MTC Experience

A few of the youth and leaders met together to discuss a MTC activity for all the youth.  The following is what developed.  (Thank you Brother Garcia for being so organized!)
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PURPOSE:  To help the youth feel the spirit, arm themselves with tools necessary to share the gospel, and prepare to serve full-time missions.

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Oh the memories! 

INVITATION

Each of the youth received a mission call prior to the activity, in the form of a written letter.
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ARRIVAL (10 minutes)

Upon arrival each youth received their personalized missionary badge, orange dot (optional), their companionship assignment, and of course... pictures with the world map (map created by the youth).
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Originally, I wanted to purchase these Missionary Badges.  But at $1.99 a piece - for approximately 50 youth, I could not justify the expense at this time.

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I decided to create my own.  I cut the badges out of black card stock (which I already had).  I used gold and silver Sharpie brand paint markers for the text.  Each missionary badge has been personalized with the names of each youth.  The only thing I chose to purchase was Pin Style Name Badge Sleeves (24 for $6.00).  I showed them to the girls and they didn't seem to mind my handwriting.  :)

 

WELCOME and OPENING DEVOTIONAL  (10 minutes)

Conducting:  ____________________
Opening Hymn:  #270 "I'll Go Where You Want Me To Go"

Opening Prayer:  ____________________
Devotional:  This was presented by our chosen "MTC Mission President" for the night.  Thinking about it now, it could have been the Ward Mission Leader.
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Note:  Companionships were switched during each transfer.

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WORKSHOPS  (each 15 minutes, including 3 minute transfer time)

The youth were divided into 3 groups for the workshop rotations.  When they received their mission calls they were called to specific missions within these three areas:  European, Asian, or Spanish.  Those were our 3 groups.  Each group had 2 adult leaders, who happened to serve full-time missions in the respective areas.  They were the "Mission Presidents" for the night and rotated along with their groups.  They were also the ones to run the "Language and Culture" workshops.

1.  Door Approaches:

The youth were given a brief (3 minute) instruction on effective door approches.  They then had 8 different doors, designated throughout the building, to knock on.  Little did they know, each door provided them with a unique experience.  Golden Contact, Slammed Door, In a Hurry, Courteous But Not Interested...  just to name a few.

- 3 minutes to change companionships and transfer to next station -

2.  Language and Culture:

Each group learned about their own specific mission area:  European, Asian, or Spanish (depending on which missions their adult leaders served in).

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Things discussed and shared included:

• Language
• Culture
• Food (samples)
• Items from areas served - money, pictures etc.
• "Why did I go on a mission?"
• "How did you knew the church was true?"
• One story from mission experience
• Testimony

- 3 minutes to change companionships and transfer to next station -

3.  Companionship Study/Preach My Gospel:  We invited the Full-Time Missionaries to discuss how to use Preach My Gospel.
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- 3 minutes to change companionships and ALL groups met together in the gym

4.  P-Day/Service  (15 minutes)

• service activity (letters to missionaries currently serving from our ward)
• letters from home  (requested and collected from parents prior to activity)
• care packages (small package of candy for each youth)

I actually thought it would be fun to have someone, dressed as a Mail Carrier, come into the gym and deliver the care packages and letters during the service activity. The excitement, the anticipation.

CLOSING DEVOTIONAL - HOMECOMING

Closing Comments:  Bishop
Closing Hymn:  #249 "Called to Serve"   (standing of course)

Closing Prayer:  ____________________

OPTIONAL

• These were placed on the restroom doors.  (for fun)
• Video/Slideshow of leaders, parents, and siblings serving missions.
• This music video would also be a great way to end the evening:

Mormon Tabernacle Choir - Called to Serve from Bryanm on Vimeo.