040: What is the "rest" of a mission like?
Manage episode 294262436 series 2848067
There are so many questions that run through the mind of an early-returned missionary, not least of which is questions along the line of "What is the rest of a mission like? Specifically, what is the rest of a proselyting mission like?" To answer this question, and several others, I have invited five missionaries who completed the expected amount of time on their missions to come on the podcast and answer questions from those who needed to return home early. These are people I've talked to before, many times, about their missions, and I know they would give completely honest, sincere answers about what the "rest of a mission" is like--the good and the bad. Some suffered depression, anxiety, companion issues, etc. but for one reason or another were able to complete the intended amount of time. Some didn't struggle with anything serious at all, but like all missionaries, they each had mission experiences unique to them.
This is a longer episode for this podcast, so the questions are time-stamped below.
1:32--Introductions
5:16--I was out during the pandemic. Can you tell me about the MTC and being out during normal times? Specifically, I never got to knock. What's that like?
11:54-- Does a mission get better? It was so hard to adjust. If it does, when? I was only in the field for 3 months.
17:03--Did you ever wish that you were sick so that you could have a day off?
19:56--How did you persevere through the depression?
32:17--What's it like to go on splits?
34:37--What is it like to train?
39:51--What's it like to do the cool things on a mission like whitewash, shotgun, etc.?
44:24--What is it like to have a leadership role?
51:28--Conversely, what's it like to go your whole mission without a leadership role?
57:40--Did you ever have a companion go home early? How did it affect you?
1:01:52--Did you ever seriously consider going home early? Can you share why?
1:04:42--Do you see early-returned missionaries differently? Would it change if that person were in your immediate friend group?
1:15:38--Why do those who complete the intended amount of time like to talk about their missions so much?
1:22:05--Do you want to serve a mission as a senior couple some day?
1:26:22--Kristen's final thoughts
60 episodes