How orthodox were you as a missionary

[YOhio]

Straight arrow. The worst thing I ever did was sleep in until 6:20 once. I used to feel bad for coming back home to the apartment at 8:30 to have dinner because it wasn't effective to work past that time unless I had an appointment.

Funny thing is, my MP was really laid back and cool. One guy got sent home but he needed to be. The pressure to keep rules like I did was all self-generated.

Over a decade later, I think I was an uptight ass.





<don't waste that hanging curve, guys>

That's funny. I was the same way. I had a lot of fun and would joke around, but I was hardcore about following the rules. The approach worked for me, I'm not sure I was in a position to live in a gray world at that time. But I missed out on some great opportunities to serve and build lasting friendships as a result of strict obedience.

[byu71]

[QUOTE=nikuman;99370]Straight arrow. The worst thing I ever did was sleep in until 6:20 once. I used to feel bad for coming back home to the apartment at 8:30 to have dinner because it wasn't effective to work past that time unless I had an appointment.

Funny thing is, my MP was really laid back and cool. One guy got sent home but he needed to be. The pressure to keep rules like I did was all self-generated.

Over a decade later, I think I was an uptight ass. Quote:



There were missionaries that kept the rules to the letter. The ones that did so but didn't hold it out over Elders who didn't, I respected. That was their choice and I certainly wouldn't criticize them for doing so.

Those that did and chose to draw attention to themselves and pat themselves on the back in front of others, I didn't have the same respect for. A couple of them as a matter of fact had secrets they were hiding, as is the case with a lot of people who "preach" to others from the ramiumptin (sp).

[Pheidippides]

There were missionaries that kept the rules to the letter. The ones that did so but didn't hold it out over Elders who didn't, I respected. That was their choice and I certainly wouldn't criticize them for doing so.

Those that did and chose to draw attention to themselves and pat themselves on the back in front of others, I didn't have the same respect for. A couple of them as a matter of fact had secrets they were hiding, as is the case with a lot of people who "preach" to others from the ramiumptin (sp).

Yeah, I didn't have any use for showing my obedience to others. I did have squabbles with companions over that kind of stuff sometimes, though, and that's why I think I was an ass. I would have been better served to forget the fact that we didn't leave the apartment until 9:35 and just enjoyed the day. 5 minutes does not a mission make.

[Babs]

Yeah, I didn't have any use for showing my obedience to others. I did have squabbles with companions over that kind of stuff sometimes, though, and that's why I think I was an ass.

Speaking of which, aren't you supposed to be posting photos? And what happened to SHW? We scare her off already?

[happyone]

Yeah one month the MP sent out Exactness Obedience charts and said if every missionary in the mission filled out every X on every day that month, he promised that mission baptisms would double. Now I don't know what the odds are of 160 somewhat honest young'uns, some of whom had actual testimonies, all obeying every rule on every day for 31 consecutive days, perhaps it is a number like the sands of the sea, to one?

We didn't have obedience charts, but my first mission pres made us account for our time in 15 min increments in color coded charts. We were supposed to fill the day out before we went to bed and plan out the next days activeties. I can't count the number of times I sat down on Sunday night with a blank chart for the week. We also reports stats galore. Missionary work was dived between "soft" and "hard", study between language and gospel. Each had its own color. He had about 15 catagories that he collected stats on.

When we changed presidents, he kept the system for about 3 months and then came up with something simpler. Only collect 4 stat catagories.

Probably the loosest I got with the rules was for a couple of months my companion and I would knock off 30-45 min early and go to Osho's for gyoza and record it as business contacting. I would also occasionally listen to nonapproved music.

[Pheidippides]

Speaking of which, aren't you supposed to be posting photos? And what happened to SHW? We scare her off already?

We decided not to post the photos on the grounds that we might run the risk of leaving UteStar without his paramour.

SHW has been pretty busy, especially yesterday, but she hasn't been scared off. She'll probably read more than post for a while. With the mobile site up and running, she might post more, depending on where she is - she's not often at home or near a computer.

[byu71]

Yeah, I didn't have any use for showing my obedience to others. I did have squabbles with companions over that kind of stuff sometimes, though, and that's why I think I was an ass. I would have been better served to forget the fact that we didn't leave the apartment until 9:35 and just enjoyed the day. 5 minutes does not a mission make.

