Argentina Buenos Aires West Mission Alumni Site
Border Border
   Contact Us Other Languages:    
Spacer
Spacer
Spacer
Username: Password: Help Type:
Help Remember Me:

Preparing to Serve: 101


A mission is a fun and exciting time. As you serve, you will grow to love Buenos Aires. We know that as you prepare for a mission you will have many questions regarding missionary service, and what to expect. We have gathered many of your questions, and asked Return Missionaries from the Argentina Buenos Aire West Mission to answer them. Here are a few of their responses. If you have questions you'd like answered here, please let us know.

Q: What is Buenos Aires like?
Q: Do I really need everything on the mission clothing list?
Q: Should I bring a voltage adapter with me?
Q: Should I purchase a set of Spanish scriptures? Are there any other books I need?
Q: Do the missionaries do their own laundry and cooking?
Q: How do I send mail to my missionary?
Q: Do packages make it to Buenos Aires?
Q: Do missionaries need additional funds?
Q: Do I need to bring a bicycle?


Q: What is Buenos Aires like?
We have dedicated an entire section of the website to a discussion about the culture of Buenos Aires, the people, the food, and the living conditions. Click here to read more about Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Back to Top


Q: Do I really need everything on the mission clothing list?

The church has done an excellent job putting together the missionary clothing list. With that in mind, we've inlcuded comments from returned missionaries of the Argentina Buenos Aires West Mission. We all can remember a few things we forgot at home. We also offer a few suggestions in addition to the mission clothing list.
General suggestions for all missionaries
Clothing Advice for Sisters
Clothing Advice for Elders

Back to Top


Q: Should I bring a voltage adapter with me?

Voltage adaptors (that convert Argentine electrical current back to American current for razors and hair dryers, etc.) are not all they are cracked up to be. They are either under powered, and your appliance doesn't have the power to function or they don't convert well enough and you end up with a "super appliance" capable of causing injury. As Elders, we never could get the voltage adapter to power a hairclipper. Several sisters also shared stories of blow dryers and curling irons that burned their hair. To settle the issue we polled our RMs: 40% of the RMs polled said they only worked occasionally and another 40% called them a complete waste of money.

Back to Top


Q: Should I purchase a set of Spanish scriptures? Are there any other books I need?

A set of Spanish scriptures will be given to you when you enter the MTC. You need to make sure that you bring a set of scriptures in English (or your native language) with you from home. Preach My Gospel will be provided for you in the MTC, you don't need to purchase it in advance, although it would make excellent study material in preparing to teach the gospel as a full time missionary. We would recommend you purchase a small size Spanish hymnal. You may also purchase the missionary library, including Jesus the Christ, and A Marvelous Work and a Wonder if you would like. These are all available for purchase at the MTC bookstore if you don't get them before entering the MTC.

Back to Top


Q: Do missionaries do their own laundry and cooking or do you pay members to clean and cook for you?

Missionaries in Buenos Aires usually do their own laundry on preparation day at a local laundry mat. Occasionally, you can find an all Maytag laundry. In a few areas you may pay members to do your laundry for you, but not very many. You always dirty enough whites to wash weekly. However, you don't always have enough darks to complete a load. You can solve this by purchasing dark towels and sheets for your mission. Not only do they not look as dirty after you've been tracting on dirt roads, but they fill up the batch of darks so you can wash your pants and socks. Combining a batch of darks with your companion helps too.

Back to Top


Q: How do I send mail to my missionary?

You can send mail to the mission using the church pouch system. The address is:

Elder/Sister's Name
Argentina Buenos Aires West Mission
50 East North Temple Street
P.O. Box 30150
Salt Lake City, UT 84130-0150

Packages and letters can be mailed directly to the mission offices at:

Elder/Sister's Name
La Iglesia de Jesucristo de los Santos de los Ultimos Dias
C. C. No. 92
1702 Ciudadela
Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Back to Top


Q: Do packages make it to Buenos Aires, and is there any way to improve the reliability of my missionary getting what I send them?

