Info for New Missionaries

Info For New Missionaries

Congratulations on your call and your assignment to the Argentina Neuquén Mission! This page contains important information to help you prepare for your assignment.

“Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing.” – Doctrine and Covenants 88:119

INFORMATION ON lds.org

There is wonderful information on lds.org to help you prepare for your mission.  

Information for English-Speaking Missionaries
Information for Spanish-Speaking Missionaries

ABOUT THE MISSION
Our mission was divided in July of  2013.  The new Comodoro Rivadavia Mission was formed from four of our southern zones and  part of the Buenos Aires North Mission that is in the far south.  (See the blog post at:   http://lovellsinargentina.blogspot.com.ar/2013/02/argentina-comodoro-rivadavia-mission.html
We now have five stakes and one district in our mission.  We have twelve zones.  Since the mission division there is much less travel time for us and the missionaries.  It takes about  ten hours to  travel to Esquel, about 7 hours to Bariloche, 2 and 1/2 hours to Zapala and 45 minutes to Roca from Neuquen.

PHYSICAL FITNESS
A mission is a major athletic event. Missionaries in our mission typically walk 6-12 miles every day. This walking puts a tremendous amount of force on feet, ankles and knees. For a missionary who weighs 170 pounds the calculation is: 170 lbs x 3.5 (the force absorbed by the joints) = 595 lbs/step; 2000 steps per mile results in 595 tons per mile x 10 miles/day x 5 days/week = 29,750 tons per week x 95 weeks = 2,826,250 tons per mission. This is the equivalent of over 27 fully-loaded Nimitz-class aircraft carriers!

To prepare for this athletic event, begin training now. In particular, begin a running or walking routine with the goal of reaching a weekly mileage of 25-30 miles.

If you have any history of ankle or knee problems, work closely with a doctor to strengthen your joints to avoid injury in the mission field.

If you have experienced ingrown toenails in the past, have these resolved by a doctor before entering the MTC.

Because many missionaries have trouble with their feet the first few weeks of the mission, we highly recommend walking in your "missionary shoes."

WHAT TO BRING (AND WHAT NOT TO BRING)
Please carefully follow the instructions you received from the Missionary Department. Our missionaries work hard to always look and act in a way that reflects their sacred calling. If, after reviewing the instructions from the Missionary Department, and if you have any questions about what to bring or not bring, please contact me by email at brenda2lovell@gmail.com.

One thing I would like to mention is that many missionaries do not realize how hot it gets here in the summer months.  It was 104 degrees for a few days here in Neuquén during the month of January.  It is important to bring summer clothes as well as  warm clothes for the winter time.   It does get cold here in the winter.  In the call packet it tells the Elders to bring 12 white shirts (6 long-sleeved and 6 short-sleeved)  It would be fine for the sisters to bring 6 shirts for summer and 6 shirts or sweaters for winter if space permits.  Hopefully you could mix and match them all with your skirts.

If you have a driver's license, make certain that it has been renewed and will remain valid during your mission. Please bring it with you.
 

There has been a policy change and your sleeping bag  will be provided by the mission.  This is reflected in the packets sent to missionaries since the policy change.  You do need need to bring sheets and a pillowcase to use. You can purchase the sheets and pillowcases here.  They will cost 244 pesos or 28.00 American dollars. 

FYI...Previously Asked questions

I'm going to the "Greatest mission in the world" and i'm super excited.. but what I wanted to ask is about the whole letter/packages/emailing ordeal. As far as emailing..do we receive emails? Can we just email our immediate family or can we as well reply to other friends and family? I know the receiving things through the mail is risky and can take a while, so I just wanted to get an idea of what my options were and what other missionaries do. That is a good question. We just received the new updated e-mail policy.   It reads as follows:
"Missionaries are to write to their families each week and are also authorized to communicate by email with friends, priesthood leaders, and new converts.  Mission presidents should allow sufficient time on preparation day for missionaries to write emails and letters.  While in the mission field, missionaries should receive authorization from the mission president before entering into communication, including via email, with converts and others of the opposite gender within the mission boundaries."

