NO DEAR JOHNS (OR JANES)
Over the past five years, I have become quite the letter writer (Who’s got the skills, to pay the bills? It’s me 😉). As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I have had many friends and family members choose to serve a mission for our church, and this has given me many opportunities to sharpen my skills. In the beginning I was not very good at keeping up with my missionaries who were out serving in the field (I did not ever send out a “Dear John” or “Dear Jane”, though, so I am going to call that a win 😉). However, as I matured, I realized how important it was to keep in contact with these sweet friends. I went into it thinking it would just be a way to stay in touch with my loved ones but came out realizing what an incredible blessing it was to me.
1. You always have something to look forward to on Mondays. Mondays are R-O-U-G-H. Going back to school or work at the beginning of each week can be a real struggle, especially when one of your Monday morning classes happened to be Zumba (Curse you Fall Semester 2017!) However, knowing that you will get to hear from one of your missionaries that day makes Monday seem a little less bleak. It even helped to distract me from the pain that was Zumba!
2. It teaches you the incredible power that words have. Knowing that I can only speak to my brother once a week, I take the time to really consider what I am saying to him. Every single week, without fail, I say, “We love you. We miss you. We are so proud of you. The Lord loves you. The Lord is so proud of you”. Now, if I were him, I would probably be skimming over that section in the letters I received, because my silly older sister sends it in literally every email. However, missions are tough. Sometimes just hearing again how much your mom loves you gives you a much-needed pick me up. I know how important it was for me to have reminders of love and encouragement that I wasn’t as bad of a missionary as I thought I was. The stinker might not need those reminders, but I want him to always have them, just in case. Missionaries' responses have an incredible impact on me, too! Writing missionaries has given me confidence to write my blog, because of their ever kind words, and laughter at my jokes (keep in mind that they are serving the Lord, so they have to be nice).
3. With a few of the missionaries I have written, we communicated through hand written letters, instead of through email. While this can sometimes be as strain on the eyes as you try to decipher the missionary’s handwriting, there is something so special about handwritten letters. It’s a throwback to a time when life was more innocent, penmanship was on point, and one took the time to write a meaningful message to a loved one. Snail mail is real y’all, so when you send a letter in the mail, you make every word count. Receiving a hand-written letter in the mail is a surprise now a days, but I love it each time they come.
4. Writing missionaries gives you many opportunities to serve. Even though keeping them updated on your boring life does not always seem like a service, it truly is. I know I loved being updated on the mundane things of life while on my month-and-a-half mission. It gives you a connection to home, and makes you feel like life isn’t completely moving on without you. You can also serve by being a part of the missionaries’ work and praying for the people they are teaching. My younger brother is not great at keeping in contact with us (I know, you are all shocked), but I know my mom really appreciates it when he speaks of who he is teaching, because then she feels like she is involved in his work. Who doesn’t want to help in the spreading of the Gospel?
5. Each week, you get to hear a testimony from a servant of the Lord. Going to church each week, praying, and studying our scriptures are great ways to increase our faith and our testimonies, and writing missionaries adds another layer to your spiritual progression. I was so shocked by the first letter we received from my little brother, because his testimony was so powerful and mature. Often times I immediately feel the spirit as I read a missionary’s testimony, and it gives me a great start to my week. It allows me to put things in perspective, and feel more prepared to tackle the obstacles ahead, because I realize what is most important in this life. Sure, if BYU loses their first game this week , I may cry. However, will it forever change my life? (probably not) These testimonies confirm your faith, help you to count your blessings, and sometimes even spur you to action. I am forever grateful for the many testimonies I receive each week and know they have been incredible blessings in my life.
So, writing a missionary is not all “Dear Johns”, celebration of year marks, or pleas for new socks. I went in thinking that writing missionaries was a way for me to serve them, but honestly, it is just another way for a missionary to serve. The fire they have in them spurs you to action, whether it is the confidence to take on a trial, or share the Gospel with those around you. I am forever grateful for the opportunities I have had to write missionaries. Even though sometimes it feels like I am boring them to death with my life, I know writing benefits them in some way (at least I hope), and benefits me in more ways than I could possibly count.
P.S. Stinker, I miss you tons.