Letter from President Needs in the Atlanta, Georgia Mission

Dear Missionary,

 

Sister Needs and I are excited and grateful that you will be joining us as a missionary in the Georgia Atlanta Mission.  Georgia is a beautiful place with friendly people, and it is an exciting time to be serving a mission here, which will bless your life in many ways.

 

One of the greatest joys in life is this time when you will be set apart and consecrated in your efforts in the work of the Lord.  Working with individuals and families, teaching them the gospel, seeing them accept gospel principles, and helping them make changes in their life, is a sacred and most humbling experience which will bring great joy into your life.  You and your family will be greatly blessed as a result of your service.

 

The time before you enter the Mission Training Center is an important time of preparation for you.  I encourage you to take full advantage of it.  The key areas upon which I would like you to focus are:

·       The scriptures (particularly the Book of Mormon and New Testament),

·       Preach My Gospel

·       The Missionary Handbook

These are the three key tools we use in the mission and I cannot stress how important it is to become as familiar as possible with these tools. 

 

Here are a few suggestions to help you further prepare:

·       Attend the temple as often as your circumstances permit

·       Learn about family history, which can be a powerful tool in finding people to teach (including completing My Family)

·       Study your call packet and the items on the missionary portal, including visiting missionaryclothing.lds.org which outlines general rules and guidelines for missionary dress and grooming.  Please carefully follow this direction in deciding what to bring.

While you are serving in the Georgia Atlanta Mission you will have the opportunity to attend the temple to participate in baptisms with recent converts as well as when converts go to receive their own endowments and sealings.  Accordingly, we ask that you bring your own temple clothing. 

 

We invite you to visit our mission Facebook page (Georgia Atlanta Mission – President and Sister Needs) and see highlights of what we are doing as a mission.  Please invite your family and friends to join the page as this tool is also used to efficiently provide information to families, particularly in times of severe storms and other similar events of concern.

Lastly, let us share a few words about health insurance.  We hope that your parents and leaders previously verified that your family health insurance covers you outside your home state.  (There may be specific forms that your insurance company can provide to help you facilitate this process.) Your personal health insurance is always the primary insurance while serving your mission.  For missionaries coming with prescriptions that will need refills, we recommend transferring them to a pharmacy with nationwide access, such as Walmart, CVS or Walgreen’s. 

      

We hope you will  enjoy this time of preparation.  Thank you for your willingness, worthiness, and dedication to be a representative and ambassador of Jesus Christ.  Sister Needs and I are looking forward to serving with you and helping to support you in your missionary efforts.

 

With love and best wishes,

 

  

 

President and Sister Needs

Georgia Atlanta Mission

 

Important Information

 

1.      You need to purchase and bring your own UNLOCKED GSM phone.  Specifications below.

 

2.      We suggest you bring your own twin sheets or budget money to buy them when you get here. The mission will provide a pillow. We can see that you get to a store on transfer day.  We have many blankets you can use, or you can buy your own.

 

3.      A lightweight winter coat or a raincoat with a warm liner is usually adequate.  We definitely get rain, but snow is very rare.  You will need gloves and an umbrella but don’t buy one yet – most apartments are well stocked with umbrellas that have been left behind.  If you find you need one just buy it here.

 

4.      We have first aid kits, bug spray and plenty of hangars in all the apartments so please disregard the call instructions asking you to bring these items

 

5.      There are many styles of bags for carrying teaching materials. Church policy precludes backpacks for your own safety. Messenger style bags with long shoulder straps work best as you could be riding a bike. 

 

6.      If you are interested in bringing a musical instrument, please call first.  We have a limited list of approved instruments missionaries are allowed to have.

 

7.      US missionaries may need their Social Security number. We do not recommend you bring your original card, but you should have a copy of your Social Security card and/or have the number memorized.

 

 

Thank you for being willing to serve the Lord.