Packages do arrive in Buenos Aires, and can be mailed to the mission offices. The address is listed in the question above, or on the Mission Info page.
My mother sent me new shoes, one at a time about a month apart, and they arrived fine, so it can be done. If you are looking for creative packing material, there are no marshmallows in Argentina. They weigh about the same as foam and make great treats. Besides, your missionary can share them with the members as "something from the states." We got a good laugh out of having chubby bunny contests with marshmallows that my mother used to pack my shoes in.
If you have access to a dry pack canner, sealing valuables in a number 10 can, packed with foam (or marshmallows) is another safe way to send items. I had a companion receive a new camera this way, without any trouble.
Something important to remember: if a tarriff is applied to the package, the missionary will have to pay the tariff to receive the package. Often tarriffs are more than the value of the package. Tarriffs are more likely to be placed on items arriving UPS or FedEx. My companion received a Baskin-Robins ice cream birthday cake once. The tarriff was $150.00 US Money, which he didn't pay. It turns out the cake was melted anyway. To avoid tariffs we suggest using the United States Postal Service. They usually have the cheapest postage as well. Declare your items as "missionary supplies" on the customs form.

Back to Top


Q: Do missionaries need extra funds?

The funds set aside, and given to your local bishop to support a missionary are sacred. The church generally allots a portion of those funds to cover the rent and utilities of the missionary apartments. They also provide a stipend directly to the missionary to cover their living and proselyting expenses. This money should be sufficient for their needs.
Since the money was tithed when it was earned, missionaries do not pay tithing on their living stipend, but the missionary should choose to pay a small fast offering in the ward/branch he attends. At the MTC this fast offering is already taken out of the MTC allowance. This allows the missionary to contribute to the welfare of the people they serve, and protects against becoming a target for pan-handling. When missionaries give directly to the people they meet it puts them and future missionaries in an unsafe position as targets of monetary crimes.

Missionaries should also bring with them a small reserve of money for any emergency that may arise. If they spend their money wisely, an emergency fund can be set aside from their living stipend as well.

The money provided to the missionary for their living expenses is used for food, haircuts, laundry, and the missionary's incidental travel. Missionaries should not use their money to finance the operations of the local ward, nor to purchase travel for members and investigators to and from church meetings or activities. The costs of mail, email, taking and developing pictures, souvenirs, etc. generally comes from the missionaries themselves, and is separate from the funds set aside for their living expenses, although if the missionary budgets correctly, they can often include many of these expenses (with the exception of souvenirs) in their living expense budget.

In rare instances, the money allotted by the mission may not cover all of the missionaries expenses. The church advises families to refrain from subsidizing their missionary beyond the monthly allotment. However, should the stipend not be sufficient, the family can express the needs of their missionary to the appropriate local priesthood authority (Bishop or Stake President) or directly to the Mission President if necessary.

Back to Top


Q: Do I need to bring a bicycle?

No. As a missionary in the Buenos Aires West Mission you will spend most of your time walking, riding the bus or riding the train. As a general rule, the mission does not use bicycles for transportation. Because of the amount of time you will spend walking, we suggest 2 good pairs of shoes. See the Missionary Clothing List for some important information about making your shoes last longer. Just a reminder, you’ll want to break in your new shoes BEFORE going to Argentina.

Back to Top


   Home

 Mission Directory
   Return Missionaries
   Presidents
   Currently Serving
   Members and Friends

 For Return Missionaries
   Register Yourself
   Message Board
   Mission Reunions
   Mission Pictures
   President's Messages
   Visiting Buenos Aires
   News & Weddings

 For New Missionaries
   Register Yourself
   Mission Address
   Mission Maps
   Church History
   Preparing to Serve
   Culture of Buenos Aires
   Visiting Buenos Aires
   Phone Calls
   Message Board

 Site Information
   Request Password
   Tell a Friend
   Login
   Related Sites
   Comments/Suggestions
Spacer
Bottom Curve


Member of the LDS Mission Network

Copyright © 2007 LDS Mission Networksm · mission.net / ldsmissions.net · All rights reserved.

Site-in-a-Box is a service mark of LDS Mission Network. Version 2.1