One Week Mission Program by Randy F. Rubio

THE ONE-WEEK MISSION PROGRAM In April 1993 as school activities ended, my counselors, Rafael A. Natividad IIÂ¸ Rommel M. Fajardo and myself of the Paranaque stake presidency thought of how we can involve our youth to more faith-promoting activities during the two-month school break. We already had the annual youth conference which we normally held in the month of May and the traditional sports activities as well. As our discussion progressed, we considered the possibility of a one-week mission program in coordination with the Philippines Manila mission president at the time. We thought of providing Aaronic Priesthood Priests and Young Women Laurels an actual experience of the missionaryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life to last just for a week. After our initial discussion, I went home after our presidency meeting full of ideas and excitement. I envisioned providing our young people a simulation of the entire missionary experience from being called to serve, receiving a mission call, being given a farewell, going through missionary training, being assigned a companion, going through missionary routine, fulfilling actual missionary duties, being released and welcomed in a homecoming fireside. When we conferred with the mission president we were grateful to receive his enthusiastic reception. Since our stake was within the Pasay Zone the full-time missionaries male and female were identified. He also gave us the amount of money required for a weekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s missionary expense. We discussed more details of the program later with the zone leaders who gave us the refinements. On our end, we identified all the Priests and Laurels in the stake who could qualify for the experience. We matched it with the existing missionary complement of the Pasay zone. There was almost a perfect match except for a few threesomes. We requested the Stake YM/YW presidencies to coordinate the program from start to finish and the Stake Mission presidency to conduct the missionary training. After the program was in place, our stake presidency informed the bishoprics who received the program wholeheartedly. We requested them to discuss the program with the parents of the prospective missionaries including the financial requirement. If the whole amount could not be raised by the family, we encouraged the bishops to invite donors. Even with willing donors, we ask them to challenge the families to raise at least 10% of the total amount. I personally initiated the formulation of the mission call and sent every qualified young person an individualized letter. After mission calls were extended, the wards held their respective farewell firesides for the one-week missionaries. Parents were thoroughly thrilled in sending off their kids. On April 12, 1993 at 2:00 p.m. they were all received by the stake mission presidency at our stake center for a three-hour missionary training. Their full-time missionary counterparts met with them at the training center and proceeded immediately to their areas of assignment. We monitored their activities through the zone leaders since we did not allow contact with their families nor youth leaders. We were pleased to know that everything went as planned. On their final day, the mission president was kind enough to allow our one-week missionaries to attend and participate in the Pasay Zone conference as their culminating activity. Many of our young people who participated in this program who later served full-time missions attribute the oneweek mission as a turning point for their decision to go. Due to its resounding success, we expanded the program first to Mia Maids and Teachers then later by insistent demand, Beehives and Deacons. The younger people were only allowed to participate in a one-day mission. Since the number of participants grew, it was no longer practical to have them work with full-time missionaries. Through the years, many variations have been introduced which sustained the activity until it has become tradition. One of the greatest sights I have seen was when my successor, Pres. Victorino A. Babida, took a group picture* of our one-week missionaries in complete missionary attire. Later as ward youth leaders, my wife and I implemented the program from beginning to end as I originally envisioned it. The idea had come full circle.

One-Week Mission

ONE WEEK MISSION Objective: To provide worthy Priests and Laurels the marvelous opportunity to serve a one-week full time mission. A. Meet with Bishops and explain the mechanics of the one-week mission. Meet with bishops in the stake leadership meeting to launch the one-week mission program. The program will allow worthy priests and laurels to work with full-time missionaries for one week. The youth will stay at missionary apartments, live through the missionary routine and proselyte. B. Correlate with Mission President, Assistants and Zone Leaders. Discuss with Mission President the role of full-time missionaries. Youth will be paired with elders and sisters throughout the Pasay Zone. C. Priests and Laurels are identified. The bishopric will prayerfully consider youth who will participate in the program. Give consideration to family circumstances, health, church activity and worthiness. D. Bishops meet with parents to explain the procedure. Parents of participating youth will be called in a meeting with the bishopric to explain the mechanics of the program. Written consent must be expressly given by parents to their sons and daughters. Parents should be encouraged to have their children raise and save their own money required for the one-week mission. E. Call Extended to the prospective missionary. Prospective missionary is interviewed by the bishop regarding worthiness. Once worthiness is confirmed, the person is extended a call to serve a one-week mission. F. Mission Call is given in writing. The names of participating youth is sent to the stake. Mission calls are sent to each. G. Missionary Ward Farewell fireside. The ward Mission Leader conducts in coordination with full-time missionaries, parents, relatives, ward young men and women presidencies a farewell missionary fireside. H. Missionaries are trained in the stake missionary training center. The stake Young Men and Women Presidencies conduct a one-day missionary training center in coordination with the full-time missionaries at the stake center. *Group picture taken of the entire one-week missionary force and a copy given to each participant as a keepsake. An individual picture is also an additional option. I. Missionary companionships and areas are designated. When the training has been completed, one-week missionaries are sent off with their respective missionary companions to commence one-week full-time mission. J. One-Week full time mission expires. Copyright © 2005 Randy F. Rubio All rights reserved “Being Anxiously Engaged in a Good Cause”

