The Story of Your Life

What could you do better for your children and your children’s children than to record the story of your life, your triumphs over adversity, your recovery after a fall, your progress when all seemed black, your rejoicing when you had finally achieved? Some of what you write may be humdrum dates and places, but there will also be rich passages that will be quoted by your posterity. 

-President Spencer W. Kimball

How to Organize Your Emails, Letters, and Photos

Keeping 2 years worth of emails, letters, and photos organized is no easy task. Here are some tips for getting, and staying, organized.

Step 1: Have a plan.

What would you like to accomplish? Would you like everything grouped by sender? Chronological order? Letters here, emails there, and photos somewhere else?

*I recommend keeping everything in the order it is received. It's easier and tells a story at the end.

Step 2: Decide on a system

Where will you be keeping everything. There are a few options:

• Paper: You can print everything out and store a physical copy. Pros: it's accessible to everyone. Cons: it's time consuming and requires a lot of paper, ink, and other supplies.
• Computer Storage: You can store everything in a designated file somewhere on your computer. Pros: It's convenient since most correspondence is via computer these days. Cons: only accessible on that computer, also emails and paper letters can be difficult to store this way.
• Email: You can designate files in your email and store everything online. Pros: Everything is online so it's accessible from any computer. Cons: paper letters are difficult to store online.
• External Hard Drive: You can move everything to a thumb drive. Pros: Your correspondence is portable. Cons: Moving everything can be time consuming and external hard drives are subject to storage limits.
• A Marvelous Work: Of course, we unashamedly offer a service that organizes everything for you. Simply forward everything you want to save to your missionary's personalized email address and we'll compile and format everything into a book. Curious? Learn More!

*I recommend storing everything online. It's the most convenient and the most accessible.

Step 3: Adopt a few tactics

Here are a few tricks for keeping your emails, letters, and photos neat and tidy:

• Choose 1 storage location and put everything there. For example, after you send an email, go in and move your sent email to the storage location. That way you don't have to search for sent and received emails.
• Have your missionary forward any emails, letters, or photos from others that he wants included in the mission book.
• Delete anything you don't want to save for the book. Having a hard time deleting it? Maybe it should go in the book.
• If you are going to save paper letters with everything else, scan them into your computer using a home scanner. Or, if you prefer, you can type them in.

Step 4: Be consistent, or don't, it's totally up to you.

If you do these things regularly, it will take less time. Or, if you don't want to worry about it, choose a time every transfer, or every few months and get everything in order. If you wait until the end of 2 years, it can be very overwhelming.

Step 5: Have an exit strategy.

What do you plan to do with all of that saved up correspondence? Of course, we at A Marvelous Work recommend making it into a book. Stay tuned for my next post on how to make a mission book.

For the Kids

Each of us is important to those who are near and dear to us—and as our posterity read of our life’s experiences, they, too, will come to know and love us. And in that glorious day when our families are together in the eternities, we will already be acquainted. 

- President Spencer W. Kimball

10 Photos Every Missionary Should Take

Photos end up being the highlight of every mission. So if you aren't sure how to get started, or if you are having a hard time motivating your missionary to send home photos, here are a ideas to get the camera rolling.

1. Companion Photos. You think you'll never forget their faces, but just to be safe, take a photo. Plus, it's nice for everyone back home to be able to put a face to the stories.

2. Living Arrangement Photos. Whether you're living in style or sleeping on straw mats, be sure to get a photo of where you live. Places can become almost as special to us as people.

3. Study Space Photos. You're going to spend a lot of time here, so take a snapshot. It's a good reminder years later when you are trying to get back into mission-style study habits.

4. "This has been the worst day of my life" photos. Later, these will make the best stories. So when you think it can't get any worse, take a picture!

5. Investigator Photos. A photo can help bring back the spiritual experiences you have with those you serve. Take a photo to remember the people and the spirit you felt with them.

6. "This is how we spend our free time" photos. Missionaries are notoriously creative when it comes to their free time.

7. "Things I never thought I would do when I left for the MTC" photos. Sometimes mission service can be different than you thought it would be. Get pictures of the unexpected activities you find yourself using to move the work forward.

8. "This is mission life" photos. In each area, take a series of photos to capture the mission routine.

9. Favorite Eating Establishment photos. Just in case you ever come back to visit.

10. "My favorite things about this area" photos. Of course, capture the mission highlights. As you think about what your favorite things are in each area, you will find yourself focusing on the positive as well.

Keeping a Record

"In our day the Lord said to the Prophet Joseph Smith, 'And again, let all the records be had in order, that they may be put in the archives of my holy temple' (D&C 127:9).

You should continue on in this important work of recording the things you do, the things you say, the things you think, to be in accordance with the instructions of the Lord. Your story should be written now while it is fresh and while the true details are available." 

- President Spencer W. Kimball

5 Tips for Writing to a New Missionary

Those first few days in the MTC can be rough. For the last few months, he has had all of mom's attention, mounting excitement, and tons of free time. Once in the MTC, many missionaries can feel overwhelmed and perhaps forgotten. Here are a few ideas for writing to a missionary during the early days of the mission.

1. Update on life back at home. This may seem like the worst idea. Why remind a missionary of all they are missing? But missionaries don't want to feel left out. Letting them know what brothers and sisters are doing can help them feel connected to the family unit. This can also serve to be a powerful reminder of why the missionary is serving in the first place, to bring the word of God to families everywhere!

2. Plans for the future. Again, why remind the missionary of life back home? Talking about plans for the future can help a missionary get out of a rut by reminding him of the big picture. Life goes on! He has 2 exciting years ahead of him and then even more life beyond that. His family will always be there for him, missing him, supporting him, and anticipating his return (and the years of mission stories you'll be hearing over, and over, and over again!)

3. Reminder of spiritual experiences leading up to the mission. Many missionaries and families experience spiritual preparation prior to the missionary leaving. These spiritual experiences can sustain through the hard transition to full-time missionary service. Let him know that you find strength in remembering these times and he will too.

4. Photos! Everyone loves photos. Plus, it gives him something to show his new companions. This can be a nice way for a missionary to tie home life to mission service.

5. Love. Remind him that you love him, that you support him, and that you couldn't be any more proud or happy with his decision to serve. Your love can be a comforting balm to any anxiety he may be feeling about his ability to serve. Any even if he is taking to mission life like a fish takes to water, it's still nice to be loved.

Bonus! Gifts. There are lots of services that offer same-day delivery to the MTC in Provo. Be sure that cookie deliveries will make him very popular with his new companions.

Any other ideas for writing to new missionaries? Leave a comment!

It just keeps getting better...

A Marvelous Work has been simplifying for the new year! Here are the highlights...

• Your mission book is now included in the package. Same great book, but now it's included. It's like getting your book for free!
• Get started for just $25
• Get your book even faster. Returned Missionaries can sign up and order their book in as little as 2 weeks.
• More special options including hardcover books, dust jackets, and discounts for bulk orders.
• Quick and easy sign up entirely online!
• See all of the details on the service and FAQ pages

Getting all of your mission letters and photos organized can seem overwhelming, but it doesn't have to. That's what we're here for! Head on over to AMarvelousWork.com and check out the changes. We can't wait to hear from you.