Sister Watkins - nurse going to New Hampshire
The Hollingsworths from Canada - going to South America - Medical Health Advisor
The Weidmers from California - going to Columbia, etc. - Medical Health Advisor
Today we left home about 7 and drove to Salt Lake. We parked under the Conference Center and walked across to the Church Office Building. We were quite early for our 9:00 meeting so we just took our time and looked around at all the beauty. The flowers are gorgeous and it was a nice spring day.Our training was with three other couples and a nurse. We had known one couple and the nurse in the MTC. There was one other mental health advisor and two were medical advisors.
We got lots of training on what will be expected of us - a LOT! The Church has everything set into place throughout the world. We are awed to be part of it. Rulon will be 1 of only 10 mental health advisors in the world. He will be working to get the best care for the missionaries by finding local health professionals who can work with them. He won't be doing much in the way of therapy himself.
We also were shown the way the records are to be kept - all on computer. It looks like each time a missionary visits or calls a doctor or mental health person, a record is kept. That way, the mission president and a few others can see at a glance what has been done already. It is a more uniform way to keep track of everything.
We enjoyed our day. It wasn't as spiritual as the MTC but it is all necessary.
3 comments:
That actually sounds kind of disappointing that Dad won't be doing a lot of therapy. I was envisioning him doing that for most of his mission. I guess we'll stay tuned for further updates on what will be expected of the two of you. Enjoy your week in SLC.
Dad says:
There is the issue of licensure wherever we might be. Our responsibility is to work "lawfully" within the gray area, act as advisors as much as possible, and be "innovative" in terms of the definition of what we do. Short-term therapy
(3-5 sessions) can fall within that spin.
May we give you a little perspective: Since I was a nurse, I served as the health resource person for the missionaries in the Palmyra area. I had the chance to see a number of health issues, including several of our young sister missionaries who were having problems emotionally and with depression. They were getting some counseling, but really did not get the help they needed. We really could have used you! And, we know of the loss Brad's Mission President dad feels with the departure of their Mental Health Advisor. He hopes that they will have someone in place very soon. You are a part of something very important in the lives of missionaries who need help, but you probably are getting a sense of the service you will give to Mission Presidents. It is so important and we know it will be rewarding!
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