"Your mission starts now" - humanitarian service and temple worker

I didn't expect to be a service missionary or a temple worker, but I'm hoping to be both.

That clumsy photoshop job used to be my Cape Verdean friend who changed her mind about being in the picture.

“No couples are in the pipeline to replace us,” said my friends the Robertsons, countrywide LDS humanitarian service coordinators, who are going home to Nevada in January. I wasn’t surprised. “10 couples to fill 300 requests,” said Elder Rasband about his task of assigning couple missionaries to fill overwhelming needs.

“What if I applied to be a six-month part-time humanitarian service missionary?” I asked the Robertsons. “You could train me and I could help train your replacement. I could try to keep the essential tasks going.” They asked their upline, and the response was enthusiastic. “We could put her to work.”

I met with my bishop, who sent me the link to apply for a service mission. I learned that service missionaries volunteer between 8-40 hours a week. I told them they could have 8. I’m still volunteering with Mentors International, and trying to protect my time to work on my own memoir. While filling out my application, I found myself humming, “I hope they call me on a mission.” : >

After I hit “submit,” I clicked over to what I was doing before: working on a grant proposal for COLMEIA, a center for Cabo Verdeans with special needs, mostly children. A thought came into my mind, “Your mission starts now.” No black name tag, no tracking hours — let’s get to work. I’ll let you know if/when my call comes, and what’s next!

The temple ordinance worker calling wasn’t too much of a surprise. I figured these Cabo Verdeans were managing just fine without me before I came, ever since the temple opened two years ago. But my first Sunday here, the temple matron said the need was great and asked me to join the ranks. I was delighted to serve. It took a little while for my records to get here and for me to be called, but I was set apart yesterday and start my temple service in two weeks. Being an ordinance worker is the closest thing to being an LDS high priestess. It’s sacred work. I’m about to learn the ordinances in Portuguese! I didn’t need that skill when I served as an ordinance worker in the Boston and Baton Rouge Temples.

All part of the adventure. Thanks for walking with me, friend.

-Marci

(PS - new to this free substack? Read the backstory of this epic adventure here.)