So You’re Thinking About Serving a Mission?

When we first started out to get ready for our first mission, we had so many questions!  Unanswered questions about little things became unsettling concerns until they were resolved.  For example: What kind of shoes should I bring? Can we buy things we are used to buying? Will they have hot water or will I be taking cold showers for two years? Do they have air conditioning? Will I ever see chocolate chips again?  Ha!

For us at least, these “little” questions felt pretty big.  Yes, even the chocolate chip question!

So we started this blog – a blog to help people who are thinking about serving an LDS senior mission – to take the journey with us as we discover the answers many are wanting to know. 

Here are some of the questions that burn in people's hearts...

Can we communicate home easily? Absolutely - modern communication methods are in vogue....

Flickr.com - Courtesy of Wonderlane

Flickr.com - Courtesy of Richard Vignola

Can I get my own medicine for my needs?   Yes, but “medicine” is relative…

Chinese Medicine Shop - Flickr.com - Courtesy of Charlyn Wee

Can I drink the water? Yes, if you seriously want to... 

Flickr.com -  Courtesy of Clive Reld

Can I eat “regular” food?  Yes, but “regular” is also relative…

Octopus Pizza - Hong Kong

Will my house be fine while I am gone? Wait - you have an actual house????

Emergency Housing in Nepal with 5 families living inside.

Can I get money out?  Yes!  Worldwide. They always want your money.

Flickr.com - Courtesy of Jessica Paterson

Seriously though, the thing to remember is this.  Whether you serve a domestic or international mission, tens of thousands of seniors have gone on missions.  If they can do it, you probably can too. Everyone has had these same questions and resolved them in various ways. Here are some tips that may help as you prepare for a mission:

• The Church puts senior missionaries in safe, clean, modern housing.  All of the senior housing we visited in Asian countries were of very high standard and were comfortable for each couple.
• You will usually be replacing another couple who has already been there. They and your mission president are your #1 source for specific answers to your particular mission. Once you receive your call, you will be given contact information of who you can email to get detailed information.
• Other senior missionaries who have gone before you have already found all the stores, markets, shops, ATM's, and transportation tid-bits.  You probably won't have to re-invent the wheel. 
• There are phone numbers you can call about insurance, medical and mission-type questions. If you have questions about senior missions, you can call 1-800-453-3860 (ext.2-6741), or email: seniormissionaryservices@ldschurch.org.
• You are welcome to email us anytime too!  We'd love to hear from you and answer any mission-related questions that we can.  You can email us at: coffey58@gmail.com.
• If you have questions about different types of missions that are available, check out THIS LINK.  It has email links to senior missionaries whose mission it is to answer your questions. Operators are standing by!  

Ultimately, when we walk in the footsteps of the Savior, we put our trust and faith in Him. Serving a mission is a true act of faith. When we feel the call of the Savior moving us to serve a mission, may we have the courage and faith to, like Peter and Andrew, drop all and follow Him. The rest of the journey will be priceless.

Best wishes on your exciting mission.

Elder and Sister Coffey

The Lord's Timing is Always Right

We firmly believe that the Lord has His timing for everything.   And His timing is always right. There are no coincidences.

Last fall Greg and I were still in Hong Kong serving as Asia Area Welfare Specialists.  We anticipated coming home from that mission, being in the US for about 6 months, and then going out again on another mission.  In preparation for our new mission, we began the missionary application process, which included a medical physical.  The extremely thorough Chinese doctors found a couple of possible medical concerns, and recommended having a repeat test done 6 months later.  

Because of this recommendation, our missionary application was put on hold. We were so disappointed because we wanted to receive our call and assignment quickly so we could know where we would be going. But we had to be patient in the Lord's timing.

President Lewis and Sister Mary Hassell

It was shortly after that, on March 1st, 2016, that the Vietnam Mission was officially created. Elder Lewis Hassell, then serving with his wife as a senior missionary in Vietnam, was called to be the new mission president.  Greg and I had the opportunity of working with President Hassell on several humanitarian projects and other special events from our office in Hong Kong. We were thrilled to hear of the new mission creation.

Click HERE to read about the creation of the new Vietnam Hanoi Mission.

Before that time, the possibility of us serving in Vietnam as member leadership support (MLS) missionaries did not exist.  The position had not been created.  Now, with the inauguration of the new mission, and the newly announced official church recognition in Vietnam, the opportunity for us to serve there was opened up.

Had our mission application been sent in when we had originally planned last fall, we would not have been assigned to Vietnam. We believe the whole delay for the medical re-check (which showed perfect health) was part of a divine plan to enable us to serve in Vietnam.

One of our dear friends serving in the Asia Area Office with us sent us this email when she heard of our new assignment:

Hi Coffeys,

Everyone here is very excited for your new mission call.  It was announced in devotional  meeting today, and caused quite a stir.  You will be perfect.

Knowing how much you love Vietnam, I can’t help but see the hand of the Lord in the timing of your call.  Had you been able to submit your papers when you first tried, I don’t think the Vietnam couple MLS complement would have been in the system.  Who says calls don’t come from the Lord?!

Best wishes for the new assignment!

I love Elder Bednar's reminder to us that the Lord is in charge of the details of our lives:

“I testify that the tender mercies of the Lord are real and that they do not occur randomly or merely by coincidence. ….Faithfulness, obedience and humility invite tender mercies into our lives, and it is often the Lord’s timing that enables us to recognize and treasure these important blessings…"
― David A. Bednar

I'm especially excited about this assignment since I lived in Vietnam when I was a little girl. I lived in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) from 1968-1972.  My dad worked for a civil engineering company.  Some of my greatest memories was of our school at the Phoenix Study Group.

Here is a picture of my school class photo taken in Saigon, Vietnam in 1970. I am third from the left. The woman next to me is our teacher.  There were only five of us in the class! I'd send more pictures of me in Vietnam when I was little, but they are packed away in our storage unit.  Maybe later this summer I can pull some out and post them before we leave for Vietnam.

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