As far as receiving things that are mailed…we believe that we receive everything that is sent by mail.  Elder and Sister Ehmke go to the post office every week and are standing right there when the packages are opened for inspection.  The only things we have had problems with are those items listed in the post under “Letters and Packages”. 

 During the summer season, will we be able to wear Teva or Chocos, they are the open toed sandles. I usually wear them in Lake Powell or hiking. Becasue they are open toed, I wasn't sure if that was acceptable, I had just heard of a Sister that wore them in Brazil. It would not work well here to wear sandals for sister or Elders. I just called an Hermana here in the mission to see what she thought and she said she would not recommend them at all. There are not many sidewalks here and it would be dirty and not very safe for your feet to wear sandals. If you look on the website on lds.org :
https://missionary.lds.org/dress-grooming/sister/dress/shoes/?lang=eng
https://missionary.lds.org/dress-grooming/sister/dress/shoes/?lang=spa
You do not find anything like a Teva or Chocos on this site.
Should I buy my coat in Argentina? People have suggested that I do because they have coats that are accustomed to the weather there. I would bring a coat with you. Things are very expensive here. It does rain frequently here in some areas so the waterproof that it talks about in the packet would be good. It is okay if you bring a good warm winter coat and a different rain coat. Sometimes it is hard to find one that will work for both.  It will also depend on how much room how have left in your luggage.What sort of pants are we allowed to wear on P days? i.e. Jeans (which style?), Athletic pants, etc. Follow the information in the packet as far as Exercise clothing. The Hermanas I have seen have brought Jeans for Preparation day. They are good if you do a service project or as you clean your apartment.

 

2013-02-12  I'm so excited for Neuquen! Do you have any tips?  You live about 30 minutes from our  home in Utah.  The weather here is very similar to the weather in Utah.  It is just opposite in the seasons.  We are now going into the fall and you are going into spring! Read through your call packet and the blog to see if that answers some of your questions. I was just wondering about the packing list... What is a good sleeping bag that people have been getting?  I don’t know a certain brand to buy but you do want it to be of good quality to last for your entire mission.  Do we get a bed? Yes…we have twin beds here in the pensions.   Do I need to get a dog collar for the fleas? No..we are blessed here to not have that problem!  I was wondering if you have any tips to keeping things out of your bed. I hate spiders and snakes. Do you guys have big problems with snakes?  I have not heard of any problems with snakes or really anything else like that.  The spiders here are very similar to the spiders we had in our home in Utah.

 

My daughter was called to the Neuquen mission.  We are slowly trying to gather together mission clothes.  Can you please tell me...do your missionaries ride bicycles?  There are some skirts and dresses that work well for bicycles and others that don't. We only use bikes in one or two areas and the Elders are in those areas.  We walk!  President Lovell said to not worry about sisters bringing clothing that would make it easier to ride a bike.

Also, some missions allow headphones for music devices, and others don't.  What is the rule in your mission? As far as using headphones…we follow the guidelines in the little white "Missionary Handbook" on page 25 that says:“Do not use headphones; they isolate you from your companion.”

My reporting instructions did not mention anything about bringing a set of scriptures in Spanish with me into the MTC or into Argentina. I would like to know if I need to bring a set of Spanish scriptures with me. You will receive a Spanish set of scriptures in the MTC in Provo. Those of you who are Spanish speaking...bring your own scriptures with you. They are assuming that you already have a set of Spanish Scriptures. You will not receive a new set of scriptures at the CCM.

I'm so excited to be called to Neuquen and I will see you soon! My preparations are well under way, but I have a question. Do you guys allow us to update blogs? I have a blog and just want to know if I am allowed to update it or if I will have to ask someone in my family to do it. This is a great question and I am sure one that others will have.  Blogs are very common now and they are a good way to communicate with your family and friends. 

In the little white "Missionary Handbook" (that you will soon receive if you don’t already have one) it says the following on page 20.

