DETAILED Sister Missionary Packing List!

(sorry, I just needed my Ryan Gosling fix for the day)

Now that we've gotten that out of the way....

I made this packing list starting from this awesome sister's list here, 

and then changed it up a little bit to fit my own needs.

My mission has humid hot summers, and humid cold winters, 

so I have to be prepared for both! The struggle is real...

I'm a perfectionist and a worrier, so this list is VERY detailed and probably has more than I'll need, but it makes me feel better to have it all written down. 

(But ultimately, keep this in mind: the olden day missionaries had NOTHING to start with on their missions- "they were without purse or scrip"- but God still watched over them and took care of their needs... so if they can do it we can too!)

Hope this helps!

Bags and Suitcases

- A larger cross-body purse (OGIO will give a 50% missionary discount if you fill out this form)

- A smaller cross-body purse (not necessary, but just a regular-sized purse if you want)

-  2 suitcases (62 dimensional inches, no more than 50 pounds)

-  1 carry-on suitcase (45 dimensional inches)

- duffle bag (good for splits, but not necessary)

-  Luggage Tags

-  Camera case

-  Toiletry bags (makeup case, etc.)

-  Scripture case

- Packing cubes (only if you want)

Underclothes

-  12-14 pairs regular garments (Drilux if going somewhere humid, thermals if somewhere cold; otherwise it's whatever is comfortable for you!)

- 2 white running sports bras

- 3 white bras/nude

- 2-3 slips

- a couple of long sleeve undershirts (if going somewhere cold)

- 4-5 short-sleeve undershirts; neutral colors and then maybe some fun colors too! (I like the new DownEast Essential tees- they fit perfectly over garments so they don't show!)

Feet

- 1-2 pairs of neutral colored (cream/black/gray/tan) COMFY shoes for heavy-duty walking (Clarks, Keen, Naturalizer, Dansko, etc.)

-a few pairs of colored flats, for days where you don't walk as much (Target, H&M, etc.)

-a pair of short heels (not necessary, unless you like heels!)

-Dr. Scholl's inserts (Walmart, not necessary)

- Waterproof rain boots (if needed)

-Snow boots

-Boots for fall

- Tennis shoes (for Workout & Service)

- 1 pair shower flip flops

- 1 pair of slippers/fuzzy socks (for warm feet on those cold winter nights)

-heavy duty socks to wear with boots in winter (to keep feet warm)

- half socks (12 pairs, to wear with flats)

-6 pairs of regular socks for exercising

Workout Clothes

- 2 short sleeved running shirts/t-shirts

- 1 long-sleeve running shirt/sweatshirt

- 2-3 pairs of workout pants/sweats

- headbands!! (to keep hair back from face)

Service & PJs

- 2 pairs of PJ pants

-2 pairs of PJ shorts

- 5 t-shirts/normal shirts (Service and Pday)

- 2 pairs of jeans (Service & Pday)

Outerwear 

- 1 winter coat

- winter gloves, scarf, earmuffs/earwarmers

- 1 rain coat

- 2 peacoats/jackets (for colder but not snowy weather)

- sweatshirt (for working out or just to wear at night if it's cold)

Everyday (*thrift shopping will save your life!)

- 8-12 Skirts (get mostly neutral colors, so it's easier to match with shirts, but then get a few more patterned ones for fun!) *ALSO: I've heard that once you get out into the field, comfort beats style!

-10-20 Shirts

-Sweaters

-Cardigans

- 1-2 Dresses

-Tights/leggings

            -regular tights (solid colors; black, gray, maybe a colored pair for fun)

            -fleece-lined (for cold days)

- Belts

- Jewelry (keep it simple)

- Watch

Bathroom Supplies

- 1 towel (small microfiber one for hair)

- 2 regular bath towels

- 1 hand towel

- 2 wash cloths

- Face wash 

- Face lotion/moisurizer

- Mascara

- Eyeshadow

- Eyeliner/sharpening pencil

- Tweezers to pluck the brows!

- Foundation and  powder

- Face sunscreen (not necessary)

- Chap stick, lip gloss!

- Body wash, shampoo, and conditioner (just need small bottles, then get bigger once get to area)

- Razor and Shaving cream

- Perfume

- Deodorant

- Lotion!

- Nail polish

- Toothbrush

- Toothpaste

- Floss

- Hair spray

-  Hair mousse and gel

- Hair brush and comb

- Hair ties

-Hair accessories (bows, flowers, headbands, etc.)

