Mission Leadership

[Venkman]

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

where is trainer in the hierarchy of responsibility? I have heard of some mission presidents considering trainer to be a position only given to the most trusted (far more important than district leader, for example). what is your take?

My first missions president had a tradition of making someone a trainer after they had been trained (usually after two months). Unless you were just a complete loser. If you didn't make trainer after two months you knew you were a crappy missionary (note: I DID make trainer after 2 months ).

Most missionaries had one stint at trainer, if asked to train again down the road, it was a sign the MP thought you were an effective missionary.

[SeattleUte]

Originally Posted by RC Vikings

Did you ever make AP? I would be a little disappointed in you if you didn't.

I didn't make AP because my MP learned he couldn't trust me. He was playing a numbers game with baptisms and new branches of which I disapproved. It was disheartening to hear about an area being a new Waters of Sidon, then being called there and only see a couple of old ladies and a bunch of kids attending and the missionaries doing everything. I think my MP was hoping to be called a Seventy, like his old missionary companion Gene R. Cook who was our area rep. (I think that's what they called him). They were both only about 35 back then. My MP never made it. My theory is Cook sunk him. The whole scene was like Lord of the Flies or a cock fight. We didn't have one of those everybody gets to be AP missions. Back then miraculous stories were told about baptisms in HR Junior's mission in the farmlands of Southern California. My sense is that HR Jr. was probably a numbers grubber himself. I think piling up numbers that way fell out of favor later.

[MikeWaters]

Originally Posted by Venkman

My first missions president had a tradition of making someone a trainer after they had been trained (usually after two months). Unless you were just a complete loser. If you didn't make trainer after two months you knew you were a crappy missionary (note: I DID make trainer after 2 months ).

Most missionaries had one stint at trainer, if asked to train again down the road, it was a sign the MP thought you were an effective missionary.

Interesting. Was your mission an "obedient" mission or a "problem" mission like the Arkansas Little Rock mission?

[JohnnyLingo]

Originally Posted by Venkman

My first missions president had a tradition of making someone a trainer after they had been trained (usually after two months). Unless you were just a complete loser. If you didn't make trainer after two months you knew you were a crappy missionary (note: I DID make trainer after 2 months ).

Most missionaries had one stint at trainer, if asked to train again down the road, it was a sign the MP thought you were an effective missionary.

In the Cape Town mission when I was there, the president was fond of giving apostate missionaries greenies to train. I guess the idea was that this would cause the apostate to straighten out, but usually it just screwed up the greenie.

In Mada I think everyone trained. If you trained someone twice you were awesome. One elder trained six times I think.

(Note: I trained once.)

[Venkman]

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

Interesting. Was your mission an "obedient" mission or a "problem" mission like the Arkansas Little Rock mission?

I think it was fairly obedient, as far as stateside missions went. We did get alot of the mental health issues elders though.

Supposedly this stemmed from a meeting some GA's had with MP's - alot of the MP's didn't think elders with emotional issues should serve, my MP said he thought many of them could and should serve. So they sent alot of the Prozac elders to our mission. We had a few basket cases for sure, however, our MP was such a kind, loving, patient man, that many of these elders were able to serve successful missions.

My next MP was a prick, but that's another story.

I think the training after two month thing was really just another step in your training. You were forced out of your comfort zone and had to step up your game in a hurry. I really grew as a missionary during that period.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

I was Senior Comp for nearly 2 months.

[Venkman]

Originally Posted by JohnnyLingo

In the Cape Town mission when I was there, the president was fond of giving apostate missionaries greenies to train. I guess the idea was that this would cause the apostate to straighten out, but usually it just screwed up the greenie.

My second MP did that as well with similar results.

[Tex]

Originally Posted by JohnnyLingo

In the Cape Town mission when I was there, the president was fond of giving apostate missionaries greenies to train. I guess the idea was that this would cause the apostate to straighten out, but usually it just screwed up the greenie.

I have never understood this philosophy, in missions, in wards, wherever. "Let's take the biggest goof-off in the room and give him the most responsibility, then cross our fingers and hope he takes it seriously."

It almost never works.

[SteelBlue]

Goatnapper will never respect me again. Assuming he ever did.

[OrangeUte]

i was an AP, and i miss the opportunity to screw around with people that i don't like by transferring them to shitty areas.