Supplies

You'll get a list of supplies with your mission call, but here are a few things I recommend. (This is NOT a complete list. Just a few suggestions.)

- Get a laundry bag with backpack straps. I had one, and I loved it. It was especially nice at the MTC. It just worked really well to have my laundry on my back so I could have my arms free to carry other things. It depends on the area/mission, but I always had to got to a laundromat. It's best to plan for it just in case.
- A mission journal! This is an absolute MUST. See my "Record Keeping" post (click here) for more about that.
- Flip-flops or other slip-on sandals. These really come in handy when taking a shower and getting ready at the MTC. They also come in handy if you have a laundromat close by. You can just slip on your sandals and run over to change the laundry.
-VERY comfortable shoes. Make sure you love them. It's worth it to spend more on good shoes.
- Lots of music! The type of music you’ll be allowed to listen to will totally depend on your mission president. I would take as much music as you can that you think would be appropriate and then send home whatever isn’t approved. You’ll get tired of your music pretty quickly though so the more, the better. You can also have a family member or friend send you more music after you find out what is approved.

FOR SISTERS:

- It's okay not to only have the button-down collar shirts. You can certainly have them, but it's nice to have a variety. Layers are great because they give you that variety. If you will have cooler weather, nice sweaters work really well. I had a few sweaters I wore over top of my collared shirts. They add warmth and variety. It's also fun to have some colored undershirts.
- Skirts need to be about mid-calf length. Bring skirts with a variety of fabrics, with the climate of your mission in mind. Make sure they are not restrictive and easy to move around in. You may need to ride a bike or climb the stairs of a bus in them. Black, gray, and brown skirts are nice because they go well with many different shirts, but you can have some color too. Whether you can have patterned skirts or not and exactly how colorful they can be will depend on your mission president.
- You can totally bring more clothes than they tell you to. I brought the 6 outfits or whatever they said to bring and then found out all the other sister missionaries brought lots more than that. They just need to be able to fit in your suitcases. You will be able to buy clothes in the mission field on P-days (using money from home), but not at the MTC.
- Don't be afraid of colorful clothes. Yeah, they can't be crazy or anything, but they don't have to be boring and plain either. Try to have as much variety with your clothes as you can.