Mission Report No 15

I heard an acronym that some Church people are using to describe themselves these days. PIMO = Physically In, Mentally Out. Apparently these are people who on the outside appear to be fully active in the Church, but have mentally or spiritually disengaged, for whatever reason.

Perhaps they are just putting up appearances to keep their spouse or family happy. Maybe Church has become like a social club for them. I worry that unless they have some sort of spiritual rebirth they will probably find that they will stop attending altogether at some stage, thus becoming MOPO's. (Mentally Out, Physically Out)

Another group that concerns me are the MIPO group.  These are people who are Mentally/spiritually in, but Physically Out. These are people who are still fully engaged spiritually but are physically unable to attend Church, perhaps because of a disability, maybe lack of transport, maybe living a long distance from a meeting house. My concern here is that they may, due to lack of fellow-shipping, end up being MOPO (Mentally Out and Physically Out). The MIPO's are possibly the easiest group to help as their problem can be solved by creating better connections (with other people) for them and getting the logistics of Church attendance sorted out.

What I think we all need to be is a MIPI - Mentally In, Physically In. If we are a MIPI (which Margot and I hope to think we are) our responsibility should be to help the PIMO's, the MIPO's and even the MOPO's. MIPI's should be living the First and Second Great Commandments, loving God with all our heart, might, mind and strength, and loving our neighbor as ourselves.

Monday 27th June 2022

Quiet day at home today apart from riding the bike to Tobruk Memorial Pool and doing laps.

So what does a quiet day at home look like? We're usually out of bed by 7.00am, although there is no strict rule for senior missionaries, like there is for the young missionaries. I don't sleep all that well, so I am usually awake for an hour or more through the night, and I am almost always awake by 5 or 6 and this is when I do a lot of my scripture study and other reading.

We then usually go for our morning walk between 7 and 8. If it's raining, and I think it was this morning, we stay home and do Tai Chi for about half an hour. After that we have scripture study together for about half an hour and then we do a bit of planning, and messaging or phoning people that we need to catch up with, which can take up almost all our day. And sometimes in the afternoon we have a nap!

The "schedule" I describe above is typical of most days, but with appointments/visits/finding activities that we do as missionaries. A lot of our work involves connecting people with the right services and programs and people, that some Church members (and others) either are not aware of or aren't utilizing.

If you are thinking of serving as senior missionaries for the Church yourselves, please don't be put off by thinking that you have to comply with the same rigorous schedule, or be subject to the same rules, as the young missionaries. We work at our own pace, doing as much as we can, but within the obvious physical limitations that a mid-60's couple "enjoy"!

Tuesday 28th June 2022

We had one of our favorite Church members come here for lunch. He's going through a difficult time with work issues, relationship challenges, and (almost) a housing crisis, so there are plenty of  things to talk about to try to help out, and sometimes just having a good listener is all people need to help them solve their own problems.

Wednesday 29th

Wet day! The last couple of days have been unseasonably wet!

Thursday 30th

Meeting with Marilyn Taula (Institute Teacher) and Matt Smith (District Sunday School President) discussing how we can help  Young Single Adults.

Friday 1st July    

This morning we had our first Zoom meeting with our new Mission President and his wife. President Vongsawad was born in Thailand but emigrated to California as a young boy with his family. His wife is as American as apple pie, as they say. Unfortunately, they tested positive for Covid just before they were about to fly here, so they are still in the US. The Ences went home on yesterday, so we are without a local mission president until they get here. They seem like a nice couple and we are looking forward to meeting them, but we are, of course, missing the Ences, who were a great pair, very kind and loving but firm when they needed to be. 

Ziere on the left, Margot, myself and June

Saturday 2nd July

Lunch up in Port Douglas with June Marsh, and our new friend, Ziere Hunt, who is one of the only 2 active members up in Port Douglas. Ziere is a young Samoan lady, and she and June (a Maori) hit it off straight away and so we hope a good friendship will form there.

Sunday 3rd July

Fast Sunday. Picked up our friend Adidi Wigness for the 2nd Branch meetings at 9.00am and then Leonie Stewart from Clifton Beach for the 1st Branch meetings in the afternoon. Lots of enjoyable driving with good company!