Foyer Talk: Any RMs Here?

[Worshipper]

Hi!

I've been kind of unsettled by the recent arguments I've gotten into here with DisneyMan and Zippy and Orontes, and thinking about it, I decided that the situation was kind of like when there's that one brother in Sunday School who sits in the back and who you hardly know and who's always preaching false doctrine. Kind of an uncomfortable situation, if you ask me.

But all our arguments are all like we're in Sunday School bickering over stuff, each of us thinking that the other is an apostate.

I think what we need is more time in the foyer! That way we can get to know each other as brothers and sisters, so when we're in Sunday School or Priesthood or Relief Society and we have a disagreement, we can deal with that disagreement like brothers and sisters and not like the surly jerk in the back of the class. (Sorry for being the surly jerk to anyone who thinks I have been!)

So I propose we occasionally post threads for Foyer Talk. Just so we can get to know each other and love each other a bit more. No arguing in the Foyer Talk — just mutual support and fellowship! What do you say?

So, are there any RMs here?
Anyone who wants to serve a mission but hasn't had the chance yet?
Anyone currently serving a mission? (Are you allowed to be here at RF?)
Any stake missionaries?
Anyone got a recent misison call?
Anyone waiting for a mission call?
Anyone waiting for a missionary?
Anyone's kids serving missions?
Anyone's (grand)parents serving missions?

I served in Texas. Ten years ago today, I was in the MTC. Ah, the crepe bar!

I found out a couple of weeks ago, in fact, that there's going to be a reunion for my mission/president during conference weekend. It'll be the first reunion in about five years. I'm kind of stoked!

 

[Watchmen]

Why would I want to hang out in the foyer with someone who thinks I'm apostate? I never thought the same of you.

But I'll play anyway.

I served in Japan a little over 10 years ago.

 

[Worshipper]

Why would I want to hang out in the foyer with someone who thinks I'm apostate? I never thought the same of you.

That's not what I meant! Gall!

I don't think you're apostate. I just figured everyone else did. Three arguments with three different people in one week and I'm the common factor in all three? I figured the problem might be more in my direction.



Japan! That's cool! Did you learn a lot about Buddhism and Shintoism?

 

[Katzpur]

I think what we need is more time in the foyer! That way we can get to know each other as brothers and sisters, so when we're in Sunday School or Priesthood or Relief Society and we have a disagreement, we can deal with that disagreement like brothers and sisters and not like the surly jerk in the back of the class. (Sorry for being the surly jerk to anyone who thinks I have been!)

Hey there! I'm all up for foyer talk. I think this is a great idea!

So, are there any RMs here?
Anyone who wants to serve a mission but hasn't had the chance yet?
Anyone currently serving a mission? (Are you allowed to be here at RF?)
Any stake missionaries?
Anyone got a recent misison call?
Anyone waiting for a mission call?
Anyone waiting for a missionary?
Anyone's kids serving missions?
Anyone's (grand)parents serving missions?

My husband and I recently got called for as ward missionaries, but not to serve in our home ward. We were called to be a part of the Church's "Hispanic Initiative." Apparently there are some 60,000 hispanic people between Ogden and Provo. (For those who don't know, that's the area referred to as the "Wasatch Front." It extends roughly 40 miles north of Salt Lake City to roughly 40 miles south of Salt Lake City.) Anyway, only about 8% of them are LDS, but there are something like 60 hispanic branches serving them in this area. Our call is to serve in one of these branches along with the full-time missionaries, meeting with them weekly to discuss the investigators they're teaching and to go on splits with them, enabling them to cover more ground. We also attend church at their branch, including going to the investigators' class. My husband speaks Spanish, so he fits right in. I don't know more than a few words, but I'm determined to learn. Every week, I have to take my turn at reading out loud from the Gospel Principles manual. We've only been doing this for about six weeks, but so far there has been about one convert baptism per week. We are not permitted to take any callings in our home ward, but are still invited when there are activities, which is cool. Plus, my husband didn't have to shave his beard!!!! Yea!

