FULL TIME MISSIONARIES ARE REALLY COOL . . .

Trying to stay warm in the winter months can be a challenge

Being a full time missionary in the Maryland Baltimore Mission can really be cool or even cold work during the winter months. This week we have had temperatures twenty degrees or colder than the normal average for this time of the year. It has been difficult for some of our young elders and sisters to be out and about doing the Lord's work in this weather especially during those days and evenings when there has been a stiff 15 to 20 mph wind blowing from the northwest creating a teeth-chattering windchill factor of only 2 degrees (and that is in Baltimore not in the western part of the mission where it is even colder).

Some of our young friends who are serving here have come from much warmer climates; and when they return home to places like California, Arizona, and Hawaii following the completion of their missionary service, they frequently leave behind heavy coats and warm hats for incoming elders and sisters who may not be prepared for the kind of cold weather they are likely to encounter in this area. 

We can easily tell which missionaries are unaccustomed to winter weather in the eastern part of the United States where humidity seems to make it feel even colder than it would if you were in a western state where the humidity is much lower. Elders and sisters from the west often wear their coats, scarves, and even gloves inside of Church buildings because they have trouble "warming up" after being outside.

Elder from Las Vegas surviving inside the Church

In Baltimore some of the elders have access to a mission car on a part-time basis. The rest of the time they must get around town by either walking or using public transportation. Although the bus is typically heated, a lot of their time is spent outside waiting for the bus to arrive, which is not a pleasant experience when it is cold and windy. Sister Lindsay and I have on occasion received a telephone call from the elders asking for a ride when their bus failed to show up and the next one isn't scheduled for another hour.

Whether the weather be fine,

Or whether the weather be not,

Whether the weather be cold,

Or whether the weather be hot,

We'll weather the weather

Whatever the weather,

Whether we like it or not!

                                             - Author  Unknown