How do you cope with leaving emotional attachments on a mission?

[Wingnut]

I was on mild anti-depressants and ADD meds for the first half of my mission. The difficult part was obtaining the meds, as most doctors don't want to prescribe long-distance, and with transfers going on so often, you're never in one place long enough to establish a relationship with a new doctor.

Ken, to be perfectly honest here, I think you're making up excuses to not go. I've known many people who have not wanted to go on missions, and none of them have ever said it was because they were going to miss their family too much, or that they would miss their sports teams (especially when one of those teams was the Cleveland Browns).

No one here has shared the incredible blessings that come to a family when one of them is out serving a mission. Your family would be immensely blessed for your service.

And no way in heck do the Indians win the World Series next year. They lost that hope when they lost CC to Milwaukee mid-season. The Cavs are a one-man show, and that never works out. The Browns, well, they're the Browns. And they've got far too much drama going on right now that will carry over. Don't hold your breath.

But I still think it's another reason. You need to either come to terms with that real underlying reason, or you need to get over these excuses and go serve the Lord.

[rameumptom]

Ken, where are your priorities?

Look at long term reality. Your brother will not always be 7. Eventually both of you will marry, have your own kids, and have less time together. Your pets will die. Cleveland will never win a playoff again.

Seriously, if you love your brother that much, you will want to do the things you know you need to do, to be with him forever. Two years is a long time, but it is much shorter than eternity. How long do you want this relationship to last? What are you willing to give up in the short term, to have the most precious things with your always?

Not only that, but you are setting an example for your 7 year old brother. Do you want him to someday serve a mission? If you don't go, how will that affect his decision 11 years down the road? Chances are, your mission will help unite the two of you closer together, as you share emails and letters and experiences. Yes, you will miss him and other things. But they will be there when you get back, and you will have a greater appreciation for them.

[rameumptom]

I've known several missionaries recently with depression/medical issues. If medicines are treating the problem decently, the person is allowed to serve.

Another possibility to discuss with your bishop is a local mission. Some people with medical issues can serve locally in their own area, while staying either at home, or with other full time missionaries. Go to your bishop and discuss your concerns with him. Let him, as the judge in Israel, help you determine what you should do.

[KenTheRealtor]

Insulin is a little different because those are harder to come by and very expensive.

Anti-depressants can be found pretty much anywhere.

I would rather stay in the US if I could anyway. The only drawback is a really want to go to a spanish speaking place, but other than that I don't like being in different cultures.

[KenTheRealtor]

Originally Posted by Wingnut

And no way in heck do the Indians win the World Series next year. They lost that hope when they lost CC to Milwaukee mid-season. The Cavs are a one-man show, and that never works out. The Browns, well, they're the Browns. And they've got far too much drama going on right now that will carry over. Don't hold your breath.

.

The Indians can win it next year and I'll be satisfied, because I won't be on my mission yet by then. You are wrong about the Indians though. They have a nice young pitching staff without CC. They were the best in the last 2 months of the season even though they didn't go to the playoffs. The Cavs have LeBron James, Daniel Gibson, Mo Williams, and Big-Z to help out the team. As far as the Browns go, I am not that into football anyway.

Oh well, if I stay in the US or Canada, I can always sneak out and go to a sports bar to watch the championships and nobody will ever know. Missionaries aren't out working that late at night anyway. LOL.

That's all the on the side though.

I am just really worried that I wouldn't be able to make it the whole 2 years. It may not seem long to you, but it really is a long time when you have to be away from your family, anything else I don't give a crap about really. Except for sports.

[Wingnut]

Originally Posted by KenTheRealtor

Oh well, if I stay in the US or Canada, I can always sneak out and go to a sports bar to watch the championships and nobody will ever know. Missionaries aren't out working that late at night anyway. LOL.

(1) You have no control over where you go.
(2) You will know, the Lord will know, and if you get in trouble (or even sent home), so does your companion. Are you willing to live with that?
(3) You have an awfully cavalier attitude about rules.

I am just really worried that I wouldn't be able to make it the whole 2 years. It may not seem long to you, but it really is a long time when you have to be away from your family, anything else I don't give a crap about really. Except for sports.

I was only allowed to serve for 18 months (female), but I'd've stayed at least another six months if I could. And you'd be surprised about how quickly the time goes.

I'll repeat what I said earlier: I think you're making up excuses. If you really don't want to go, and have no intention of going, then why are you posting here, inviting us to convince you to go?

[skippy740]

Originally Posted by KenTheRealtor

Oh well, if I stay in the US or Canada, I can always sneak out and go to a sports bar to watch the championships and nobody will ever know. Missionaries aren't out working that late at night anyway. LOL.

That's all the on the side though.

I am just really worried that I wouldn't be able to make it the whole 2 years. It may not seem long to you, but it really is a long time when you have to be away from your family, anything else I don't give a crap about really. Except for sports.

The people at the BAR will know... and I would guess that some of them might be inactive LDS people who would still care how missionaries spend their time.

The Lord will know as well. And this will have an effect on your spirituality and your ability to teach. If you can't follow the mission rules, how do you expect to lead others to follow the Gospel and enter the waters of baptism?

Your obsession with sports seems to be a major addiction for you.

Quit worrying about yourself. As it was stated before: It's not about you.

[BenRaines]

I had to laugh. You want to stay in the US because you don't like being exposed to other cultures or not interested. Don't leave Mayberry then. In most major cities there is a huge mix of cultures. Many US mission have multiple languages spoken there. I think that there are at least five languages spoken in the Florida Ft. Lauderdale Mission that takes in Miami area. The same could be said for Los Angeles on the west coast.

My nephew went to Baton Rogue, Louisiana and said that alone was a whole new cultural experience.

Focus on why to serve as I mentioned in an earlier post and not why not to serve. Missionaries should go on a mission to serve The Lord. To go for any other reason, don't go.

Ben Raines

[KenTheRealtor]

Other cultures I didn't necessarily mean. I just meant unfamiliar surrounding in foreign countries, like spanish/ japanese cities, etc.

Maybe not a bar, I'd probably pirate the game or something on the internet. I'll find another way.

No way I'd go on a mission without taking my computer with me.

[BenRaines]

Computers are not allowed for missionaries to take. Personal cell phones are not allowed either. No IPods with headphones, etc.

Now we are talking really tough rules.

Ben Raines