Missionary Mom Tip #8: Music!

With just one more day before Eliza came home, I posted the following on my social media accounts on March 18. 

I have a playlist of missionary music and some of my favorite albums are from the Nashville Tribute Band – “My Call to Serve” (2014) and “The Work: A Nashville Tribute to the Missionaries” (2011). Have you heard of them?

Music surely impacts the mind and the spirit – for good or bad. Some music can bring feelings of peace and happiness, other songs can bring reflection, especially if the music tells a story. 

Such as some of the songs from these two albums. A few of the songs are hitting me differently now than they did when Eliza left. 

I have been reflective the past several days.

As I consider what it was like for Eliza, as a new missionary, with many unknowns but moving forward with faith, and her saying goodbye to her family. 

I am so proud of her, for so many reasons. 

But I am also thinking of what thoughts she might be having now, 18 months later. She is heading home. Her eyes might be tearing up. She is leaving many people behind that she also loves, so many faces I hope she never forgets. Saying good-bye again. 

I am thinking of fellow missionary moms, and missionaries throughout the world, and then listening to the song, “Hardest Thing I Ever Loved to Do,” from the Nashville Tribute Band, well, I am just a little teary. 

Also, if you want to share music with your missionary that is approved and/or appropriate, consider doing so from Google Drive. 

Since Eliza has returned home from her mission, I have seen this music offer from Deseret Book. "Music for Missionaries is a 128 GB MicroSD card that is compatible with missionary phones and pre-loaded with uplifting instrumental hymns, featuring many popular genres. It includes 30+ albums and over 250 digital songs." https://www.deseretbook.com/product/6073204.html

**BONUS TIP:  This idea is from Emily Belle Freeman, I heard her talk about it many years ago, which is to suggest to your returning missionary, preferably before they leave the mission, to read Alma 26 again and write their own testimony of their mission. I love this!