“Remember that these changes only apply to TCM training,” the TCM letter reads. “You may still need to wear masks, get tested and/or get vaccinated, depending on travel requirements or the requirements of your assigned mission.” Your mission begins when you enter the Missionary Training Center (MTC). You must make all preparations before entering the MTC, including purchasing all clothing and personal items. Personal time is extremely limited. You cannot leave the MTC to shop. Missionaries who have begun a series of COVID-19 vaccines must complete it before travelling. A missionary attends training for two missions and the MTC in Bogotá, Colombia, November 17, 2021. Abnormal thought patterns. Excessive worry and guilt can seriously affect a missionary`s ability to serve. Perfectionism, which is an all-consuming need to be perfect, can also become a debilitating mental health issue. Recurrent painful thoughts and repetitive behaviors such as excessive hand washing are signs of obsessive-compulsive thinking disorder.
Seeing a doctor or psychiatrist can often effectively treat these abnormal thought patterns. On the day of your arrival, we will receive many missionaries at the same time. Therefore, it would be very helpful for this check-in process if you did your farewell activities with your family and friends before you arrived at the MTC. Only one vehicle per missionary is expected to arrive at the MTC. As the deposit time is very short, you will only have a few short moments for a quick goodbye, and there is very little time to take pictures. Thank you for your cooperation in this process. Fortunately, many of the health problems missionaries face can be avoided with proper preparation. Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught: “The most important thing you can do to prepare for a calling is to become a missionary long before you go on a mission.” 1 The missionary department`s letter also refers to the First Presidency`s statement of January 19: “It is everyone`s responsibility to make their own decisions about vaccination.” As they prepare for service, future missionaries may discover serious physical or emotional problems. Prospective missionaries and their parents should be completely open when disclosing all health issues and medications upon the missionary`s request for recommendation.
A new entry on immunization (7/38/13) again emphasizes the direction the First Presidency has consistently set since at least 1978: “Vaccinations administered by competent health care professionals protect health and preserve life. Church members are encouraged to get vaccinated themselves, their children, and their communities. Mood disorders. Those who suffer from chronic or recurring feelings of depression, sadness, anxiety or anxiety should be evaluated by a doctor or mental health counselor. Mood swings, especially if they involve temperament and anger, should also be evaluated. Treatments, including counseling or medication, or both, often reduce or alleviate mood disorders and make missionary service possible. Aspiring missionaries can prepare for the rigors of missionary life by doing regular aerobic exercise: walking, running, or cycling for an hour each day. Those whose main form of exercise is playing electronic games or text messages will need at least four months to reach the level of conditioning that allows them to actually enjoy a workout. Everyone has moments of sadness, fear and discouragement. This is normal, especially in times of loss and grief.
However, emotional difficulties that interfere with normal daily functioning must be resolved before missionary service begins. Missionaries should update their immunization records on the mission portal as necessary. “Bishops and branch presidents should discuss vaccination requirements with all new missionaries and their parents.” In April 2021, the Church included the COVID-19 vaccine in the mandatory vaccines for all missionaries. Since then, those who refuse vaccination have been assigned to a server in their home country. Regular exercise (daily). A missionary should be able to walk an average of 10 km per day and 19 km (12 miles) per day. Aspiring missionaries who only walk from the car to a classroom or job may experience sore feet and blisters when they reach the mission field. Those who are not used to cycling regularly also become very “saddle injured” when a bicycle becomes their main mode of transport. A missionary who is not fit will be tired from missionary work, and a tired missionary is more open to discouragement and health problems than a missionary who is physically fit. Church leaders in the United States received the latest vaccination guidelines in an April 23 letter from the Missionary Department. Unfortunately, unpredictably, some missionaries get sick or injured while serving. More than 50 health professionals are full-time missionaries around the world, and another 200 volunteers serve at Church headquarters, all to support missionary health.
On behalf of this small army of health workers, we will be there to help any missionary who falls ill or is injured. And we pray every day that our missionaries will remain healthy and protected from evil as they serve the Lord and His children. Vaccinations. Those preparing for missions should receive all routine vaccines and boosters available at appropriate ages. Long before they begin their missionary service, they must also receive all the special vaccines required for the particular country in which they will serve. You must be set apart as a full-time missionary by your stake president and, if desired, receive the Father`s blessing and/or patriarchal blessing before you arrive at the MTC. We encourage you to bring a copy of your patriarchal blessing. Learning disabilities. Because the ability to learn and teach is the essence of missionary work, learning problems such as attention deficit disorder (ADD) can interfere with missionary success. However, assessment and treatment of learning disabilities can significantly improve learning ability.
Some learning disabilities may not be compatible with missionary life. Parents and future missionaries should prayerfully consult with their bishop and professionals about the possibility of serving a full-time mission. New Church missionaries no longer need a COVID-19 vaccine or a negative COVID-19 test to enter the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah, according to an emailed letter to missionaries from the MTC. Some missionaries may still need proof of a negative COVID test result if necessary for their air travel to the MTC or if a missionary has cold or flu symptoms in the days leading up to their entry into the MTC. In a letter from MTC Provo this week, it was announced that new missionaries no longer need a COVID-19 vaccine or a negative COVID-19 test to enter MTC Provo. Masks are also optional for missionaries trained at the facility. Bone and joint problems resulting from injuries may require surgery. Orthopedic procedures, including arthroscopic surgery, are usually associated with prolonged rehabilitation. Prospective missionaries should receive appropriate orthopedic care well before entering missionary service (four to six months). A young man or woman who arrives at the MTC on crutches two weeks after knee surgery will not be able to walk the required distance in the mission field.
For more information on the MTC letter and the new missionary requirements, visit Deseret News. You should receive all necessary vaccinations before arriving at the TCM. However, if you need a second or third dose of hepatitis, typhoid, tetanus or flu, booster shots may be given at TCM. Costs are billed directly to your ward or stake. COVID-19 vaccines are increasingly available in many places around the world. All missionaries and future missionaries are encouraged to protect themselves and others through vaccination. It is up to individuals to make their own decisions about vaccination (see First Presidency Statement, January 19, 2021). Skills for meal preparation.
Parents can help their sons and daughters prepare simple and healthy meals. I emphasize this word simply because missionaries often cook food on a hot plate or a single gas burner and may not have an oven. Every aspiring missionary must master the basics of cooking and handling hygienic food. Since dishwashers are rarely found in mission dwellings, it is also important to know how to clean with hot water and dish soap after meals.