One additional piece to the puzzle in deciding to serve a mission is figuring out what to do with your home while you’re away. You’ll be gone for a year to eighteen months or so, depending on the type of mission you choose to serve, and your house will need proper care while you are away.
Granted, there are many missions for seniors that now allow the seniors to remain at home and serve in their own communities, but for the purposes of this blog, we’re going to assume that you’ll be leaving your home.
First, you will want to talk to your family members and see if any of them would be willing, interested and able to come live in your home for the duration of the time you will be gone. This arrangement sometimes works out beautifully in cases of newly married grandchildren who need a place to start their lives together. If you live in a college town, you might have grandchildren who would be willing to forego the dorm life for a time and live in your home while they attend school. The tricky part is finding someone who can come when you need them to who can also leave when you need your house back.
You can also rent out your home for that length of time. By talking with friends and family, you might be able to find a suitable match. Either way, whether it’s friends or family who are staying in your home, you will want to be very clear in your expectations. Box up anything you don’t want left out. Talk to your tenants about what you expect. Can they hang pictures? What care do you expect to be taken of the furniture, plants, and lawn? What condition do you expect to find the house in when you return? What amount of money are you going to charge them to stay in your home, and how will that money transfer take place? Even if it’s family and you don’t feel the need for an official arrangement, I encourage you to make one anyway, for your protection and for theirs. It’s best to know ahead of time what you each expect rather than to come home and be horribly disappointed.
If you have family living in the area, you can let your house stand empty and have your family members come over frequently to dust, mow the lawn, pick up any mail that is still being delivered, and keep the place from becoming overgrown with weeds. In a case like this, you will want to keep the electricity on so you can have lights on at night. However, this is a time-consuming project and it would be easier to have someone actually living within the home.
In my mother’s case, she did not own a home but rather was living in an apartment when she decided to go. Her things are in storage and she will find a new apartment when she returns.
Whichever course you decide to take, as you prepare for your mission, you will find that the Lord will step in and help you find those perfect people to care for your home while you are away.
Related Blogs:
The Need for Senior Missionaries
How Will You Know if You Should Serve?