Levi has all his paperwork in order for his mission. He flies out at
7:00 a.m. on the 14th (his report date to the MTC). ALL we need
to do now is buy clothing… shoes… vitamins… bug spray… etc.
He's currently taking typhoid pills - one of the joys of serving in a
sub-tropical area. From your Argentinian experience, would you
have any recommendations concerning "What you should never
leave home without"?
Some tips: I recommend getting at least 14 shirts (probably more
short-sleeve) and pairs of garments -- one of my biggest challenges in
day-to-day living is washing the laundry. Currently I bring it all to
the laundromat next door, but currently having only 8 pairs, and as 14
fit in the basket, I wash it there every two weeks and wash a bit by
hand in the week. Also, get at least 14 pairs of socks. Often someone
from the ward will wash the clothes weekly, but with the complicated
situation of bringing the clothes, waiting for the wash, picking it
up, etc, it's worth it to have a goodly quantity of the basics.
You won't wear a suit more than in the MTC, on Sundays, baptisms, and
near-monthly Zone Conference or Interviews. You could probably only
bring one (or two so as to have a backup).
Get everything polyester! Polyester suit, some three pairs more of
polyester pants. Your routine will be simplified if your suit and all
of your pants are simple black -- that way you can wear any of the
pants with the jacket. Case study: I'm on a three-day exchange and
need to be in a suit on Wednesday. I'm wearing my black Sears pants
and so I just need to ask my companion to bring the (Sears) jacket on
Wednesday to our meeting.
My shoes have held up very well -- consider bringing two pairs of the
same (good) shoe, and switch them out each day so that they can dry.
Maybe bring some extra shoe laces. Untie them and tie them every day
-- otherwise your heal will get wrecked! Polishing them frequently
keeps them in shape. Bring them to a zapatero before they get very
broken and they'll hold up great. Pro tip: take out the inner sole
each night and take out the little rocks (shake the shoe out, pick the
rocks out of the inner sole); otherwise the inner sole with wear out
quickly.
For athletic shoes favour a soccer shoe over a running shoe -- it
holds up better when you're dodging back and forth on the field!
Love,
Elder Schlachter
