The Two Week Mission

[TripletDaddy]

Was anyone here a "twinkie," the term of endearment for a young strapping high schooler that served a 2-week mission?

Were these 2WMs a local SoCal thing or were they rolled out nationally?

For those unfamiliar with the 2-week mission, basically the summer between sophomore and junior year in hs (i think) you can apply to go on a 2 week mission. During this 2 week period, you live as a full-time missionary, you are assigned to a pair of Elders, live with them, eat with them, go where they go, etc. Mission rules apply: no music, no tv, etc.

We were in the Ventura Mission, but pretty much everyone was sent to a nearby mission....within reasonable driving distance. Maybe an hour or so away.

I was not a member but my LDS friends went and everyone seemed to love it. They came back really pumped about the Gospel and wanting to serve their full-time missions a few years later. In fact, the experiences that some of my friends had on their 2WM directly influenced my desire to serve a full-time mission a few years later.

It seems that the Church no longer sponsors this type of program. Does anyone know what happened and when this shift took place?

[cougjunkie]

Was anyone here a "twinkie," the term of endearment for a young strapping high schooler that served a 2-week mission?

Were these 2WMs a local SoCal thing or were they rolled out nationally?

For those unfamiliar with the 2-week mission, basically the summer between sophomore and junior year in hs (i think) you can apply to go on a 2 week mission. During this 2 week period, you live as a full-time missionary, you are assigned to a pair of Elders, live with them, eat with them, go where they go, etc. Mission rules apply: no music, no tv, etc.

We were in the Ventura Mission, but pretty much everyone was sent to a nearby mission....within reasonable driving distance. Maybe an hour or so away.

I was not a member but my LDS friends went and everyone seemed to love it. They came back really pumped about the Gospel and wanting to serve their full-time missions a few years later. In fact, the experiences that some of my friends had on their 2WM directly influenced my desire to serve a full-time mission a few years later.

It seems that the Church no longer sponsors this type of program. Does anyone know what happened and when this shift took place?

We called them Mini-missions and everyone I know went as well when I lived in California. However I dont remember anyone going once I moved to Utah.

[kccougar]

We called them Mini-missions and everyone I know went as well when I lived in California. However I dont remember anyone going once I moved to Utah.

In Utah, I would imagine the demand would be too great. I had two mini-missionaries spend some time with me while I was in Pennsylvania. In fact, with the second one, my MP transferred my companion, and it was just me and the mini for two weeks.

[TripletDaddy]

In Utah, I would imagine the demand would be too great.

This seems like a bizarre reason to not do them.

There are too many people that want to volunteer their time to preach the gospel! Let's shut it down!

[Mormon Red Death]

Was anyone here a "twinkie," the term of endearment for a young strapping high schooler that served a 2-week mission?

Were these 2WMs a local SoCal thing or were they rolled out nationally?

For those unfamiliar with the 2-week mission, basically the summer between sophomore and junior year in hs (i think) you can apply to go on a 2 week mission. During this 2 week period, you live as a full-time missionary, you are assigned to a pair of Elders, live with them, eat with them, go where they go, etc. Mission rules apply: no music, no tv, etc.

We were in the Ventura Mission, but pretty much everyone was sent to a nearby mission....within reasonable driving distance. Maybe an hour or so away.

I was not a member but my LDS friends went and everyone seemed to love it. They came back really pumped about the Gospel and wanting to serve their full-time missions a few years later. In fact, the experiences that some of my friends had on their 2WM directly influenced my desire to serve a full-time mission a few years later.

It seems that the Church no longer sponsors this type of program. Does anyone know what happened and when this shift took place?

I had a mini missionary for two months. Just me and this kid in North East brazil. I taught all the discussions he basically just gave his testimony.

[LiveCoug]

When I was a missionary in Sweden, I was assigned a mini missionary. It was only to be for 2 weeks. After the two weeks were up, my mission prez called us and asked the mini missionary if he could stay for 2 more weeks. He said yes and when all was said and done, he was my companion for 3 whole months. Pretty cool of a 17 year old kid to sacrifice like that. So, 12.5% of my mission was spent babysitting a 17 year old.

