What Happens When Your Missionary Comes Home Early
For me, word that something may not be quite right with my missionary came early Friday morning while I was in the shower. We were to meet the Stake President in his office that evening at nine. Friday was a very, very long day. And then at nine o'clock, our Stake President told us our missionary would be home the following Wednesday.
The Church has a pamphlet or a program for nearly every possible situation that can befall upon the unsuspecting Mormon family. Your daughter's pregnant? Your son is gay? Your husband is struggling with pornography? Your kind bishop has a pamphlet and a program to help you out. Unfortunately, if your missionary is coming home early, there's very little to lean on.
Given that experience of not knowing what to do, how to feel and what to expect we promised ourselves we would help others who are experiencing this same sadness and disappointment. Everyday of the week a mother and father learn their missionary is coming home unexpectedly. According to Dr. Allen, a counselor in Ogden who works with missionaries who come home early, about 100 missionaries come home early every month. Do the math: That's 3 or 4 missionaries every day, who are heading home to a devastated family.
Yet, there's nothing in place to help parents deal with the aftermath. Do not make the assumption that we're angry with the Church, or apostates, or evil, or bad parents, or whatever. On the contrary, our faith, our Bishop, our Stake President, our neighbors, and the good Lord's love for us are the only things that are helping us muddle through.
No. Our efforts are for the parents, the missionary mom and the missionary dad who's dream of someday driving to the airport with banners and balloons for a gala return is no more. We hope our blog will provide insights into what to expect, what to do, how to deal with gossip, and what to look forward to will be helpful. Please leave comments! Share your feelings and your experiences for the benefit of others, please.
We're also writing our experiences in great detail, which we plan to share when completed. But that's still a few months away. If you'd like us to send you a note when it's ready, just fill out the form below and you'll be the first to know.
The Church has a pamphlet or a program for nearly every possible situation that can befall upon the unsuspecting Mormon family. Your daughter's pregnant? Your son is gay? Your husband is struggling with pornography? Your kind bishop has a pamphlet and a program to help you out. Unfortunately, if your missionary is coming home early, there's very little to lean on.
Given that experience of not knowing what to do, how to feel and what to expect we promised ourselves we would help others who are experiencing this same sadness and disappointment. Everyday of the week a mother and father learn their missionary is coming home unexpectedly. According to Dr. Allen, a counselor in Ogden who works with missionaries who come home early, about 100 missionaries come home early every month. Do the math: That's 3 or 4 missionaries every day, who are heading home to a devastated family.
Yet, there's nothing in place to help parents deal with the aftermath. Do not make the assumption that we're angry with the Church, or apostates, or evil, or bad parents, or whatever. On the contrary, our faith, our Bishop, our Stake President, our neighbors, and the good Lord's love for us are the only things that are helping us muddle through.
No. Our efforts are for the parents, the missionary mom and the missionary dad who's dream of someday driving to the airport with banners and balloons for a gala return is no more. We hope our blog will provide insights into what to expect, what to do, how to deal with gossip, and what to look forward to will be helpful. Please leave comments! Share your feelings and your experiences for the benefit of others, please.
We're also writing our experiences in great detail, which we plan to share when completed. But that's still a few months away. If you'd like us to send you a note when it's ready, just fill out the form below and you'll be the first to know.