It's crazy to think, but I officially have less than 2 months left until I report to the MTC. I don't know what to think right now. I feel prepared but at the same time I feel as if I'm not EVEN close to being prepared. First off how do you even prepare for a mission???
That's what I keep asking myself. I feel so unqualified and at times I'm afraid I wont do the best that I can. You have to remind yourself though that Heavenly Father qualifies those he calls. We may feel scared, intimidated, lost, tempted but that's what Satan wants us to think. Satan knows the incredible potential we have, he knows of the many lives we/you will touch and so if he can get you to doubt yourself and your potential as a missionary then he is doing his job. You need to remember Heavenly Father is sending you to a special place, a place where people are anxiously awaiting for your arrival, because only you can influence them and help them realize just how valuable and loved they are in the eyes of our Father in Heaven. Like what Pres. Uchtdorf has said "Doubt your doubts, before you doubt your faith."
When I was taking Mission Prep up at BYU-Idaho my Mission Prep teacher Brother Riggins said 'That we need to pray for direction as to how we specifically are to prepare, we need to pray that we will recognize out in the field those individuals Heavenly Father has sent us to bless, we need to pray for them that their hearts maybe getting prepared now, we need to pray for our companions that our love for them may start to grow now that they will have a love for the gospel, a desire to share it, that they maybe hard workers. We need to start this now and not when we start our missions.' This piece of advice has brought me a lot of strength and comfort. It brings preparing for a mission into a new light. You aren't preparing for yourself you are preparing for others. We CANNOT think about ourselves when we are in the process of preparing but of those we will come in contact with. We aren't out on a mission to change ourselves and if you are then you need to stop and reflect right this very second, because we are out on a mission for others. We are helping others come unto Christ and to bring them the happiness that the gospel has brought us.
From reading many blogs, to talking to RM's, talking with Temple Square sister missionaries and emailing missionary friends right now the one thing I have learned is study and get to know Preach My Gospel as best as you can before your mission. haha well how do you do that?? My Best Friend and I for 11 years now both received our mission calls about a month and a half apart and we are reporting to the MTC the same day. What are the odds of that?? However she is reporting to the Mexico MTC and will then go to the Chile Vina Del Mar Mission.
We decided that together we would spend a couple hours a day several days a week and study Preach My Gospel together. It has been such a blessing! We each take turns going back and forth and then after a section or when we really like what we read we discuss it with one another. It first of all helps you focus as you are working with someone else and you get a different view point.
How do you prepare individually?? For the Temple Square Mission in the letter I received from my Mission President it mentioned that we need to first really get to know Preach My Gospel and second pray to have the spirit with us at all times. When you prepare individually start off with saying a prayer, thanking & asking our Heavenly Father for the things you feel you should say. Then start studying. Personally it varies each day one day I may feel directed to study a specific topic other days I may have no clue, so I will just open up Preach My Gospel or my scriptures and then just start studying and then wait for something to pop out. Keep a study journal with you at all times when you are studying. On many occasions something has stood out and I take that opportunity to write it down in my study journal and I have found that i end up writing a lot more than I had previously planned on. Also, in the scriptures make sure you use the foot notes.
Just remember your not going to know everything before you leave on your mission. But as you lean on your Father in Heaven and trust in him at all times he will give you the comfort and strength you need to prepare for your mission. You aren't preparing for yourself you are preparing for those that you are to come in contact with. You may not feel qualified now, however, the lord qualifies those he calls. You will do great! Just have faith and keep pressing forward continually relying on your Father in Heaven. :)
With much love,
Soon to be Sister Skaggs
