Mormon Missionary Bags | Zion Bags

Tract bag

Going on a Mission to: Western Europe – Germany

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Going on an LDS mission is an experience that brings much joy and requires considerable preparation. Here at Zion Bags, we want to help Mormon missionaries prepare ahead to succeed when they are in the mission field. To that effect, we will be posting weekly advice on the necessary preparations for elders and sisters going to each specific mission area in the world. This advice will be drawn from experience, official LDS sources, and guest bloggers. In continuation of this series, we will focus on Europe and each week will post about the countries within it. This week: Germany. Feel free to ask us questions or give suggestions in the comments! We welcome your input.

Traveling Expenses

You might have heard that traveling within Germany (or other countries in Europe) is easy and inexpensive. The truth is traveling is not at cheap as you might think. Rates are equivalent or higher than the average price of transportation in the States. Furthermore, there are places in Germany that you can’t reach by train or bus – you might have to walk, or if you are lucky, use your bike to get places. Even if you have a car, gas can take up a considerable amount of your budget. Plan ahead for when you are traveling further than usual, and budget accordingly. In addition, bring sturdy shoes that can take the exercise.

Shoes

Source: http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/missionary-experiences-shape-future

Siesta and Sunday

We talked about siesta in one of our previous posts (link to Spain), but Spain is not the only country in Europe that takes a daily break of a few hours. In most of Germany, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM are considered quiet hours. People are vehemently against anything that breaks the silence during those hours, and they will let you know about it. Shops will close and the streets will be empty. On Sundays, almost all businesses are closed, which is great if you are LDS, but also means that there will be fewer people on the streets to talk to as a missionary. Plan your daily breaks to coincide with the quiet hours, and if you are going to visit a member or investigator on Sunday, plan ahead and be punctual.

watch

Source: http://www.toddnielsen.com/leadership-traits-2/leadership-trait-ponder-punctuality/

Culture and Communication

The following are faux pas that you should avoid when communicating with Germans:

  • Hitler jokes – while in the States these can be considered funny, in Germany the subject of World War II is best avoided altogether.
  • Too much small talk – Germans prefer speaking about timely subjects and important issues, and generally have a distaste for small talk.
  • Wishing someone happy birthday should be done on or after the day, but never before. Other countries can also share in a superstition that it’s bad luck to wish someone happy birthday before the actual day.
  • Don’t tell people you would like to visit, or invite them to church or an activity with you, if you can’t make it. Germans will take your invitation as genuine, and will expect you to be there, on time.

Sturdy Clothing and Accessories

While you don’t want to break the bank with your mission spending, you should take into account that if something breaks, it will be difficult to replace because you won’t have too much time to go shopping, and you often won’t find something of equal quality easily. Sturdy shoes and durable clothing are a must, as is a sturdy bag. Check out our offerings for shoulder/messenger bag options and accessories.

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Zion Bags

Going On a Mission To: South America

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Going on an LDS mission is an experience that brings much joy and requires considerable preparation. Here at Zion Bags, we want to help Mormon missionaries prepare ahead to succeed when they are in the mission field, especially to South America. To that effect, we will be posting weekly advice on the necessary preparations for elders and sisters going to each specific mission area in the world. This advice will be drawn from experience, official LDS sources, and guest bloggers. To start off this series of blog posts, we will cover the best advice for missionaries going to the South American continent. Let the journey begin.

1. Know the Climate

An essential part of preparing for a mission is getting to know the climate of the country you are going to live in. Generally, South America has a humid climate, with lots of rain and high temperatures year round. The closer you are to the Equator, the warmer the weather. For missions like northern Argentina and Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia, and Peru, you will most likely only need a warm jacket to get you through rainy days. Keep an umbrella with you at all times, as in some areas it’s sunny in the morning, but it rains in the afternoon.

Elder in Rain

Image Source: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/126734176987830744/

2. Know the Culture

An LDS mission comes with a good portion of culture shock for any elders and sisters who haven’t traveled outside the United States. Here are some differences you need to be prepared for:

  • People value relationships above tasks – they will need to get to know you better before setting on a baptism date
  • Most purchases are made in cash instead of cards, so make sure to carry enough around
  • Non-verbal communication is highly valued and often comes in the form of hugs, handshakes, and cheek kisses

Your area will have a specific culture and history that you must research, but the above three behaviors are similar across the board.

Hug

Image Source: http://missoulian.com/missionary-courtney-barkdull-gets-a-hug-from-stephanie-meacham/image_8ac4f77e-0e60-11e3-879e-001a4bcf887a.html

3. Lesson Materials

In the States, Church materials are relatively easy to access in physical stores or online. You will find this harder outside the border, so bring with you a Plan of Salvation diagram in your mission language, or other similar visual materials. This will help your lessons be clearer, and it will capture the attention of your younger investigators.

Plan

Image Source: http://www.themissionarydepot.com/shop/accessories/puzzles/the-plan-of-salvation-puzzle/

4. Sending and Receiving Mail

The postal service is likely to be unreliable, and the mail you get (or send) from your parents or friends might often be late, or tampered with. To avoid tampering when expecting a care package, tell your parents to attach a picture of Christ or the Virgin Mary on top of the line where the box flaps close. This helps because it reminds people that they should do the right thing. DHL is pretty reliable and we have found it more reliable than USPS.

5. Sturdy Clothing and Accessories

While you don’t want to break the bank with your mission spending, you should take into account that if something breaks, it will be difficult to replace because you won’t have too much time to go shopping, and you often won’t find something of equal quality easily. Sturdy shoes and durable clothing are a must, as is a sturdy bag. Check out our offerings for shoulder/messenger bag options and accessories.