I had two senior companions. Both were DL's. They followed the rules religiously. However, it never bothered me as they were the senior companion. As a matter of fact I became very close to both of them.

I should add though I was blessed in that my first companion was a little flexible. He wore "gentile" ties. He was the perfect first companion for me. I wasn't ready for total strictness when I arrived.

[I.J. Reilly]

You people obviously haven't read those wonderful books by Grant Von Harrison.

Oh, I read that stuff. Along with some Alvin Dyer stuff, too, I'm pretty sure. There were only so many things to read on the mission that weren't the scriptures. I used to love when my parents would send me books on the mission. They never sent me the GVH or AD stuff (I got that from other missionaries), but they did send me books like The Broken Heart and the Believing Heart, which made Bruce C. Hafen one of my favorite leadership guys in the church, and always my pick to fill a vacancy in the 12.

I also read some of BKP's stuff on the mish. Some of it made it really hard for me to like the guy.

[Indy Coug]

Oh, I read that stuff. Along with some Alvin Dyer stuff, too, I'm pretty sure. There were only so many things to read on the mission that weren't the scriptures. I used to love when my parents would send me books on the mission. They never sent me the GVH or AD stuff (I got that from other missionaries), but they did send me books like The Broken Heart and the Believing Heart, which made Bruce C. Hafen one of my favorite leadership guys in the church, and always my pick to fill a vacancy in the 12.

I also read some of BKP's stuff on the mish. Some of it made it really hard for me to like the guy.

My first mission president made us read this piece of crap book.

http://www.amazon.com/Power-Positive...5253509&sr=1-1

[Solon]

My first mission president made us read this piece of crap book.

http://www.amazon.com/Power-Positive...5253509&sr=1-1

This might make you feel better, Indy: http://www.economist.com/sciencetech...ry_id=13815141

[I.J. Reilly]

My first mission president made us read this piece of crap book.

http://www.amazon.com/Power-Positive...5253509&sr=1-1

You'll notice that the second comment on that book is from a man in Provo. Interesting.

Honestly, my mission experience, combined with some subsequent experiences, made me very wary of these type of books, and pretty much anything where someone is trying to sell some sort of "system" for success.

If you think that all you need is this sort of junk, then you run into some logical roadblocks pretty quickly. Of course, who would let logic stand in the way???

[byu71]

You'll notice that the second comment on that book is from a man in Provo. Interesting.

Honestly, my mission experience, combined with some subsequent experiences, made me very wary of these type of books, and pretty much anything where someone is trying to sell some sort of "system" for success.

If you think that all you need is this sort of junk, then you run into some logical roadblocks pretty quickly. Of course, who would let logic stand in the way???

I guess we all have our own motivaters. Books by Og Mandino, Think and Grow Rich and some of the other good books were very beneficial to me. I found a great deal of correlation between them and the scriptures.

Another excellent one was the richest man in Babylon. I wish I was as interested in reading and succeeding now as I was back then. Those books would do far more for me than watching O'Reilly, Crissy Matthews and theBloomberg channel.

[JohnnyLingo]

My first mission president made us read this piece of crap book.

http://www.amazon.com/Power-Positive...5253509&sr=1-1

Lol... poor Elder Indy, tracting away with no success in England and then his MP tells him that thinking positive will net him baptisms.

I'll bet that zone meeting was interesting.

[RobinFinderson]

I was one of the most orthodox missionaries going (I put myself in the first category). But I totally broke the rules one time, right before coming home. I called my girlfriend the day before leaving the field. I was very bad!

[wuapinmon]

Following the rules wasn't a big issue for me, but I didn't stay the entire two years. I didn't actually get sent home - I left on my own, but I was in no shape to be there and anyone with a brain could see it. I had crossed the emotional breaking point and needed some serious help. While my mission was a disaster for the most part, I had one experience that almost made the entire thing worthwhile - watching my mission president break down in tears telling me he had never had a missionary go home early and wasn't about to have me be the first. I fully realize that I can be an ASS, but a 60 year old MP trying to guilt me into staying in Ohio by bawling like a baby calf was simply not going to change my mind. I finally convinced him that it was time for me to go, but it took while. I haven't spoken to him since, and don't plan to.

Dude, this sounds really bitter and spiteful. Let it go, man.

Also, maybe cowboy can comment on this, can calves cry?