“Use only MyLDSMail.net, the filtered service established by the Church. Do not use any other e-mail service or any other Internet service or site that has not been authorized." 
 The website used to update blogs is not a site that is authorized for missionaries to access while on their mission.  They may send their letters to someone at home and they may post it to their blog.We have three daughters serving missions in Italy, Chile and Spain.  They each have a blog and one of their sisters post their letters on their blog for them. Each of our missionary daughters e-mail their letters to their specific sister that is helping them with their blog. Then this sister posts the letter to their blog for them.  It works out great for them so they can let all of those they care about know how they are doing in a short amount of time.  They will often write us a short e-mail to tell us things they don't want to tell everyone else.  These blog posts will also be a great history for them of their mission.

There has been debate about packing of clothing as well as shoes.
Would you mind please sharing with me information, exactly, about your suggestions as far as what clothing I should bring (including numbers, i.e. 6 shirts, 5 skirts...).
It would be greatly appreciated and it will relieve some of the uncertainty.

We had three daughters serving missions and they were all concerned about the same thing you have just asked.   Please know that if you have room to bring a few more clothes than is listed on your packing list we are totally fine with that.  On the blog I suggested 6 summer shirts and 6 winter shirts or sweaters.   The one thing I do suggest is to be sure and bring things for winter and summer.  Many missionaries think it is always cold here.   It does get very cold in the winter but it is also very warm in the summer.  One day last summer it was 104 degrees.  The weather is very much like it is in our home in Utah. Feel free to bring enough skirts to mix and match with what you bring for shirts and sweaters.  I am thinking 6 would be a good number but a few more or less is up to you.  It will also depend on the amount of room you have in your suitcase and how much you can afford to buy.  Also… you  won’t want to pay a lot of extra money for overweight luggage!  There will be things you can buy here if you need to. It will also be nice to have a several jackets or sweaters to help you feel more dressed up for church and baptisms.  As far as shoes…I would bring shoes that are comfortable, are neutral enough to go with your outfits and help you look like a missionary.  The number of shoes will depend on how much room you have in your suitcase and what you can afford.  I personally think it is hard to find nice comfortable shoes here for women but maybe I just haven’t found the right store yet!

I have a few more questions...

Will I need to get a water filter? Is the water good there? Are water bottles easy to come by? We have services here that deliver bottled water to the missionaries. It is something that the mission pays for. The water comes in big containers that sit on a dispenser. A few missionaries bring the water bottles from home that can be purchased through the distribution center of the church that has a filter on them. That way they are able  use the water that is available if they need more water when  they are away from their pension.  Some just use a regular water bottle that they fill with the bottled water from their pension. Knowing how to get enough water is a good question because the area Doctor and our mission nurse cannot stress enough about the importance of getting enough water to drink. It will be great to bring the water bottle with the filter on it that seem to be given out at the MTC.  Are there any fleas there? Fleas have not been a problem here. What is the toilet paper situation? It is very easy to buy toilet paper here. Are the homes heated at night? During the day? Your pensions will be heated both day and night. There is not air conditioning but most pensions have a fan to help with the heat in the summer. What are the sanitary conditions? There are places...like anywhere...that are not sanitary but there are also very nice places. You will have the ability to stay healthy and clean. It is so important for you to plan to make your pension a place that is clean and a place where the spirit can dwell. Do we have a dryer or do I need to bring clothes pins and a line? You will not have a dryer but you will have an inexpensive washer in your pension. You will also have a drying rack to dry your clothes on right in your pension. Will I be driving possibly? Do I need to bring a license or are we just walking everywhere and taking the bus? You will be walking or taking a taxi or bus. The Elders may need a license if they work in the office or if they are an assistant to the President. It is good for everyone to bring their license because it can also be used as an identification.

Is there a microwave oven in the apartments? Yes  

Are boots very beneficial to the hermanas currently serving in there? I have been looking for the last month or some and there are just so many styles and types. I talked to some of the Hermanas in the mission.  They suggested that if you will be here for two winters it would be important to consider the warmth of the boots.  I know it is hard to get warmth and water proof.   It does rain here in some areas in the summer. 

It would be best to find a plain conservative color.  It is great to have color and fun but to also look like a representative of Jesus Christ.   I know it is hard to find all the features you want.  

They also suggest that they have a good sole on them.  That is also important because there are a lot of rocks and uneven ground here. 