Deseret_Book_Zion_Bags

 

Zion Bags partners with Deseret Book

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We are extremely proud to announce the retail partnership with Deseret Book Store. This is a very unique opportunity for our brand to now be a part of their family and to welcome them into our family of awesome Missionary Retailers across Utah, Idaho and Arizona. Our products will now have access to over 45 retail stores across the United States as well as their online website https://deseretbook.com/ and catalog distribution.

Deseret Book is the largest Latter-day Saint book publisher and also owns a chain of LDS bookstores in the western United States. Over 150 people work in its Salt Lake City headquarters. Deseret Book is a wholly owned subsidiary of Deseret Management Corporation, the holding company for business firms owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).

Deseret_Book

Look for our Tract sling messenger bag which retails for $79.95 and is a perfect everyday pack for everyone. It’s a great sized bag that is perfect for church, school, work and of course Missionaries traveling to the far corners of the world. The Embark continues to be our #1 selling bag and appeals to both elders and sisters with it’s compact profile and yellow accents that show a hint of personality without detracting from it’s classic features and all business functionality. This bag has also proven to be a great church, school and work bag. The WHITE bag was just recently introduced and is the perfect wet/dry bag for your Baptismal clothes. It’s great for missionaries and youth participating in temple baptisms. The WHITE bag is a special purpose bag made entirely of white materials including a pure white poly exterior and coated interior so as to be waterproof and not leak when wet items are placed inside. There is also an additional, totally separate, zippered pocket on the front panel.

Deseret_Book_Zion_Bags

Again, we welcome Deseret Book and appreciate their interest in our brand and we look forward to a long lasting relationship of providing LDS Missionaries essential gear for their missions as well as providing products for the LDS lifestyle.

Zion Bags

Tract bag and WHITE bag Arrive

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Zion Bags is extremely proud to introduce two brand new products that will be a great addition for every missionary either leaving on a mission or currently in the mission field. The Tract bag also is a great product designed for just about everyone and great for the LDS lifestyle, for church, work or school.

Tract_White_bag

Introducing the new Tract bag…

We heard you! Since introducing our line of full sized missionary bags a year ago Zion Bags has had requests to use our unique skill sets and design approach to create a smaller, leaner bag.

Introducing the Tract bag, a unisex sling messenger bag that is the perfect everyday pack for everyone but was designed specifically with tracting and missionary work in mind for those situations where a full sized bag isn’t necessary or convenient. It’s built with the same rugged construction, durable materials and attention to detail that have established Zion Bags as the leader in missionary bags.

And there has been no compromise on features in the Tract bag! The Tract bag sports a stylish, fashion forward look with its classic grey herringbone 600D exterior and sleek, ergonomic vertical profile. Shatter resistant Duraflex surface mounted buckles and durable YKK zippers and are appointed throughout this bag.

Whether worn over the shoulder employing its soft shoulder strap and comfortable shoulder pad, cinched up tight to your back with its cushioned, breathable back panel or carried to meetings with its padded top handle the Tract will make you look and feel comfortable and professional in any situation and setting.

And when the environment calls for it there is even a custom fitted, detachable rain cover which stows in a dedicated pocket so you are always ready to protect your materials and technology.

The Tract has all the pockets and features you need inside and out. Internally there are padded, fleece lined pockets for an iPad and cell phone, an organization panel for writing implements and accessories and an extra-large compartment for bulky items. Externally the Tract has quick access panels and pockets for materials, a planner, books and even a mesh water bottle pocket. Reflective piping, a bicycle light loop and detachable key fob are included to help provide additional levels of safety.

The Tract Bag is ideally suited for international travel and missions, particularly in Latin America, Asia and Africa, because of its subtle styling and light carry but is equally qualified to serve the domestic and European missionary with its portability and convenience.

In short, the Tract is the perfect bag designed for you!
Tract On!

Introducing the new WHITE bag…

What’s in a name? When it’s the WHITE bag the name says it all! It’s the perfect name for the perfectly simple product!

Ask any returned or actively serving missionary what they use (or used) to carry their baptismal whites in and, when they’ve served their purpose and are wet, what they carry them back to their apartment in and they will all tell you the same thing…in a plastic grocery, or worse, in a trash bag. Not the most appropriate conveyance for articles used in a sacred ordinance!

Well, Zion Bags took a look at this problem and, being totally dedicated as a company to providing “solutions that serve” missionaries and the LDS lifestyle, we began the process and created our newest, most innovative product yet.

We are proud to introduce the WHITE bag!

The WHITE bag, as the name would suggest, is a special purpose bag made entirely of white materials including a pure white poly exterior and coated interior so as to be waterproof and not leak when wet items are placed inside. There is also an additional, totally separate, zippered pocket on the front panel.

The WHITE bag is a sack bag with a drawstring top with its cinch cords doubling as shoulder straps allowing the bag to be worn on the back. Once emptied the bag can be pulled inside/out allowing it to air dry.

The name WHITE bag also speaks to the intended contents and purpose of the bag and is intentionally understated in its simple design and aesthetic so as not to stand out in a sacred setting. We have included several subtle gold tone accents to serve as a reminder that this bag is special.

While the initial purpose of the WHITE bag is for missionaries, it is equally suited for use by youth participating in temple baptisms and as a temple bag for adults. Also makes a great gift for new converts as they begin their journey in the church that will point them back to the temple many times throughout their lives.

The WHITE bag…..a simply perfect solution!

Visit our website for more details and pricing information.

Zion Bags