Couples missions--an alternative

[PaloAltoCougar]

I'm rapidly approaching the age when local leaders may start encouraging us to go on a couples mission. I'm dreading this, in part because I am unlikely to be given the one assignment that I would welcome (this was given to John Welch, the Latham & Watkins partner, many years ago): Hawaii, with two responsibilities, teaching business law at BYU-Hawaii and coaching the school's golf team.

Eager for face-saving outs, I was intrigued by my BIL's (not Morrie Thurston) suggestion to his wife. He's a total Church slacker, while she's pretty gung ho. He told her the following: rather than submit papers, simply pick an area in the world and we'll move there for 18 months. You can immerse yourself in the local branch/ward, volunteering for every conceivable project, racking up perfect visiting teaching with a large route, taking language classes and doing pretty much everything you would as a missionary, but without the headache of mission rules, paperwork and whatever else.

I'm going to check lds.org for branches on Corfu, Bora Bora and in Provence.

[MarkGrace]

Eager for face-saving outs, I was intrigued by my BIL's (not Morrie Thurston) suggestion to his wife. He's a total Church slacker, while she's pretty gung ho. He told her the following: rather than submit papers, simply pick an area in the world and we'll move there for 18 months. You can immerse yourself in the local branch/ward, volunteering for every conceivable project, racking up perfect visiting teaching with a large route, taking language classes and doing pretty much everything you would as a missionary, but without the headache of mission rules, paperwork and whatever else.

Not a bad idea at all. Though doesn't the church pretty much let couples go wherever and do whatever the hell they want?

[Surfah]

Not a bad idea at all. Though doesn't the church pretty much let couples go wherever and do whatever the hell they want?

We have good family friends that first served in England and then ran food and beverage for PCC on Oahu for 18 months.

[grapevine]

As far as I know couples do not have a choice of were they will serve though they can make suggestions. But they don't have to follow all th emission rules. They can watch tv, get on internet, call friends and family, have visitors etc.

As far as I know they need permission to leave mission boundaries and if they take there own car they have restrictions on when to drive it. It is nothing like a young elder or sister mission.

[SteelBlue]

As far as I know couples do not have a choice of were they will serve though they can make suggestions.

I disagree. Haven't you seen that blue list that comes every month listing missions that need couples and exactly what they'd be doing?

[Art Vandelay]

As far as I know couples do not have a choice of were they will serve though they can make suggestions. But they don't have to follow all th emission rules.

PAC your long awaited chance to emit without embarrassment or repercussion in front of your wife

[wuapinmon]

I have the April 2009 Blue sheet right here, including a cost per month breakdown of every mission in the world.

Anyone care to guess the top three most and top three least expensive missions in the world according to this sheet?

HINT: Most expensive is $5k per month.

[PaloAltoCougar]

I disagree. Haven't you seen that blue list that comes every month listing missions that need couples and exactly what they'd be doing?

At least to some extent, the 'vine is correct (although as Art noted, the emission rules problem troubles me). My BIL's idea arose after their good friends put in their papers with the expectation they'd join some friends who are currently serving as mission president in Geneva Switzerland. They speak French and their MP/friends invited them to come work in the mission office and other areas in the Alps; they submitted their papers eagerly. They received their call last week, not to French-speaking Switzerland, but to the French-speaking portion of the Congo. There are no guarantees; plan accordingly.

[il Padrino Ute]

I have the April 2009 Blue sheet right here, including a cost per month breakdown of every mission in the world.

Anyone care to guess the top three most and top three least expensive missions in the world according to this sheet?

HINT: Most expensive is $5k per month.

Back in my day, the Geneva, Switzerland mission was the most expensive. I'll guess that it's still up there. I'll also guess a mission in Japan and Hong Kong.

Least expensive:

Samoa
Guatemala
Uruguay or Bolivia

[wuapinmon]

Back in my day, the Geneva, Switzerland mission was the most expensive. I'll guess that it's still up there. I'll also guess a mission in Japan and Hong Kong.

Geneva = $1800
Zurich = $3000

Japan = 1900-2600
Hong Kong 1900
Hong Kong (Asia Area Office) 3500

Least expensive:

Samoa =1000
Guatemala = 500-1200 (Quetzaltenango tied for lowest price [non-temple]) mission in the world).
Uruguay = 1600
or Bolivia = 1000-1300

See above

[venkman]

How bout this for mission hell. A couple in my parent's ward just retired as accountants. They submit their papers and are called on a mission to the Church Office Building...as ACCOUNTANTS! Still live at home, attend the same ward, doing the same stuff Monday-Friday, only now they don't get paid for it.

[Tim]

I have the April 2009 Blue sheet right here, including a cost per month breakdown of every mission in the world.

Anyone care to guess the top three most and top three least expensive missions in the world according to this sheet?

HINT: Most expensive is $5k per month.

Tokyo and London.

[wuapinmon]

Tokyo and London.

Tokyo = 2500
Tokyo Temple = 1000

England London = 3900

[I.J. Reilly]

Moscow. (This is a fun guessing game!)

[Indy Coug]

Go to Ghana/Nigeria. The people there are unbelievable and the work is exploding.