 

 

Sister Moss

Mission Secretary

Phone: 770-486-9191

email:  2013207@ChurchofJesusChrist.org

 

The Georgia Atlanta Mission uses cars, bicycles and public transportation to preach the gospel. You (or your family) do not need to keep personal car insurance while you are serving your mission.

 

Cars

If you are interested in having the opportunity to drive a mission vehicle during your mission, you will need to bring the following information: 

 

ü  You must bring your driver’s license.

 

ü  You must provide a driving history record from your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles.

 

ü  You must provide a copy of the Church Personal Driving Record form (attached to this email).
Whether you choose to drive or not, it is important to have a Real ID compliant current driver’s license throughout your mission. It is required as identification for the airlines in order to fly home. If your license will expire prior to your return, please renew it before you leave.

Bicycles

Many of our missionaries are assigned to ride bikes as a regular part of their missionary service.  We often have bikes available in the mission and recommend you do not purchase one prior to arriving in the field.  You may be able to use one of the bikes we have or choose to purchase a bike with your own funds upon arrival in the mission field.  We have several local shops that offer a modest discount (10-15%) to our missionaries for bicycle purchases.

 

Items to bring with you or purchase in the field:

·        Required Safety items: Helmet, bright front and back lights, lock and reflective arm/leg bands.

·        Optional Equipment: Tire Repair kit

If you have any questions, please call me at 520-560-3469 or the mission office at 770-486-9191.

 

Sister Linda Dick, Vehicle Coordinator

Georgia Atlanta Mission

2013207-vc@ChurchofJesusChrist.org

 

We are so excited to have you join us here in Georgia.  Our mission is an online proselyting mission and we use smart phones to do much of our work.  Prior to going to the MTC you will need to purchase:

·        An UNLOCKED Samsung J, A, S or Note Series smart phone on the GSM carrier network.
(Ex: Amazon, retail stores, or through this website: Insight.com/missionarysmartphone)

·        Cell phone service will be provided by the mission.  If you arrive in the mission with an active personal SIM card it will need to remain in the mission office until you return home.  Any phone or phones you bring to the mission will need to have MaaS360 software installed.

·        Lost or damaged phones are your responsibility to replace/repair.  The mission may provide a short-term loaner phone while yours is being repaired.

·        You should purchase a protective case for our phone such as an Otterbox.

·        Knox version: 2.8 or above. Verify that your phone model has Knox version 2.8 or above here.

o   Note: Your phone’s model number can be verified in the product description or in the “About phone” section of the phone settings. On the website link above, the Knox version is listed next to the model code (also known as the model number). If the exact model is not listed, then that phone is not approved. Phones with a Knox version listed as 2.7.1 or below, “N/A (One UI Core device),” or “N/A (Android Go device)” are not approved. Additionally, Samsung model A10s and model A20s as well as SM-107M and SM-207M are specifically not approved at this time.

·        Operating system: Android 8, 9, or 10. “Rooted or jailbroken” devices cannot be used.

·        Internal storage: Minimum 32 GB.

·        Safeguards for Using Technology.  Please complete this section on the missionary portal prior to arriving in the mission.

 

If you have questions, please call me at the mission office at 770-486-9191 or email me at 2013207-fin@churchofjesuschrist.org.

 

Elder Moss

Finance Secretary

Georgia Atlanta Mission

 

IMPORTANT: FOR U.S. CITIZENS ONLY

 

Although this date has been delayed due to COVID 19 we need to be prepared for the eventual requirement when the federal government will require your driver license or identification card to be REAL ID compliant

 

REAL ID = your ID has a Star in the upper righthand corner.

 

You will need a REAL ID to fly, enter a military base or a federal building. ... A REAL ID will be required by the federal government on October 1, 2020, unless you have an alternate federal ID, such as a United States passport. You do not need a REAL ID to drive or receive federal benefits.

 

If your driver’s license doesn’t have a star in the upper corner of the card, then your license is not Real ID compliant. And if you are planning to take a domestic commercial flight any time after Oct 1, 2020, you will need to be prepared.