It would be very important to consider how comfortable they are to walk in.  The missionaries here sometimes walk 10 miles a day throughout the day.  Another thing to consider is that in many of the areas of the mission the roads are not paved.

Just do the best you can!

If you find a good website with good options on it will you let me know? 

Would you suggest getting an immunization for Malaria? Is that common in the Neuquen Mission? No...we do not have any problems with Malaria.    

What are the "approved" websites for missionaries? Would it be alright for me to access Dropbox to upload pictures for my family (instead of trying to send them through email)?  Or....if I could send a memory card home, what is it like to send packages from Argentina? As of now Dropbox is not an approved site.  We follow the guidelines given by the missionary department.  I have not heard of problems with the mail but I understand your concern with your photos.  My photos are very valuable to me too!  It would be good to bring a few extra memory cards because you can get them for much less in the United States.  I asked one of the assistants what he did and he said he tried to save his pictures on two devices such as flash drives or CDs and then he didn't keep them in the same place in case he lost one of them somehow.  It is also good to send your favorite pictures home to your families and ask them to save them!  They would love it!

Our mission packet says to bring a passport carrier/holder thing. Will we be carrying our passports daily, or will we leave them at the mission home?  You will need to carry a copy of it until your DNE comes.  You will leave your original at the mission office.  Once you get here you will apply for your DNI.   It is an identification card that is the same size as a credit card.  Once it comes you only need to carry it. You don't need to bring a passport carrier/holder thing.  ( I love you wording...I don't know what to call them either)

Will a credit card or debit card from the United States work in Argentina?  Yes that is what we use here.  We do have a suggestion for you though.  We suggest that you open an account with one of your parents so they can help you manage it while you are gone.  This way they can easily help you with any problems you may have with your card and you can have access to the money you want to get from home. We had a situation with one of our missionary daughters where the bank put a stop on her debit card because of a question they had and it is taking several weeks to straighten it all out. In the meantime she cannot use her card!  If I would have been on the account it would have been solved right away.  This is only a suggestion and of course you may do as you and your parents think is best.  Be sure and let your bank know that you will be out of the country so they don't suspect fraud when you use it!
Do the missionaries boil their water or is it clean enough to drink out of the tap? We do not drink the water out of the tap.  The mission provides bottled water for the missionaries to drink.

I am so excited to be serving and meeting the wonderful people in Argentina!  I had a question about the voltage difference. Have the missionaries serving there had problems with there camera chargers for example or have they needed adapters? I just wanted to get an idea of what would be needed for that.  Are you only thinking of camera chargers?  Look on your charger and see if it says it is good for 110- 240 voltage. Because of world wide marketing and distribution many electronic products are good for both voltages.  If not then you would need a converter so it would work with the 220 voltage here in Argentina.  If it does say it is good for both voltages then all you need is an adapter so it will fit into our plugs here in Argentina.  Look at the picture I have attached and see where it talks about "input". 

 You can see on my camera charger that it is says it is good for 110--240 .  It won’t fit into the plugs here…as you can see the in the picture of the outlet I have included below. 

This is how the outlets are in the Mission Home and then  I have to use an adapter like one of  these:

Sometimes an outlet only has the option of one kind of adapter so it would be good to get both kinds if you are going to need to use one for something you are bringing such as a camera charger.  If you don't have anything like that then you wouldn't need to do any of this!

You can order these adapters on this site:
http://www.world-import.com/search.php?mode=search&page=1
 

http://www.world-import.com/WSS416.htm is the one that seems to work most often and I have actually ordered this one and use it all the time.   I found that it has worked in almost all instances. This adapter will also work with appliances from North America that have the larger prong on the part you plug in.   Once in a while I have needed the adapter with the round pegs but not very often at all.

Please ask which ones work in Argentina so you get the right ones. You might want to get both kinds because you don't know which one may be in your pension.  They use both kinds here.  They only cost two or three dollars.

You can also get hairdryers and curling irons on this site that will work with 220 voltage.    I bought my hair dryer on this site.

