Mission Oddities

I have truly had some bizarre experiences that I did not expect.

1. Fill Your Canteen- This is the advice I seem to get the most and, don’t worry; I’ve taken it (wink). I guess nobody has anything to say about leaving home for a year and a half, or you know the church. Draw your own conclusions as to its meaning.

2. The Stake President asked me what my ACT score was, and wrote it down. Is that how they decide where to assign people? I think I've probably learned a little something in the 4 years since I took the ACT. Maybe that's how they ultimately decide who is going where. So and so has a 30 lets send them to Finland, they can handle that language. Ohhhhhhh, an 11, what do you think gentlemen: Boise, Louisiana, maybe Mississippi?

3. I keep getting asked if I have a boyfriend and if there is a possibility of getting married. Jeez, way to make me really aware of my singledom. Why does everybody think that female missionaries must be in want of a husband? I'm not really looking to get my ball and chain anytime soon, if you know what I mean.

4. I hate it when people ask where you want to go? As if I'm actually going to get to go somewhere really cool. You go wherever and learn to love it! Not to mention that I can't find a soul who thinks I'll go foreign. Thanks, love you too!

5. My Stake interview was really weird. It was like I had Spiritual Tourette's. The Stake President asked me what virtue was, this is what I led with: "Well, to put it loosely..." Serious, he did not even have a twinkle in his eye. It was so very disconcerting. In his defense it probably wasn't the best time to joke around. I swear I kept blurting out primary answers to all of his questions: "Read Scriptures! Pray! Go to Church!" I promise I have an original thought sloshing around up there; the trick is just to find it! Seriously, someone slap some duct tape over my mouth.

6. You know how people ask you to list your good qualities and then the bad? I had to do that, so I sprouted off my good list. No elaboration necessary. The list of bad qualities and weaknesses inevitably follows. Then, of course, he wanted elaboration. I’m talking painstaking detail- dates, times, places. I felt like I was taking an exam.


PS. Thanks to Drew who told me it's harder to adjust coming home from your mission than adjusting to being on a mission! This was by far the best and most comforting news ever.

PSS. I may have exaggerated a little.