I served in Texas. Ten years ago today, I was in the MTC. Ah, the crepe bar!

I found out a couple of weeks ago, in fact, that there's going to be a reunion for my mission/president during conference weekend. It'll be the first reunion in about five years. I'm kind of stoked![/quote]

 

[Watchmen]

That's not what I meant! Gall!

I don't think you're apostate. I just figured everyone else did. Three arguments with three different people in one week and I'm the common factor in all three? I figured the problem might be more in my direction.



Japan! That's cool! Did you learn a lot about Buddhism and Shintoism?

Well, I don't think anyone considers you apostate. This is just a hot place. I usually disagree with Zippy and Orontes too.

I think that we need to get away from the traditional Mormon mindset and realize the Church allows for diversity.

As for Japan, it was cool, but I didn't really learn much about Buddhism or Shinto. Basically, those are the traditional religions of Japan, but no one really practices. Weddings and funerals are influenced by them. Basically, it's like being "Christian" in the U.S. Someone might claim such, but there is nothing in their practice that indicates such other than weddings and funerals.

 

[Worshipper]

We were called to be a part of the Church's "Hispanic Initiative." Apparently there are some 60,000 hispanic people between Ogden and Provo. (For those who don't know, that's the area referred to as the "Wasatch Front." It extends roughly 40 miles north of Salt Lake City to roughly 40 miles south of Salt Lake City.) Anyway, only about 8% of them are LDS, but there are something like 60 hispanic branches serving them in this area.

That is cool! I'd never heard about this! Yet another sign that BYU doesn't go past Canyon Road!

How awesome that you both get to be a part of this!

My husband speaks Spanish, so he fits right in. I don't know more than a few words, but I'm determined to learn. Every week, I have to take my turn at reading out loud from the Gospel Principles manual.

Do you get to practice at least during the week?

Plus, my husband didn't have to shave his beard!!!! Yea!

Now that's a mission rule I would love!

That really sounds like a great mission, Katzpur! I've been hearing more and more about missions like this in the Church. I think it's so wonderful that there are more and more ways to serve.

 

[Worshipper]

As for Japan, it was cool, but I didn't really learn much about Buddhism or Shinto. Basically, those are the traditional religions of Japan, but no one really practices. Weddings and funerals are influenced by them. Basically, it's like being "Christian" in the U.S. Someone might claim such, but there is nothing in their practice that indicates such other than weddings and funerals.

That makes sense.

 

[pwsoldier]

The last calling I had as an active member of the church was ward missionary. I think my bishop was trying to prep me for a full-time mission, but I ended up leaving the church before that happened. My sister however, has received her mission call to Argentina and will be reporting to the MTC in a few weeks.

 

[Worshipper]

Cool! What did you think of being a ward missionary?

My brother served in Argentina years and years ago. He loved Argentina! I hope your sister enjoys it, too!

 

[pwsoldier]

Cool! What did you think of being a ward missionary?

My brother served in Argentina years and years ago. He loved Argentina! I hope your sister enjoys it, too!

It wasn't bad, mainly because the ward mission leader was a good friend of mine. I never felt like I contributed much to my calling though due to the fact that my doubts about the church had already begun and I had lost what shred of a testimony I once had. Oh well, it was all part of the journey I guess.

I think my sister will enjoy her mission. She spent a semester in Chile last year as part of BYUs study abroad program. She loved it.

 

[Katya]

I can't say I've ever been the Jerk in the back that preachers false doctrine. I'm just the jerk in the back, sitting quietly stirring things up a little. Ok, sometimes not so quietly.

After spending years not saying boo, always agreeing with what people said, regardless if I believed it or not, then going to the opposite and disagreeing with everyone. Just because I could. Now I'm just trying to find a balance.

 

[Scott C.]

I think what we need is more time in the foyer!

