Is It Ok to Pick Up Your Missionary?
Does the Church Discourage Picking Up Your Missionary?
A quick search of the Internet reveals several blogs proclaiming that the LDS Church discourages parents from picking up their missionary. Is it true? Let me share information directly from LDS.org.
“What should parents do if they want to pick up their missionary at the end of his or her mission?
Parents should contact the mission office where their missionary is serving to find out the release date and visa requirements, if applicable. Then parents should contact the Missionary Travel Office to obtain the travel allowance amount for the missionary. This will assist parents as they move forward with their travel plans. Parents will need to make travel arrangements for themselves and their missionary and inform the mission and the Missionary Travel Office of these plans…” -LDS.org
This is the only statement I can find that comes directly from the Church. To me, it doesn't sound like discouragement. To find out more, visit the LDS Church Missionary Travel Department Webpage.
Missionary Travel DepartmentPick Up or Visit Later - Pros and Cons
Many parents wonder if it is better to pick up their missionary at the end of the mission, or go back to visit after their missionary has arrived home. Both options work and there are pros and cons to each situation. Here are some factors that may influence your decision.
- Money The church reimburses for the missionary's return ticket, so picking up will save the cost of one flight.
- Freedom Your missionary doesn't get released until arriving home, so picking up will mean they are still a set apart missionary. They will need to follow mission rules and will have some restrictions on activities they can do.
- Schedule The release date may not work with your schedule, so returning later will give you more flexibility with your dates. On the other hand, college or job start dates may make going later more difficult.
- Visa While parents are not required to get a visa to vacation in Peru, missionary visas only last for a limited time. Though it is unlikely, there may not be time at the end of the mission to travel before the visa expires. If this is a situation that will affect your travel, the Mission President will let you know.
- Mission Preference Some Mission Presidents are fine with parents traveling around with their missionary. Others prefer the missionary to return home and be released first, and then return with family to visit at a later date. They will let you know if they prefer a return visit when you contact them.
- Planning It is important to try not to distract your missionary with too many questions about what they want to do on their tour. The end of a mission is hard enough without parents making their missionary "trunky" with lots of vacation plans. Visiting later can allow your missionary to help more with the planning. However, if you choose to pick up, you can schedule some open time in the mission area that your missionary can plan together once you are in Peru.
Whether you decide to pick up your missionary, or return for a visit after they are home, touring your child's mission can be a wonderful experience.
Still a Missionary
Remember, if you pick up your missionary in Peru, they will still be a set-apart missionary. They will be released by the Stake President when they return home. I heard of one family that arranged to have the missionary released through Skype while still in Peru, but the Mission President did not like the idea, so they didn't end up doing it. It isn't difficult to work within the mission rules. Your son or daughter will need to dress as a missionary and have a companion. They will not need to follow the daily schedule. You should talk to the Mission President to find out what rules he wants your missionary to follow.
Missionary HandbookMission Office
Contact the Mission President about Picking Up your Missionary
Contacting the Mission President is the first step in planning a trip to pick up your missionary. The Mission President assigns mission release dates, and can tell you what rules and guidelines your missionary should follow while traveling at the end of the mission.
Release Dates
Release dates are set 3 months in advance. However, if you want to start planning your trip earlier, just contact the Mission President. Just be aware that release dates are still changeable up to 3 months before the end of the mission. We started planning a year in advance. We bought our international flights with Frequent Flyer Miles, and decided it was worth it to buy ahead and risk having to change our flights. Our son’s release date was moved forward by 5 days, but he just worked with the missionaries in the office until we arrived.
Plan to show up on the date of release, not before. If you do show up early because of flight times or logistics, you will not be able to see your missionary until their mission is finished. Please realize that your missionary is still on the Lord's errand, and be respectful of Mission President's time table.
You should have been given up to date contact information in your missionary's call. If you don't have that, you can find up-to-date Mission Office information at PreparetoServe.com.
Prepare to Serve WebsiteMission Travel Department
Ticket Reimbursement
Normally the Missionary Travel Department purchases the missionary's return flight, however if you are planning to tour Peru with your missionary, you will purchase the ticket. You can be reimbursed up to the amount the Travel Department would have spent on the ticket. You can find out that amount by contacting the Missionary Travel Department within 3 months of the release date.
Share Travel Information
Once you have booked your flights, you will need to communicate flight information to both the Missionary Travel Department and the Mission Office. The Mission Office will need to file paperwork with the government of Peru to allow your missionary to leave the country. This paperwork takes a week or two to process.
I made the mistake of not giving the Mission Office actual flight numbers, so paperwork was processed while we were touring Peru. It wasn't a huge problem, but it did cause us some difficulties. The mission office needed to keep my son's residency card in order to complete the process, but we also needed the card to check in at hotels, airports, and tourist attractions. My son had a copy of the residency card, which worked, but we were questioned extensively at each location about why we didn't have the original.
LDS Mission Travel DepartmentVisa and Passport Requirements
Tourists visiting Peru on vacation do not need a visa. They do need to provide evidence of when they will leave Peru, such as a return airline ticket. When entering Peru, you will be given a paper with a stamp on it. You will be asked for this paper at every hotel and airport, and at many tourist attractions. You will also need it in order to leave the country.
Passports need to be valid for 6 months after you will be traveling. It can take 6 weeks to get a new passport, so apply early. In a hurry? Passports can be expedited in 2 weeks for a significant fee. If you are near a Regional Passport Agency you can apply in person and get your passport the same or next day.
Find out information about visa and passport requirements for Peru, how to apply for a passport, and general Peru travel information from the US Department of State website.
US Travel Department