The Perfect Bag

My whole mission--everywhere I went--I carried around the backpack they gave us in the MTC. It was a full-sized backpack, so I carried my quad of scriptures, Preach My Gospel, a whiteboard to draw on for lessons, and everything else I could possibly need in a day of missionary work. It got heavy after lugging it around all day, and the Elders in my district would make fun of it: "There goes Sister Pace and her 'tracting' bag." Since then I have learned that there are much better options for carrying around your stuff. Additionally, you probably don't need a whole quad with you all of the time (a copy of the Book of Mormon works fine), nor do you need to carry Preach My Gospel with you on most days. I probably used the white board twice my whole mission. I did some online scouting for ya:

L.L. Bean has some good options:
http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/68599?feat=847-GN1&page=recycled-continental-field-bag

This one has some nice security features and lots of pockets inside: http://www.ebags.com/product/travelon/rfid-blocking-anti-theft-tour-bag-small/217142?productid=10141514

Clearance is always good:
http://www.ebags.com/product/travelon/rfid-blocking-anti-theft-tour-bag-small/217142?productid=10141514

Also clearance, with lots of fun compartments: 

http://www.ebags.com/product/pacsafe/metrosafe-200-shoulder-bag/99876?productid=10125660&rlid=DETAIL

Gotta love leather, and the European look: 

http://www.ebags.com/product/ameri-leather/gorgeous-leather-antony-messenger-bag/234226?productid=10191144&rlid=DETAIL

Eddie Bauer has had some great options in the past, but nothing quite small enough at the moment.

http://www.eddiebauer.com

Some things to keep in mind when looking for a good bag:

1. Is it waterproof or at least water resistant?

2. Would it be easy for someone to take valuables out of it when you're on a crowded subway?

3. Does it have a place to hold a water bottle?

4. Does the manufacturer offer a warranty?

5. Are the straps padded and adjustable?

6.Will the color clash with a lot of your clothing? (Silly, but probably still important for the image you're conveying.)

Happy tracting!

Sister Pace

Clothes Shopping

So I did some retail research today and my findings were very positive. I am now in love with JCPenney (http://www.jcpenney.com/) because they have the BEST skirts. The east5th and Worthington brands have a great selection of skirts that are long enough to meet standards, plus they are machine washable and some even have pockets. In addition to JC Penney, there's Sister Missionary Mall. I talked to the girls at there today and they are putting their entire store online in a few weeks. Plus, the clothes are looking less and less frumpy these days. I've also heard that Kohl's has some great missionary options, but I only found one mission appropriate skirt when I visited. That could be because it's summer. Stores generally carry only items that fit the current season. When shopping for the mission, it always helps to plan ahead and shop for every season of your mission over a year's time. This is not always feasible, but it is a good idea for you non-procrastinators. Now let's hear some feedback: where have you found the best mission clothes?

South of the Border Soup

1 can Bean with Bacon Soup
1 can Tomato Soup
1 can Chili without Beans
1 soup can water
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
Fritos Corn Chips
Shredded Cheddar Cheese

Stir together soups, water, and garlic powder in saucepan. Heat to boiling, ladle into bowls and top with grated cheese and corn chips. Makes 4-6 servings (leftovers!).

This recipe is speedy, delicious, and it uses ingredients that work for other things, too. Thanks, Mom!

A Simple Winegar Favorite for Two: Sour Cream Chicken

1 lb. chicken
Sour Cream
Onion Crackers

Spread chicken breasts with sour cream and roll in crushed onion crackers. Bake at 350 for an hour.

This recipe comes from my first mission president's wife, Sister Winegar. Our mission combined lunch and dinner for a two-hour break from 3-5pm. I loved it because I could have time for a nap! This recipe works perfectly for the 3-5 break. Thanks, Sister Winegar!

"Excuse me, sir."

One of my areas was super hard to come into. My companion and I replaced some elders who had been sent home, and there was nothing in the area book. We spent all of our first few days in the area doing nothing but tracting and contacting (and trying to get ahold of the ward). On one of those days, we were exhausted as we headed in for lunch. As we were walking into our apartment building, I saw a man walking his dog nearby, and we went over to talk to him. I yelled, "Excuse me, sir!", but when he turned around, I realized he was a woman! She was bundled up because it was so cold outside, and I hadn't been looking to closely. :) We talked to her and it turned out that not only was she our neighbor, but she was a member of the church who was inactive to keep peace with her husband. During the next weeks and months, we were able to visit her frequently and get some church contact back in her life. She started reading the Book of Mormon again. She was never able to come back to church, but one day she told us she had been praying for the Lord to send someone to help her. That was the day we stopped and talked to her. When I called out "sir", she had heard "sister". I didn't tell her the truth, but it's good to know the spirit can translate.

Going Back

One benefit of serving state-side is the ability to go back and visit the mission relatively easily. My parents took me back to visit Michigan as a college graduation gift (2 years later), and it was definitely worth the trip. Lots of people would talk about how weird it is to go back because people don't remember you, the place doesn't feel the same, etc.

I went in prepared for the worst, but I had the opposite experience. Sure, some of my baptisms weren't going to church anymore, but plenty of less active members we had helped finally were going to church! We got to stay with my favorite convert couple, plus see some sights in Detroit and Kirtland, Ohio that I didn't get to see before. We went to a Tigers game and my mom (who didn't even know who the Tigers were) loved it!

Tell me your experiences visiting the mission. Also, I always wondered what it would be like to have the parents pick you up. We picked up my brother in Germany and had a blast, but I think he had a hard time with it. We were in the country another two weeks before we went home and he was finally released...rough stuff.

Bikes

One thing I never experienced serving in Detroit was bikes. Thank goodness--I had a bike accident a few months before my mission that left me with a tape mustache after some debris was surgically removed from my lip. Talk about traumatizing. However, sometimes I would have appreciated riding a bike. We had nice cars, but it didn't help my figure by any means.

For those of you who did use bikes, share your stories. What was your funniest/scariest/coolest experience on a bike? To help those sisters preparing for a mission, what are some tips for bike success? For example, how on earth do you ride in a skirt?! Post your comments or send me an email.