The straightener I bought and love is one from Amazon.com.  It is good with both 220 and 110 which means you can use it both in the US and here in Argentina.  That would great because you can use it at the MTC and when you get here in Argentina.   I just needed a little adapter like I talked about above so it can plug it into the outlets here.  The adapter also allows for the straightener's larger one prong. 

Here is the link for the straightener I purchased:

http://www.amazon.com/HSI-Styler-Ceramic-Tourmaline-Straightener/dp/B001MA0QY2/ref=aag_m_pw_dp?ie=UTF8&m=A31MFY6BFNHF3O

I would recommend that you not try to use a converter for your 110 volt hair appliances.  They won't last very long that way.    Just buy the hair appliances that will work with the voltage here in Argentina.
Please e-mail at brenda2lovell@gmail.com if you have any questions on this.  I am doing my best to explain this but it still seems a little confusing!

I was wondering what your view was on pencil skirts. I know a lot of places state side they encourage them because they look businessy, but a lot of foreign places they are discouraged because of bikes and playing with children. So what is it like down there? It didn't say anything about it in my packet, so I'm clueless! The Pencil skirts do look nice.  You will want to bring shirts that give you enough room to walk and that would easily cover your knees when you sit down.  You won't have bikes in your mission but you will do a lot of walking.

I know that types of music allowed vary from mission to mission.  Which types do you allow?  Mormon Tabernacle Choir (yes, of course)
Sacred music by other choirs or artists (?)

EFY music (?)

Classical music that invites the Spirit (?)

Other instrumental music that invites the Spirit (?)Thank you for wanting to know what music is appropriate.  Music is so important as we create an environment to be able to invite the spirit of the Lord to be with us. 
 Here is what it says in the call packet:
"Music: Appropriate music can be a powerful source of inspiration. Missionaries should select music that is consistent with the sacred spirit of their calling. Music should be used to invite the Spirit, provide spiritual motivation, help focus on the work, and direct thoughts and feelings to the Savior (see Alma 37:36). Missionaries should not listen to music that distracts, that merely entertains, that has romantic lyrics or overtones, or that dulls spiritual sensitivity by its tempo, beat, loudness, lyrics, or intensity. Listening to music must never interfere with personal preparation or proselyting (Missionary Handbook p. 25). "

The Argentina Neuquén Mission permits a missionary to listen to the following music during certain specified times:

1. Mormon Tabernacle Choir
2. Classical music (at least 100 years old)
3. EFY music
4. LDS church Hymns and Primary Songs

Any music that distract from the Spirit or the missionary from his/her primary purpose in the filed should not be brought into the field.

 The music you bring is not meant to entertain but to add to the spirit in your pension at appropriate times.  If you do this you will feel the spirit and you will be blessed in your work as a missionary.

  I understand the missionaries can bring appropriate music with them.  Is any kind of an MP3 player okay?  I wasn't sure if there were guidelines on what devices are acceptable for playing music.

In the call packet it say:

·   Do not bring ...   Any video recording device or equipment, video or DVD players, or any device that receives radio signals or plays video files.

 Because technology has changed there is not anything that fits this except a pen drive. To be able to use your pen drive you have to bring a sound cube to play it and they  have radio capability!

Since everything has radio capability we are asking that you do not bring a device that has video or internet capability and that you do not use the radio on your devise. You can also bring CDs with appropriate music because you will have a DVD player in your pension that will play those CDs.

I have been recently called to the Argentina Neuquen mission.  I was wondering if you knew what kind of fabric was the best to buy for shirt and skirts?  I want to make sure that they last for the 18 months that I'm out there. 

I am sure there are many different types of fabric that would be good.  Look for something that is easy care.  Plain cotton will probably wrinkle easily.  Some of my favorite skirts are 64% Polyester, 32 % rayon and 4% spandex.  They don’t wrinkle easily and they will last well.  It is hard to find a skirt that you like and that is appropriate for the mission so just do the best you can with the fabric.  If you bring something you need to iron we do have irons in the pensions.