- Bobby pins 

- Blow drier

- Curling iron

- Straightener

- lady items

-contacts and solution

Outdoor

- Umbrella (preferably one that can be compact and fit in your bag)

- Insect Repellent (contains DEET, 20%-35%)

- Sunscreen (at least 45 SPF)

- Aloe vera (for those sunburns)

Bedding

- set of bedding (TWIN)

- 2 pillow cases

- Blanket/quilt (I've heard it helps to have a blanket from home, for those inevitable nights when you will feel lonely and cry yourself to sleep (but remember- it's all for a good cause!))

Other items 

- Alarm clock with no radio (and also preferably without an obnoxious sound.... is that even possible?)

- Tide TO GO

- photo album/pictures/quotes/general conference talks/inspirational things to put on your wall and remind you of home and why you came on your mission in the first place

- Exercise ideas

- Recipe book

- Address book (to keep contact info. for people you meet, and also to keep contact info. for the people you leave behind so you can write them while you're gone)

- Stamps

- Envelopes

- CD’s with church musica

- piano music

- First Aid Kit (multi-vitamins, cold meds, decongestant, fever reducer, pain reliever, anti- diarrhea meds, antibiotic ointment, anti-itch cream, anti –fungal cream, band aids, etc.)

- pair of glasses, with case and cleaning solution and cloth

- Sewing Kit (mini)

- Thermometer

- Laundry Bag (BAG- I've heard you want a bag so you don't have to lug your laundry all over the MTC)

- Duct tape (for blisters)

- Flash light

- Batteries

- Camera 

- jump drive (to save pictures on from camera, that way if your camera gets stolen you won't lose them)

-SD card reader (to put your pictures on the computer so you can upload them and email them to your family)

-$200 on a personal debit card (for traveling expenses; they will give you a church debit card when you get out into the field for all other mission expenses like groceries, etc.)

-$50 in cash for MTC

-wallet

Churchy stuff

- Scriptures

- Journal

- 5-Subject notebook (to make notes in while studying)

- Pens, pencils, colored pencils, highlighters 

- Copy of patriarchal blessing

- Copy of call letter

-Mission approved books

- Pedigree chart (4 generations back)

Don't forget!

- Current temple recommend

- Government issued ID to show at airport (Driver’s License)

- Immunizations Record (need when dropped off at MTC)

- DMV Driving Record (if going on a driving mission; your mission president should tell you)

- Quarters to make calls from the airport

Things to Do Before Leaving:

-figure out bank account

-figure out cell phone

-go to the dentist, eye doctor, and finish up any other medical problems

-get tax info all ready for parents

-make sure deferment and everything for school is finished up, and the school knows to contact parents while I'm gone

-get blog ready to go

-figure out what to do with Facebook account

-make an “inspiration book” of quotes, talks, pictures, exercise tips, recipes, etc.

-gather piano music and music/talks to listen to

-get driver’s license extended (if going to a driving mission- your mission president will let you know)

-pack up all my stuff

Good Luck Sisters!

We are part of God's army, and with Him we can accomplish 

ANYthing and ALL things that he asks us to do.

"And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face, I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up."

-D&C 84:88-

Inspiration for the Day.

My aunt Ali has cancer.

She is a busy mother of four beautiful kids, and has already fought cancer once before.

Their family was my second family while I was at school in Provo.

She is a fighter, full of faith, and simply amazing.

Read an inspiring post on her blog here, it really changed the way I see my life!

And while you're at it read some of her other posts. They're all great.

I'm grateful to be a Brower- I come from a pretty awesome family.

(just some of my amazing family members-
grandma, grandpa, dad, aunts Cathy, Ali, Jenny, and uncle Chris)

The Life of the Young and Restless....

50 Days!!!

So what is life like living at home for a few months before my mission?

-I try to wake up every morning and exercise and study PMG before I go to work. Some days it works out, other days sleep wins. It happens.

-I work full-time every day at a gardening store 

(except Sundays and one other day a week, my day off! holla!)

-On my day off, I try to hang out with my friends and family and get mission shopping done (key word-try). So far that hasn't worked out too great, because my day-offs lately have consisted of going to a wedding, funeral, and a pioneer trek trial run. It's fine.

-I try to go to the temple once a week, and so far I've met my goal! (I've gone twice, haha)

-Sometimes I go play tennis with my sis, go on a bro-date with my bros, or accidentally break into my own house and have the cops show up..... wait what? Yeah, that happened.... I didn't know I had set the burglar alarm off, okay?

