276. 6 Things you need to do before you leave on an LDS mission! (from KSL)

This was mentioned on KSL, and sounded interesting!  Preparing for a mission actually begins at an early age, and includes many things which will help you be a successful missionary.  

Of course, the first thing is a solid testimony of the Restored Gospel, and a desire to serve, having lived worthy for it.  The ideas below may give you insights on other things which could be helpful to you.  Knowing how to cook basic healthy food, and do your own laundry top the practical list!

---------------------------------------------------     (Ideas from Grandma Pal)  ---

These ideas can help you spend the time from when you get your call to when you actually leave.  Sometimes you have 4 to 6 months, and those months can provide valuable time to get your basic habits and knowledge of what a mission will be.  Learning get up and go to bed early and to not be so tied to electronic devices, etc. will help you be able to adjust to mission life.  If you are going to a foreign country, with perhaps strange food, it will be so helpful to you to get over food dislikes ! !  

And the top of the list when you get there will be to write -- e mail -- your parents every week.  An occasional "snail mail" letter will mean so much to them also.  They will keep it the rest of their lives.  They will want to know about the culture, the food, your companions, how your testimony is growing, etc.  Be sure and let them be a great part of your mission.  They have waited for this day for many years!

6 things you need to do before you leave on an LDS mission

By Jean Brown Research

October 27th, 2014 @ 9:00pm

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 The time has finally come.  Your mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is just a few months away.  You might feel overwhelmed with your mother's long to-do list and what your older brother insists you do because he didn't find the time before he left for his mission.

With that in mind, here are six things you definitely should do before departing on your unforgettable adventure.

1. Talk to somebody who has been to your same mission

You vaguely recall an elder speaking at stake conference last fall who served in Brazil — the same mission you got called to. Make some phone calls and track him down. Chances are he would love to talk your ear off and you'd greatly benefit from his tips. Is bug spray really necessary? Is it true you get to wear open-toed shoes if you're transferred to a historically wet city? You’ll get a better idea of what you really need to take with you and prepare for.

2. Get your wisdom teeth out

Bummer, right? To soften the blow of this necessary evil, you may qualify for assistance in the procedure through the Jean Brown Research group. Be sure to schedule this appointment long in advance so you have time to recover fully. Don't forget to take advantage of ice cream with every meal — especially if there isn't ice cream in your mission!

3. Get in the habit of journaling

Yes, you will be exhausted every day of your mission. After nightly planning you will want nothing more than a warm bed and lights out. But 10 years down the road, you will look back and wish you chose writing down special memories over going to bed 10 minutes earlier each night.

Habits are much easier to keep up rather than create — set daily journaling in stone before you leave. Practice writing down thoughts and events before bed each night. You will come to love the experience and see how reflecting on the day's activities displays gratitude.

4. Become familiar with the lessons in "Preach My Gospel"

How lucky are you that "Preach My Gospel" is available to you long before you report for your mission? What an opportunity! This style of teaching can be unfamiliar to many people, so studying the manual is in your best interest. Sign up for a missionary class online or at a local university — even audit the class just for the experience if you don’t need the credit hours.

5. Get your finances in order

Eighteen months or two years is a long time away from regular life (and a paying job), so make sure you’re out of debt and have some money in savings or checking in case of an emergency.

Consider selling certain items you can do without for that time period, like a cellphone. There are many sites out there that you can do sponsorships — like anython.com — if you find you are short on money. Maybe you’d like to do a service project where you see how many people you can help and people sponsor you for helping others. This would be the perfect way to get in the habit of serving!

6. Research the area you’re being sent to

Social media sites —and the Internet in general — provide the perfect way to get in touch with those who know. There are bound to be groups created by former missionaries of the area you will be serving. Start following missionaries who are blogging about your mission and get to know the area and the people through them. The more you know about the culture, geography and overall area where you'll be serving, the better off you'll be.