1) What is the rule on maxi skirts/dresses if hemmed to mid-calf for the hot summer months? Would they be ok to bring? Look on LDS.org at the missionary clothing site and decide.  They do caution us to not wear things to long.   I often wear skirts that are midcalf. Wearing skirts that are midcalf is more comfortable to me because I am not always having to pull down my skirt when I sit down to completely cover my knees.  I also wear some that are just a few inches below my knee.   You be the judge after looking at LDS.org. 

2) What about razors to shave my legs? Are there some there or should I bring a good supply to last me my whole mission? (same as shampoo/conditioner, body wash, face wash, toothpaste/mouthwash, and those essential things) You can get razors, shampoos/conditioners and the essential things here.

3) Would it be a good idea to bring an umbrella or is the wind too strong that it is pretty much pointless? There is wind but it would be good to have one.  You can buy them here.

4) What type of garments are good for the hot summer months? Right now in Utah I wear carinessa but they can be quite annoying with the heat. Any suggestions? That would be a personal preference. I just asked two hermanas and one said she likes the carinessa best and thinks they might be a little hotter but not that much.  The other Hermana likes the nylon ones…I’m not sure what they are called.   It might be good to check with the distribution center for ideas.  I wear the carinessa all the time but I am not out in the weather as much as you are.

5)For my winter coat, is it ok if I bring a light green snow coat? Or do I need a coat that is more neutral in color?  Your light green coat would be great.  It is fine to wear colors.  Would it be hard to keep clean?


There is a new dress and grooming site for Elders on lds.org.

You can find it at:
https://missionary.lds.org/dress-grooming/elder/dress/suits/?lang=eng

There are many pictures and answers to questions on the site.   Please look at this site if you are a new Elder preparing for your mission.

One of the big changes is that they do not want the missionaries to use backpacks.
 

Are backpacks allowed?

Backpacks are not allowed. If you need to carry additional items, you are encouraged to choose shoulder bags that are durable, professional, and business-like.  See examples >

 

 

They are not expecting that everyone already in the mission will stop using backpacks but this will be phased in as the new missionaries arrive.

Another change that is introduced on this new site is when it is appropriate to wear suits or other combinations of clothing.
 

Missionary Clothing

You are not required to wear a suit during regular everyday proselyting activities. On these occasions, wear a white shirt, tie, durable and comfortable dress shoes, and professional dress slacks that hold a crease.

Certain activities require you to dress your best, or in other words, to wear “Sunday-best” attire. These activities include Sunday meetings, zone conferences, interviews, baptismal services, and some teaching appointments. On these occasions wear your best suit, shirt, tie, and shoes.

Layering Outerwear

• Layering Regular Proselyting Attire

  Staying dry and warm while proselyting in wet and cold climates is very important. During regular proselyting activities you may add any of the following layers over your white shirt and tie as needed:

  ·       Sweater

  ·       Suit coat

  ·       Rainwear

  ·       Winter coat

  Layering “Sunday-Best” Attire

  To stay dry and warm during activities that require you to dress your best and wear your suit coat, you may add the following layers as needed:

  ·       First, layer a suit vest or sweater under your suit coat. (Suit vests may not be worn alone, but only under your suit coat.)

  ·       Second, if you are still not warm enough with a sweater or vest, you may add another layer over your suit coat such as an overcoat or raincoat. 

  Be sure to wear your nametag on the outermost layer of clothing so that others may clearly identify you as a missionary. When possible, wear the nametag on the upper-right side.  

Please visit the site on lds.org to see all of the information available there!

Some of the Elders bring some shoe covers like the ones below to use when they want to protect their shoes but it isn't necessary to wear winter boots.  The warm boots are great if you are in one of the coldest areas during the winter.

 

We are wondering about rain boots.  Do the sisters wear those "garden style" rain boots?  Or long rain boots.  And are these available to buy there?  Just trying to decide if we need to buy these here and send them or if she can get them there for a reasonable price. 

 

You can get the garden type boots here for a fairly good price but they have no support for your feet.  I have seen a few of the Hermanas that have had some boots that are waterproof and have good support.  The thing is that in many areas it doesn’t rain that much but when it does you will be glad to have them. In some areas there is a lot of rain in the winter.  The roads are not paved when you are off of the main roads and there can be a lot of mud.  I can't emphasize enough to have good support in all of your shoes and boots.  You will walk a lot and having trouble with feet is one of our biggest health problems.  