(I've had the cops show up after "breaking into" a building twice already this year. The other time it was at a medical supply store.... I didn't realize it was closed, I promise!)

-I have a calling in the nursery, which I LOVE! Little kids are the best. 

Also, Relief Society in a family ward is a HUGE difference from Relief Society in a single's ward.... so I don't miss it too much.... just sayin'.

-Lately I've been addicted to listening to country music, getting a snow cone, and driving up to the hill to watch the sun set over my beautiful Idaho. I love it here.

Those are the exciting things. But it can be really hard sometimes too. One week was particularly hard- my grandma passed away Thursday, my aunt started her bone marrow transplant Friday morning, I went through the temple for the first time Friday night, and my cousin got married Saturday morning. Talk about emotional weekend!

Other weeks are just really boring. I feel like I should be preparing more, but I don't really know what more else I can be doing. 

People ask me if I'm excited, I am, but it's hard to feel that way all the time.

It's also hard to be living at home again. It's hard to get used to after being on my own for so long and having my own way of doing things. 

My family's the best, but I forgot what it was like to live family life! Independent life is not as stressful, because you can do whatever the heck you want, so sometimes I miss it.

I also get "Oh, Nebraska? I would've just said no haha" or "Nebraska? Well, it's flat there...." or "Nebraska?! OMG you'll love it there it's so..... well...... good luck!"

And when the rare occasion happens that I cross paths with a male life form who is within my age range, they give up on me after five minutes because they see me as "off-limits." I've started living for the moments when the old guy who can barely walk/hear/see, let alone write a check, comes in to buy flowers at my work and calls me "sweetie"........

The struggle is real.

But it's a beautiful struggle. I can look back and laugh and cry and be thankful, because life is all about these learning moments.

And I trust that God has great things in store for me, if I but endure to the end. 

Or at least for 50 more days :)

Night ya'll!

Peace and Blessins'

I learned a great lesson this week.

When you are promised something by God, 

it WILL come to pass, no matter what any earthly person says or does.

The only thing that can get in the way of it happening is YOURSELF.

If you don't trust enough, believe enough, or have faith enough.

Two stories to illustrate this point:

1. A pioneer family, traveling across the plains. The whole handcart company is starving, freezing and dying. One of the daughters in the family freezes to death during the night. They bury her as much as they can in the frozen ground, then go on their way. 

Then the mother remembers- she was promised in a priesthood blessing that all her children would make it safely to Zion. She turns around to go back and get her daughter. 

Her husband tries to stop her, but she will not.

They reach their daughter, uncover her frozen body, and slowly warm it back up. 

She comes back to life.

What if the mom hadn't believed, and hadn't gone back?

2. Another 13-year-old pioneer girl, travelling across the plains with her family. Her mother and three younger siblings die before they reach the Salt Lake Valley, and she gets frostbite in her feet.

(Mary Goble)

Once there, Brigham Young comes to see her, and promises her that she will never have to amputate more than her toes. 

The doctor comes to see her, and promises her that her legs will rot if she doesn't.

She doesn't listen to him.

After months of pain, and reprimanding from the doctor, she still refuses to amputate her legs.

Then, a lady shows up and says she is there to help her. She puts a poultice on her legs every day for a few months, and her legs are healed.

What if she had listened to the doctor, and let him amputate her legs?

First and foremost, I will believe in my God, because he knows what's up.

I know if I do, I will experience more peace and blessins' than I could ever imagine!

Future (Archuleta) Family

When I was deciding to go on a mission, well actually, I couldn't decide.

It was so hard for me, because I'm terrible at making decisions, not to mention huge life-changing ones. I was terrified, which got in the way of a lot of the peaceful feelings that I was looking for.

But one thought that kept coming back to my mind over and over was this:

"How can you teach your future children to trust in the Lord, if you don't trust in Him yourself?"

I have a hard time making decisions for myself, 

but when it comes to doing things for others I am totally fine. 

So thinking about doing it for my kids (who I'm sure are up in heaven watching me right now dreading the day they'll come down to me.... haha) makes it worth it. Even if it is the hardest thing I've ever done, if it benefits them in some way for the better, then it's worth it.

I want them to know that their momma trusted in God with all her heart, and I hope and pray every day that somehow these trials and lessons I'm learning will help them; that they won't be just for my benefit but for theirs too.

And, just for fun, I made a morphling of what one of my future 

babes is gonna look like.... minus the glasses.

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