One-Week Mission

K. Missionary report and release with stake president. Youth missionaries meet with stake presidency and stake PEC (bishop and ward PEC) to give a report of missionary labors. Stake president or bishop may extend missionary release. L. Missionary Ward Homecoming fireside. The ward conducts in coordination with full-time missionaries, parents, relatives, ward young men and women presidencies a homecoming missionary fireside.

One Week Mission Parents Primer Who May Participate The one-week full-time mission will allow your son or daughter to serve as a missionary. He or she must be worthy and have lived the standards of the church as a young man or woman which are chastity, word of wisdom, sabbath day observance, tithing, etc. Exceptions will be cleared by the bishop and stake president. Funding The one-week full time mission requires that each missionary will shoulder P500 to cover for meals, transportation and other expenses. If you cannot afford to shoulder the full amount then the bishop may find a family or individual who may sponsor your son or daughter. However, the missionary must shoulder at least P50 of his or her own money as counterpart to the missionary funds. Mechanics The youth missionary is paired with a full-time missionary in the Philippines Manila Mission, Pasay Zone and will reside temporarily at the missionary apartment for the entire one-week mission duration. He or she will participate in daily missionary proselytizing activities, gospel study, testimony meeting, and teaching discussions. What You Can Do Meet with your bishop if you think your son or daughter can qualify and benefit from this program. Participants are limited to match the number of full-time missionaries in the zone. You must give express written consent to your son and daughter to join the program.

This was the written primer we sent to the parents of Priests and Laurels throughout the stake. We also posted this about two weeks before the scheduled one-week mission.

One-Week Mission

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Office of the Stake President Paranaque Philippines Stake

April 4, 1993

Sister Joan Perlas LDS Meetinghouse Donada Street Pasay City Dear Sister Perlas, You are hereby called to serve a one-week mission to commence on April 12, 1993. As such, you are expected to conduct yourself in a manner that will distinguish you as an ambassador of the Church. As a missionary, you only not represent yourself and your family but most importantly the Lord Jesus Christ. You are expected to arrive at the Stake Missionary Training Center at the Russel Chapel on the 12th of April at 2:00 p.m. and will receive your orientation on missionary routine and duties. You will be given your assignment and missionary companion at the time also. Please bring with you P500.00 which will cover your food and transportation expenses for the duration of your mission. You are to dress and groom in a missionary attire, white shirts and ties for males and modest blouses and skirts for ladies and your appearance should be neat and clean becoming of a person who’s been called to represent the Lord. We extend to you, your family, our love and appreciation for accepting this call. You will be blessed with physical strength and spiritual renewal as you lose yourself in missionary service. Sincerely yours,

RANDY F. RUBIO Stake President

Remember, the worth of souls is great in the sight of God; ...

One-Week Mission

Suggested Farewell and Homecoming Fireside Program

Presiding:

Bishop

Conducting:

Bishopric (Youth) Counselor or Ward Mission Leader

Invocation:

Young Woman

Hymn:

Called to Serve

Theme Presentation:

The Worth of A Soul D&C 18 or D&C 4 by a Young Man ( 5 minutes )

Musical Number:

Full-time Missionaries

Talk:

How can I Help my Son or Daughter to Prepare to Serve a Mission How can I make my Home a Missionary TrainingCenter by a Parent ( 10 minutes )

Talk:

Our Responsibility of Proclaiming the Gospel What my One-Week Mission Means To Me by a Young Woman ( 5 minutes )

Musical Number:

Youth Missionaries

Testimonies:

Two or three participating youth missionaries

Congregational Hymn

Put Your Shoulder to the Wheel

Concluding Talk:

Bishop

Hymn:

The World Has Need of Willing Men

Benediction:

Young Man

Refreshments may be served afterwards. Pictures taken by the missionary batch or with families and bishopric.