNOW WHAT???  I am not the only Momma with a stash of chocolate and a clutch of tissues in my purse!!!