I’ve been getting pretty sentimental lately. My 20-year high school reunion took place a few months ago (delayed from the actual anniversary), and while recently moving to a new home, I had time to consider the things I took with me and what I would put out to display with all of the memories and experiences attached to those things.
One object that shouldn’t have any sentimental value to it did bring back many memories, as it has been a part of my many moves over the last twenty years. It is my alarm clock. I received it as a gift exactly twenty years ago today from my oldest brother as both of my brothers took me to the Missionary Training Center (MTC) in Provo, Utah. Since then, it has been by my bed in 15 different homes, not including the five places I lived in Hungary or the MTC. It is strange that such a pedestrian object would carry so many memories with it.
Sharing My Mission
With this anniversary fresh on my mind, I’ve decided to publicly share parts of my mission over the next two years. I do this for a few reasons.
First, it is good to look back on occasion, especially on the moments and events that were so formative in our lives. I’m twenty years older and more experienced. As I look back on my mission and read journal entries and letters, I can see where I’ve come from and see better in hindsight how those happenings affected me.
Second, I have not had the blessing of my own family with which I could share these memories over the years. Many of you and others who have served missions have had opportunities to share the lessons and memories from that period of your life with your spouse and children. I have not. I’ve not had anyone that close to look through photos and scrapbooks and share my experiences with or do the same with their past. As I stated when I started this blog, one reason is to share my story since I may not have posterity to do so when I pass in this life.
Third, when I served a mission, social media wasn’t a thing. Cell phones were barely a thing. So, couldn’t share while I served like missionaries can today.
Preparing for a Mission
Back in my day (I must be old 😊), young men in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were expected to serve two-years as missionaries beginning at age 19. Things have changed a bit in the age and options, but essentially it is the same idea that you dedicate yourself wholeheartedly to serving God, his children, and the Church. You spend your days trying to teach others about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and performing acts of service. For many, the assignment is to serve in a foreign country and in a foreign language.
Serving a mission was something I had wanted to do for many years. When my classmates were declaring colleges, I was thinking about a mission and worrying about college until after. My dad had shared the occasional story from his mission, and my two older brothers had both served.
I received my call in January 2003 to serve in the Hungary Budapest Mission speaking Hungarian. It was an exciting day. Back then, you got a physical letter with a booklet of information on where you were assigned along with other basics to prepare you to serve.
When my letter arrived, we waited to open it until we could all be around the phone (landline) for family members and friends to be on a call and hear me read it for the first time. We were surprised and had to find Hungary on the map. Over the next few months, people would tell me of their experiences in Hungary or about others they knew who served missions there. They gave advice and well wishes. Arrangements were made for Larry, my bearded dragon, and other pets. Supplies and clothing were purchased. And, on April 15, after a visit to the Dallas Temple with my dad, I flew to Salt Lake City.
Reporting to the MTC
The Missionary Training Center is a place where missionaries go to learn basics of teaching and get language training. Your duration in the MTC is based on your language. Since I was learning Hungarian, I was scheduled to be there twelve weeks. Only a handful of languages were there that long. In the morning of April 16, I went to the Salt Lake Temple with my grandparents, brothers, and some other family before my brothers and cousins drove me to Provo at my designated arrival time. (That’s when I got the alarm clock!)
The first day was a day of orientation. We got our schedules (Every day of the twelve weeks was planned out). We were assigned our companions, districts, and branches. My first companion was Elder West from Midvale, UT. From that day on until we arrived in Budapest about twelve weeks later, Elder West and I were to be with each other almost every minute of every day. That would be the case for the next two years with whomever my assigned companion would be. And, we got settled in.
I didn’t really know what to expect at the MTC. But, at some point, I illustrated this depiction of how it felt sometimes, as if we were trying to drink from a firehose using a shot glass.
Over the next few months, I’ll share some moments and memories from my time in the MTC. There were many happy amazing times, but there were also some very trying times. This will probably be more for my sake than anyone else’s, but feel free to ask questions and even share your own memories.
