Prep Your Missionary Mind Your Mission Manners
M
them respect. issionaries are representatives of Jesus Investigators often get most of a missionary’s time Christ. As such, manners are a large part of and attention, though not always their finest manrepresenting yourself, the Church, and our ners. For being so valuable, it can be easy to overlook Savior in the best way possible. Courtesy within your companionship is a founsome things that can quickly turn a relationship with investigators sour. Scheduling is a common problem. dation for compassionate service in every aspect of Investigators have whole lives. They are fitting lesyour work. The love of God extends to everyone, sons and church in with employment, family needs, as much to your companion as anyone else. Credit your companion with being a full, intelligent human and other obligations. Unlike missionaries, their days don’t and can’t revolve around whose perspective and suggeslessons on missionary schedules. tions are not just worthwhile, but Taking their availability for granted as valuable in this team as yours. can become a serious problem. Mission resources include suggestions on continually building When you do visit a home, respect your host’s space and up your companionship, fostering property. Show gratitude. Do not respect. Some other essentials to leave a mess. Do all you can to add good manners with your partner to the Spirit and avoid anything include keeping your space clean. that will take away from that Spirit. In a companionship, all space is Finally, watch your language – shared space. Both parties have limit mission-specific terms, speak a right to be comfortable. Do not with respect and compassion for mock your companion, especially around other people. Consider all involved. Communicate to their your companion the way the Photo by Church Media Library understanding. You are always teaching a complete person, not a Savior would see them and afford Elders teaching on a doorstep.
16 • ArizonaBeehive.com •
By Allison Beckert
number. Your and your investigators’ greatest allies are the members in your area. Members serve missionaries to serve God, and this is a sacrifice of time and resources. Regardless of circumstance, be grateful and gracious. As missionaries, you are not owed their time, attention, or even meals. The same as investigators, missionaries and sharing the gospel are only one small part of members’ lives, not the focus of it. Most members cannot be available at short notice to join lessons and cannot change plans quickly. Update them if things change with as much notice as possible and remind them with a lot of notice as well of plans already made. Members are also essential in fellowshipping new members into the ward family, but know friendship isn’t predictable or controllable. Respect members’ and investigators’ preferences and boundaries – there can be miracles, but agency is always a person’s right.