I served a mission to Chile a long, long, time ago. My son served a mission in Iceland, not so long ago. A few years ago I was a ward missionary. My parents recently returned from a mission to South Africa. My youngest daughter is writing a missionary in California. (We'll have to wait and see where that goes).

I served my mission when there was still an LTM, but it was the same facility as what is now called the MTC. When the MTC was first built, it was only for missionaries learning a new language and was called the Language Training Mission. Before my time, the LTM was in another part of Provo.

After I got home from my mission, I taught Spanish at the MTC for about two years. It was a great job, especially for a student.

 

[Scott C.]

Oh, and my wife was recently called to teach early morning seminary. She just started this school year. There are only five kids in the class and the class is held in our dining room every morning at 6:00am. There are two seminary classes in our ward. The ward is too big, geographically, to have everyone go to the same place. My wife's class basically covers two high schools. I love having the kids come over every school morning. I get up and head to the YMCA about the time they arrive, so the house stays quiet with me gone.

I think we ought to keep this thread going, just for casual talk on whatever.

 

[Scott C.]

We also attend church at their branch, including going to the investigators' class.

That's a neat calling. I was recently asked to help with the young men in our stake's Spanish Branch. I'm headed off to their Sunday meetings this morning.

 

[Worshipper]

It wasn't bad, mainly because the ward mission leader was a good friend of mine. I never felt like I contributed much to my calling though due to the fact that my doubts about the church had already begun and I had lost what shred of a testimony I once had. Oh well, it was all part of the journey I guess.

Yeah, that happens!

Better to have it happen there than in a full-time mission on the other side of the planet, probably! My mission was a real strain on my testimony at times, and during those times, I hated that I was so far away from the places and people that I knew and loved. I was thinking, "You know, if I'm going to be dropping out of the Church, why can't I do that back in beautiful, happy California?"

I think my sister will enjoy her mission. She spent a semester in Chile last year as part of BYUs study abroad program. She loved it.

Cool! I'm excited for her!

I served a mission to Chile a long, long, time ago. My son served a mission in Iceland, not so long ago. A few years ago I was a ward missionary. My parents recently returned from a mission to South Africa. My youngest daughter is writing a missionary in California. (We'll have to wait and see where that goes).

I served my mission when there was still an LTM, but it was the same facility as what is now called the MTC. When the MTC was first built, it was only for missionaries learning a new language and was called the Language Training Mission. Before my time, the LTM was in another part of Provo.

After I got home from my mission, I taught Spanish at the MTC for about two years. It was a great job, especially for a student.

If you were in the LTM when it was in the same spot as the MTC, then it wasn't all that long ago!

That's cool about your folks just coming back from South Africa. I have some older cousins who came back from South Africa a couple of years ago or so. They taught people to play music in the Church meetings. What did your parents do?

I think we ought to keep this thread going, just for casual talk on whatever.

We could. I had originally imagined that any thread marked Foyer Talk could be for casual, brotherly/sisterly talk on the subject of the thread. In some ways I still think that would be better, because it would let us discuss multiple LDS-themed topics in a casual and supportive way more easily. If someone joins the forum in a year, they'll still be able to find a Foyer Talk thread on missions and join that conversation and we can get to know that aspect of them, even after we've kind of all shifted to discussing whether carrots or bananas are better additions to green jello. If it were all in one thread, then the talk about missions (or roadshows or Church basketball or whatever) would die down for us and we wouldn't really get to hear new forum members' perspectives on any topic but the most recent topic so easily. But it could potentially make for a lot of Foyer Talk threads, and that could be a downside.

 

[Katzpur]

I can't say I've ever been the Jerk in the back that preachers false doctrine. I'm just the jerk in the back, sitting quietly stirring things up a little. Ok, sometimes not so quietly.

Ah... a trouble-maker, huh? My kind of person.

After spending years not saying boo, always agreeing with what people said, regardless if I believed it or not, then going to the opposite and disagreeing with everyone. Just because I could. Now I'm just trying to find a balance.

