Tips pt.1
Hey hey hey!
So I was just packing some of my winter stuff
and was having some major thoughts about "what I wish I would have packed before my mission" and thought it might be helpful to some new sister missionary somewhere to share some tips on missionary clothes.
Once I'm at the end of my mission I want to do a blog post about emotional, spiritual, and physical tips that I will have accumulated from my mission.
-Bring clothes that you ACTUALLY like.
and are YOUR style. Don't ever feel like you need to fit into a "sister missionary" way of dressing if that isn't your personality. Obviously you need to follow the guidelines, but you don't have to give up your sense of style for a year and a half.
Be creative, it's that simple.
-I have worn various outfits simply because that's what I have
but to be completely honest, I could have survived with literally like 2 skirts and maybe a dress and been completely fine. I have worn a blue skirt throughout summer and winter (there's a pic of it down below) and a black pencil skirt consistently throughout my mission. So basically, keep it basic. I got the advice to get "stretchy" skirts before my mission and I would have to just echo that.
-Don't over pack.
Save yo' money and buy stuff in your mission. I wish so badly that I wouldn't have bought pretty much anything that I did for my mission and just bought stuff here. I have gotten rid of SO much clothes and replaced them with cooler Norwegian clothes. Plus style changes over time. Why did I not think of that? duhh. I guess that would also depend on your mission, but just know that you can shop on P-days.
-Shoes.
Surprisingly enough, "the sister missionary mall" is the winner for this.
They have a ton of cute and COMFORTABLE shoes, and I honestly wish I would have gotten more there.
BUY comfortable shoes, I would say out of everything your shoes are going to be what makes it or breaks it for you. You walk like crazy people as missionaries, you need good shoes. As far as being called to Norway-the shoes are better in America.
Also bring Dr. sholl insouls--lifesavers.
-Bring cute P-day clothes??
Again this might just be a Norway deal but I had in my head that you kinda had to be ugly every single day and wear sweats on p-day and you know not ever wear cute clothes on a mission???? People. bring cute clothes. (what I mean here is I figured every p-day we would be doing crazy service and hikes and rolling in mud and stuff haha yeah you def need an outfit or two for that kind of stuff, but you need cute outfits for things like museums and your mission's culture.) I also feel like for awhile there I felt like a mermaid without legs because of the skirt all day everyday deal, but there is something important about wearing pants and I think it has a lot to do with the missionary weight gain (we will talk about that one lateerr)
-Winter stuff (Norway//cold climate).
Either have money or bring winter stuff from America. I personally brought my winter stuff and it seemed to be perfectly fine. Norway is pretty pricey so just be aware of that. I never served in the north of Norway but what I needed was one big snow jacket, one smaller jacket, and one heavy duty rain jacket. I bought gloves and things like that here and was fine.
-Jewelry.
Bring small and simple things. haha you are either sweaty or it's winter time so don't bring any jewelry that can't handle those two things.
-Don't over think it.
It might just be my personality but I freeeeaked out about every little tiny detail of what I needed to bring on my mission but honestly, keep it simple, bring the stuff you like
and have fun! It all works out anyways. ;)
If I think of anything else, I'll add it in.
Hope you are all doing wonderful and enjoying the sunshine!
Much love,
one love,
love Søster Hutchings
Pics: celebrated "America day" (I literally couldn't for the life of me remember that it is "4th of July" and kept calling it America day. lol)
We also got to spend another sunny day in Bergen on splits... :)
Love this one with my whole soul.
My dear friend Søster Bennett brought her hammock with her
and we had some good hammock-prats (chats) and it was wayyyy koselig. yeah kids you are going to have to adopt that Norwegian word, it's just irreplaceable.
This row of houses is called the "Bryggen" and is pretty famous.
These are my friends.
ha det riktig godt!