[Surfah]

I never went though I knew people that did. 2 weeks during summer break seemed too much of a sacrifice for me. We never had any in my mission in Denver.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

Was anyone here a "twinkie," the term of endearment for a young strapping high schooler that served a 2-week mission?

Were these 2WMs a local SoCal thing or were they rolled out nationally?

For those unfamiliar with the 2-week mission, basically the summer between sophomore and junior year in hs (i think) you can apply to go on a 2 week mission. During this 2 week period, you live as a full-time missionary, you are assigned to a pair of Elders, live with them, eat with them, go where they go, etc. Mission rules apply: no music, no tv, etc.

We were in the Ventura Mission, but pretty much everyone was sent to a nearby mission....within reasonable driving distance. Maybe an hour or so away.

I was not a member but my LDS friends went and everyone seemed to love it. They came back really pumped about the Gospel and wanting to serve their full-time missions a few years later. In fact, the experiences that some of my friends had on their 2WM directly influenced my desire to serve a full-time mission a few years later.

It seems that the Church no longer sponsors this type of program. Does anyone know what happened and when this shift took place?

I read about the Vampire aspect to the church and I wouldn't mind going on a two week vampire mission, if it is anything like TruBlood sign me up!

[Jeff Lebowski]

I read about the Vampire aspect to the church and I wouldn't mind going on a two week vampire mission, if it is anything like TruBlood sign me up!

Wait. Are you an attorney too?

[RockyBalboa]

Weird as this sounds, but growing up in SLC I had never heard of a Mini-Mission...and hell..I'd never even heard of EFY until I was actually on my mission.

Anyway,,,,I served in San Jose, CA and we had a mini-missionary down from Southern California join us for a few days when I was in SLV near Scots Valley between San Jose and Santa Cruz.

[smokymountainrain]

Weird as this sounds, but growing up in SLC I had never heard of a Mini-Mission...and hell..I'd never even heard of EFY until I was actually on my mission.

I grew up in Utah as well and hadn't heard of either the mini-mish or EFY. At least I didn't think I'd heard of EFY, but then I vaguely remember something similar being offered, something that I had absolutely no desire to attend at that age. That may have been EFY.

This thread is the first I've heard of mini-missions.

[All-American]

The first time I heard about a mini mission was when I was serving in the Canary Islands. We were short one sister missionary after one got sent home, and would have had to close down the area, but one sister from another island volunteered to serve with that missionary until the end of the transfer. It ended up being about a month. Just by filling that spot, she did a remarkable amount of good.

I can think of two reasons why "mini-missions" would be discouraged. For one, the number of missionaries would fluctuate almost unpredictably. Managing the coming and going of missionaries is already a difficult task. If the number of missionaries appreciably increased and decreased over a span of a few months, it'd make for some real managerial headaches.

Problem number two is the number of people who would consider the mini-mission their real mission, and figure that it was an alternative to serving (no Max Hall jokes, please). I knew a few members in the islands who spoke of their "mini-mission" as often as any two returned missionaries spoke about their missions. I can imagine the church wanting to discourage the impression that a two month mini-mission is an acceptable alternative to committing to a full two years.

[SoonerCoug]

Mini-missionaries in Russia serve so that they can live high on the hog for two weeks.

[Mormon Red Death]

I grew up in Utah as well and hadn't heard of either the mini-mish or EFY. At least I didn't think I'd heard of EFY, but then I vaguely remember something similar being offered, something that I had absolutely no desire to attend at that age. That may have been EFY.

This thread is the first I've heard of mini-missions.

I heard about EFY after I was on my mission. Some other missionaries talked about it being a great place to make out with girls. Something like 10-1 odds in the guys favor. Needless to say I was angry with my YM leaders for not alerting to that great opportunity.

[smokymountainrain]

I heard about EFY after I was on my mission. Some other missionaries talked about it being a great place to make out with girls. Something like 10-1 odds in the guys favor. Needless to say I was angry with my YM leaders for not alerting to that great opportunity.

Thanks a lot. Now I can add that to my long list of life's regrets.