Elder Patrick Arrived Safely

Your missionary arrived safely to the California Los Angeles Mission.   Attached please find the following

Documents:

1)      Mission President letter to the family

2)      Photo of missionary with companion

3)      Photo of missionary with President & Sister Haynie

4)      Mission Communication Policy

5)      Information for Parents

Regards,

Sister Bielamowicz

California Los Angeles Mission

1591 East Temple Way

Los Angeles, CA 90024

Phone: (310) 474-2593 Ext 2

23 August 2016

Warren and Anna Patrick

8802 Willow Spur Drive

Tomball, TX 77375

Dear Brother and Sister Patrick,

Elder Kane Ewah Patrick arrived safely to this mission 22 August 2016.  After prayerful consideration, Elder Brayden Norris Wirick was selected to be his companion.  We make every effort to assign only the very best missionaries to be trainers, as these first few months are critical in the life of a new missionary.   Enclosed are pictures of Elder Patrick with his companion and Sister Haynie and me.

During the course of his mission, Elder Patrick will be transferred to various areas within the mission; therefore, we ask that all his mail be sent to:

Elder Kane Ewah Patrick

1591 East Temple Way                

California Los Angeles Mission

Los Angeles, CA 90024-5801

We are excited and grateful to have Elder Patrick serve in the California Los Angeles Mission.  Our desire is to help him succeed and magnify his calling.  We will do everything possible to see that he remains healthy, actively engaged, challenged, and happy in his missionary labors.  Please be assured that his welfare and happiness are of primary concern to us.  The Mission has an Instagram account “clamgram16” where you can find pictures and short comments about Mission events.

The enclosed information answers many of the questions frequently asked. Should you have any questions or concerns during the course of Elder Patrick’s mission, please do not hesitate to contact  me.

Sincerely yours,

Robert M. Haynie, President

California Los Angeles Mission

COMMUNICATING WITH YOUR MISSIONARY

The Mission Office address is:

California Los Angeles Mission

1591 East Temple Way

Los Angeles, CA  90024-5801

• Please address all mail to Elder or Sister with their first and last name.

• Mail must be in the mission office by Wednesday to be distributed to missionaries each Friday after their District meetings.

• Missionaries may email family and friends on preparation day for up to 90 minutes.

• The Mission Office phone number is (310) 474-2593 and the office is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific Time.

• Should you need to contact the Mission President he can be reached on his cell phone at (310) 702-8044.  If there is a situation such as a death or divorce that a missionary must know about, please call the President.  He prefers to deliver such news in person in order to support the missionary.

• Missionaries are not allowed to make or receive phone calls from family members or friends at any time.  They may call home on Christmas and Mother’s Day and talk with their family for no more than one hour.

• The Missionary Handbook states that visits from family members during the mission are against Church policy.  We support this policy. These visits can have a very strong effect on the missionary and often cause significant time to be taken in order to refocus on the work.

• Missionaries are not allowed to bring any electronic media or headphones on their missions.

The Mission has an Instagram account “clamgram16” where friends and family can find pictures and short comments about Mission events.  

INFORMATION FOR PARENTS and MISSIONARIES

College Admission Test and College Application

Missionaries who want to (or may want to) enter college post-mission, should if at all possible, take the college admission tests, such as the ACT or SAT, before leaving.  It is certainly more difficult to take them later.   It is also advisable to apply for the college(s) of their choice before their mission.  Upon being accepted, they will defer their acceptance until they return.   In this way, missionaries can enter college immediately upon returning home and avoid sometimes lengthy delays.

Medical Care

If a missionary becomes sick or injured during his/her mission, Missionary medical will assist with medical expenses as long as it is not a pre-existing condition.  A pre-existing condition is an injury or sickness with signs or symptoms, a diagnosis, or treatment within two years prior to entering the mission field, regardless of whether symptoms were present when a mission was started.   Missionary Medical does not pay expenses for pre-existing conditions.  Missionary Medical does not cover any dental or vision problems.  If your missionary is currently taking medication that they will need to continue during his/her mission, please make arrangements for how they will obtain it before they enter the mission field.  It is not legal for parents to send prescription medications through the mail, you can however arrange for your local pharmacy to mail prescription medications to the mission office, where your missionary can pick them up.

The Church is self-insured, meaning that all medical expenses come from tithing funds.  If you are able to maintain health insurance for your missionary, it is important to do so.  When a missionary medical expense is approved by Missionary Medical, there is a $10 co-payment for any doctor appointment, and a $10 co-payment for any prescription. 

Finances

Each month a missionary is given funds to cover food, laundry, cleaning, haircuts, and personal care items.  Each missionary should keep a reserve fund of $50 on hand during his entire mission.  It is advised that each missionary have a person credit/debit card from home to buy extras that may be required such as bicycles, clothing, books, film, cameras and gifts as these articles should not come from their monthly missionary allotment.  This is the best way to get extra money to your missionary.  Do not expect the mission to cash personal checks.

Cars

The Church provides cars to missionaries who are assigned to driving areas.  The Church pays for all automobile expenses.  Missionaries must be certified to drive by the Mission President or Vehicle Coordinator.  Certification requires:

1.  A valid driver’s license

2.  Providing a Motor Vehicle Record from the state in which the driver is licensed

3.  Receiving Safety orientation

4.  Reviewing the Vehicle Users Guide

5.  A driving practice administered by the Vehicle Coordinator

The Church is self-insured which means that any loss caused by accidents in which the missionary is at fault is paid for out of the tithing funds of the Church.  Passengers in the care are expected to remain awake and alert to help avoid accidents.  Missionaries will be financially responsible for the following:

1.  ACCIDENT:  If a missionary is at fault, each missionary in the car may be 

    assessed a $50 Copay.

2.  MOVING VIOLATION: The driver will be responsible for the fine.

3.  PARKING VIOLATION:  Fines will be split between driver and any 

    passengers in the car.  California has rigid parking laws and strict patrols.

When a Church car receives a ticket, it is mailed to the mission office.  The church pays all fines immediately to keep itself in good financial standing.  At that point, the missionary is in debt to the tithing funds of the church.  The missionary is notified of the fine and he/she has a reasonable time to pay it off.

Missionary Handbook

Please encourage your missionary to live the mission rules.  For a better understanding of these rules, you may purchase your own copy of the Missionary Handbook at store.lds.org.  Experience has proven that missionaries practicing exact obedience to the rules have a much more successful, satisfying and spiritual mission.  Some missionaries learn their lessons too late and find that their mission is not all that they had hoped for.

The letter sent to your son/daughter by our Prophet announcing his/her call said:  “You will be an official representative of the Church.  As such, you will be expected to maintain the highest standards of conduct and appearance by keeping the commandments, living the mission rules, and following the counsel of your Mission President.  You will be expected to devote all your time and attention to serving the Lord, leaving behind all other personal affairs.”