Well, I'm glad you finally figured out that you don't grow in the gospel by pretending that you agree with everything you hear taught. I'm also glad that you didn't let your "rebellion" get so far out of hand that you couldn't find your way back. Seriously, there is a balance to be found. I know that from experience. Once you find it, it's not such a bad place to be. Good luck!

 

[Watchmen]

If the talk becomes one of green jello I will leave the foyer.

 

[FFH]

I served in Texas. Ten years ago today, I was in the MTC. Ah, the crepe bar!

Ah yes I gained at least 10 pounds in the MTC in one month just on the potato and yogurt bar alone, back in the mid 80's. I've never eaten so much and so well before or since. Three full meals a day, and the time to actually sit down and eat theim, it was a slice of heaven.

I found out a couple of weeks ago, in fact, that there's going to be a reunion for my mission/president during conference weekend. It'll be the first reunion in about five years. I'm kind of stoked!

Yeah, mission reunions are the best.

My mission President is a retired professor from BYU Hawaii and I ended up working for Delta Airlines after my mission in Japan and flew to Hawaii and visited my mission President, he lived just down the road from the Polynesian Cultural Center, which is just down the road from the Hawaii temple and BYU Hawaii campus.

We were there when they were celebrating their 25 year anniversary of the Polynesian Cultural Center and I saw my mission President's daughter there working and she told us to come over that night to her father's house (my mission President) and chat. It was fun.

The trip only cost me 10 bucks, a rental car and hotel, since we had free flights anywhere in the U.S., while working for Deta.

I went to the Tokyo South, Japan mission, although no missionaries were allowed to live in Tokyo, we still were allowed to visit the different cities in Tokyo. I lived just outside the border of Tokyo, in Kawasaki city, and we would bike into Tokyo often.

I also spent time living in Yokohama and Fuji City, next to Mt. Fuji.

You can actually see the apartment we stayed in in this U-tube video.

The apartments you see in this U-tube picture below are the ones we stayed in. We had an awesome view of Mt. Fuji. One of these days I'll post some pictures I took from our apartment.

Fast forward to 1:16 on this U-tube video and that is the apartment we stayed in for 8 months. I loved it there, nice and quiet. We would bike up Mt. Fuji often, just at the base, and I have traveled to the snow line by car, where there were some small ski areas and on the other side there are large lakes and waterfalls surrounding that area, along with dense green forests of trees until you hit the snow line.

Mt.fuji from Shinkansen!!!!! !

I loved Japan and didn't want to come back to the states. The food there was awesome and the weather very nice. I never had it so good. I felt very blessed to see that part of the world. I love the people there.


新幹線　ドクターイエロー　パート７


Aka-island in Okinawa (Japan)

Bullet train ride (top speed 180 mph) from the southern most part of my mission (Hamamatsu), just before Fuji city, to Yokohama

The Bullet Train "NOZOMI&qu ot; Part7 Hamamatsu-Shin Yokohama

 

[FFH]

Bullet train ride from Yokohama to Tokyo, the northern most part of our mission


The Bullet Train "NOZOMI&qu ot; Part8 Shin Yokohama-Tokyo (Final)

This is the most densly populated city in the world, Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan, which was just ten to fifteen minutes away from where I lived as an LDS missionary in Kawasaki, Japan for about 5 months. I absolutely loved it there.

Talk about culture shock, it's a far cry from the quiet Mormon Utah desert land that I was used to.

Free Hugs in Shibuya

Tokyo Tower (Eiffel Tower copy)

sunset, tokyo tower, view from tokyo midtown 日没の東京タワー

One of the first things we did was go to the top of this tower (in red) and get a view of the city.


Tokyo from Yurikamome train, tokyo tower


Fastest Train in the World


Japanese Maglev, 581km/h

 

[pwsoldier]

If the talk becomes one of green jello I will leave the foyer.

You know, I never got the jello/Mormon references. I can understand the orange soda jokes, but not the jello ones. I never ate much jello when I was an active member, nor did I know many members who did.