Special ingredients

When you're out of Corn Flakes, I guess.
 

Courage

Brains, courage, heart. It takes a lot to be a good missionary!
 

Sketchbook: It's a tie

I don't remember how I came up with that number. Math was involved.

My dad would never untie his ties. Once a neckties of them was tied just right, he'd loosen it and slip it over his head to take if off or put it on. Anyone else do that?
 

How amazing are you?

You've probably seen those things on social media: "If you've been to 10 of these countries, you've traveled more than most people" or "If you've eaten half of these foods, you're a true foodie."

I wondered how that could apply to missionary work, and that led to this list — most are drawn from my own experience.

Sorry about the small print, but I had to include enough experiences to make it worthwhile.

How high did you score? Anything else that should be included on the list?
 

Each missionary in his time plays many parts

We recently had a missionary complete his mission. We had a fun discussion about how he could describe his experiences on his resumé when he got home.
 

Transfer time!

It's transfer time in our mission again! One of our elders is leaving after being here for "five Fast Sundays!"

We have a tradition that we give departing missionaries a copy of one of my books. The missionaries stopped by so Elder Childs (from Las Vegas, NV) could say goodbye and get his book. 

Then he said, "Do you want me to draw you a cartoon?" That's the first time I've had that happen! 

Without further ado, here's a special presentation by a guest artist: Bert and Big Bird as missionary companions assigned to Sesame Street!

Eyes on

Sometimes zone leaders get a bad rap. 
 

Sketchbook: Hold up there!

Another one that stayed in the sketchbook for obvious reasons.
 

Eyes up above

My mission president always knew what was happening with his missionaries. I don't know what technology he used, but it was amazing!

 

A pocket full of memories

I think my parents were surprised at how much I brought home from my mission. But, hey — a person can accumulate a lot of stuff over two years!

 

Sketchbook: Everybody clean up, that's the thing to do

I had companions and companions who were a mess. It was a lot easier to deal with the clutter!
 

Immersed in the spirit

 

A good friend of mine recently passed away. This cartoon was inspired by one of her experiences as a missionary. 

Sketchbook: Free kick

There's got to be some way to keep track of who's nice to the missionaries!
 

To have and to have not

Sometimes we have experiences where you know a thing intellectually, but you don't really get it until you experience it first hand. For example, it's one thing to know that as a missionary you'll have someone by your side as a companion 24/7 for two years. But you don't really know what it's like until you experience it. Sometimes it just takes a while to process.
 

A covert from the storm

I was a missionary in Korea when they played in the finals of the Asian Cup. As missionaries, we had no idea what was going on. We just thought it was super weird how no one was on the streets and no one would answer their doors. Sadly, they finished second. But the game had a grip on the nation.

Likewise, we were staying in a hotel in France a few years ago when there was another big European match. Our room was the floor just above the bar. It was an exciting game, apparently — and a sleepless night!

It's fun to be co-hosts to the World Cup this year. The love of the game is such a breath of fresh air from everything else that's been in the news lately!

*As missionaries, we did have to shelter in place one time for nearly a week. It was because of protest riots, though, not celebrations. Good times!
 

Missionary goals

Another set of my friends were just called to be mission leaders. They left yesterday for their MTC training, and then it's off to the field!

They'll be wonderful as president and mission mom! 

I wish them the best of luck. I hope their missionaries are better than those this mission president has to deal with!
 

Sketchbook: Returned missionary

When the transfers don't come and exchanges don't work, there's always a third option.

I was lucky in that I got along well with most of my companions. But there were a couple of times when transfers couldn't come soon enough!

Sketchbook: Hair today

It's a little sad when a missionary starts to go bald while out on a mission. But we can still do jokes about it — as long as they don't get past the sketchbook stage!
 

Emergency repair kit

This should come with a warning that missionary moms should not read this one. However, I can't tell you the number of times as a missionary that I made emergency repairs using tape of one kind or another. Staples can work in a pinch, but they can also be hazardous in their own right.
 

Sketchbook: May the Fourth

Luke often reminds me of an earnest, new missionary, fresh from the MTC. He goes barging in with great intent, but not much of a plan.

Han, on the other hand, is a senior companion who is two transfers away from going home.

Happy Star Wars Day!