I have a question regarding automobile insurance that hopefully you can answer.  Is it necessary to keep ------- on our  auto insurance plan to cover him if he were to go into an area with a car?  (He said there is only 1 area with a car?)

We’re just wondering if we can pull him of our insurance for the two years he is gone.  Do you have an answer for this?  I didn’t see anything in his mission book that he received with his call. He does not have to be on your car insurance.  Only those in the office would ever drive a car here and then there is the insurance here in the mission from the church to cover them in that situation.

Thank you for all your patience in answering my questions! I greatly appreciate it! I'm currently looking at buying filter water bottles. Do most missionaries bring water bottles to refill throughout the day? If so, do you know what kind? Also, do you happen to know if the water is considered tap water or pipe water in most of the mission? The water bottle I'm looking at says it filters bacteria, viruses, DNA/RNA amongst other things. Do you think that would be adequate? Not all the missionaries bring water bottles to refill throughout the day but that would be a great idea.  I really had not thought to add that to the list or at least on the blog.  It would be great to bring!  The water bottle you are describing would be great.  Be sure and bring extra filters to have when it need a change.  The water here is not horrible but we drink bottled water in most areas of the mission. I would consider the water to be tap water but I am guessing!  Sometimes when missionaries are sick we find it is from drinking the tap water.    It would be great to have Your water bottle when you are at a members house and don’t feel good about drinking the water.

I had a few questions on some shots and immunizations and if we need them. Are Yellow Fever and Typhoid ones you would recommend or are they required? I asked the area doctor to help answer your question.  This is his response:

Typhoid is required.  Yellow fever is only required in missions that have jungle areas.

We are NOT in the jungle areas.  You will need to get your Typhoid immunization.

I will be joining your  mission in January and I am very excited! I have read through most of your suggestions on what to bring, but I saw nothing about musical instruments.  I was wondering whether you and your husband allow guitars for missionaries? I love to play hymns 

Also, I have two great CD's by the Nashville Tribute Band.  They are an LDS group and the CD's  I have are all about missionary work and definitely invite the spirit! I was wondering if I might be able to bring them?
Lastly, I was a little confused about music playback devices.  iPods are allowed, as long as they cannot take videos? Or is it only if they cannot play videos? For example, could I bring an iPod nano?

We follow the information in your call packet on instruments.  It says not to bring instruments.  We have actually just asked missionaries that have bought guitars in the mission to send them to the office for safe keeping.  There really is not time to play an instrument!  You are going to be very busy!

As far as music.. I included our music policy on the blog in information for new missionaries.  If you bring music that is arrangements of hymns that is okay.  We have just become more specific about music.  Let me know if you still have questions about this.

It is confusing for what to bring to play your music!  There is nothing available that doesn't have a radio!  An iPod nano would be fine to bring.  Many bring several pendrives for music and to store photos on.  The DVD players you will have in your pensions usually have a spot for a pendrive so you can play music that way.  

 

We asked some of our missionaries what they would tell new missionaries preparing to come to the mission and this is what they said:

Bring lots of Socks that Hermanas can wear in their shoes..like the little short socks that you can't see.  They are hard to find because it is not normal to wear Sunday shoes with shirts.

 

Bring good shoes.  Take a pair of Sunday shoes but focus on good shoes for walking 

Bring a tight pair of shorts to wear under skirts for when it is windy.  Make sure they are breathable so they are not too hot.

Bring 4 pair of good walking shoes because it is hard to find in your areas.  You know where to shop where you live.  Only bring little ballet shoes for Sundays. 

Bring good shoe inserts. 

Bring rain boots so you don't ruin your shoes.  There are not sidewalks and it can be very muddy. 

Bring clothes that match...not just misc. things that you won't be able to wear together. 

Wear shoes a few weeks before coming so they are broken in and you won't get blisters.  You can also see if they really work well for you! 

Bring some shirts that look cute alone.   It is great to plan for layers but it is nice to just have a blouse that you can wear  alone.

Bring a pen drive to use to store photos and download things from LDS.org