tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32806324.post3639278087697532680..comments2023-11-05T04:42:17.900-07:00Comments on Nomad: My Joy is FullScience Teacher Mommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16579558647324072199noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32806324.post-49670980622191243822012-10-19T00:35:03.357-06:002012-10-19T00:35:03.357-06:00I didn't notice a stigma around female RMs in ...I didn't notice a stigma around female RMs in the U.S. (maybe it was there and I just didn't see it), but down in Uruguay where I served, I knew several wonderful young women who were scared to serve missions for fear that they would end up old maids. It was sad to me, because I grew so much from my mission, and I'm always excited when other women choose to serve them.<br /><br />I think I was more mature and prepared to serve at 21 than 19, but as you say in #3, I like the fact that the mission won't seem so much like a Plan B (i.e. "Well, I'm not married yet--maybe I should consider a mission.") I think it's wonderful that more women will envision a future than includes marriage AND a mission.<br /><br />And the age change definitely impacts how I will approach missionary service with my daughters. In the past I've been a little reluctant to encourage it much, since so many young women are seriously dating or married before they reach age 21. It's kind of irrational now that I think about it, but I just didn't want to get my/their hopes up, then have their lives go in a completely different direction.<br /><br />After Saturday's announcement, I'm excited to think that as my daughters leave the nest and start considering their options, a mission will be squarely in the middle of the table. It's still optional, and even when a woman wants to go God may have something else planned for her, but I really hope my daughters will choose to serve.Kimberly Bluestockinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18437063911115422205noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32806324.post-44017506567520200702012-10-10T12:06:38.097-06:002012-10-10T12:06:38.097-06:00I would not have met my husband had this announcem...I would not have met my husband had this announcement been made a few years ago. (I turned 20 while we were dating, and was only 20 when we got married.)<br /><br />It is such an exciting change, and I'm very happy for it. I agree that many of the negative associations about sister missionaries will gradually dissolve. In actuality, I think many of them have been over the years. I know many men of my husband's missionary-time-period who have a lot of respect for sister missionaries.<br /><br />On a somewhat-related note, my brother-in-law got home from his mission in mid-August, while he was watching conference with an apartment full of guys and girls and the announcement was made, the girls were cheering and crying. And he and his buddies were like, "Well, it will be a few more years until any of us get married."Sherryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00248348740599788697noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32806324.post-62425533131952624412012-10-09T20:17:16.487-06:002012-10-09T20:17:16.487-06:00Like many others, I cried mostly happy but a few b...Like many others, I cried mostly happy but a few bittersweet tears at hearing this announcement.<br /><br />If I had had the opportunity, I would have gone the minute I turned 19. My desire to serve a mission was solidified during my freshman year at BYU, and I was so very jealous of the guys who got to leave to serve at the end of that year.<br /><br />I know a lot of women who married young feel that had they been able to go at 19, they would have had the opportunity to serve a mission. I wonder if I'd be married now had I been able to leave at 19. I was mature in a lot of ways, but I hadn't had a lot of dating experience, and it was strange for me as a 19 and 20 year old to go out with 22 and 23 year old RMs. And then, by the time I got home from my mission, a lot of the guys my age were already married. <br /><br />I have faith that the Lord knows who and when I will marry. He is in control. But still, I can't help but wonder how my life might have been different had I left to serve a mission at 19.<br /><br />Melaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03338949204492816733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32806324.post-78212210314444870152012-10-08T21:27:52.765-06:002012-10-08T21:27:52.765-06:00I like your #3. I wouldn't have thought of tha...I like your #3. I wouldn't have thought of that. I did get to ask myself that question and it was "no" for me. <br /><br />I love #5! I was able to receive my endowment a few years before I was married and it was just huge for me. Such a miraculous blessing.<br /><br />The first thing I thought was "Yikes! Alex is one year closer to serving a mission. My time to prepare him is shorter!"<br /><br />I think it has already changed my approach to my daughter. Just tonight in FHE when we were talking about Samuel the Lamanite preaching in Zarahemla I was asking the kids how it would feel to be preaching and have the people cast you out and how much courage it would take to go back and share your message again. In the past I would have been directing it at my son but tonight I asked my daughter about it. Just a beautiful shift, I say!Shireehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17821138690479013717noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32806324.post-58987373308139818532012-10-08T15:54:17.195-06:002012-10-08T15:54:17.195-06:00I couldn't be happier.
To me, this changes EVE...I couldn't be happier.<br />To me, this changes EVERYTHING.<br />Many more young women will choose to serve missions.<br />The stigma associated with most sister missionaries will become a thing of the past!<br />There will probably be an exponentially greater number of mission romances :)<br />That announcement made that first session very emotion-filled and memorable.<br />I served at 22 and can honestly say that I don't know if I would have been prepared to serve at 19.<br />I'm happy to have the change come today, and not when I served. I'm especially excited for my three daughters!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15616038477865625828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32806324.post-28139495522497628842012-10-08T13:57:54.651-06:002012-10-08T13:57:54.651-06:00I know I would have served a mission if the missio...I know I would have served a mission if the mission age was 19, 25 years ago. The announcement was bittersweet for me. On the other hand, I can't deny that I received my own revalatory experience 25 years ago, and that is was NOT a mission. Still, wonderful news! CO SILnoreply@blogger.com