When I Was on My Mission...: Recent Episodes
Bryan Jensen
Hello and welcome to the ‘When I Was on My Mission...’ podcast. Join Bryan Jensen as he discusses entertaining and true stories with the real-life missionaries who lived them. Every missionary has an unbelievable story - some are written down and sent home to mom, while others are saved for an occasion just like this. Tune in to listen to missionaries share unexplainable encounters, scary situations, embarrassing moments, miracles, and the down low on missionary life from all over the world.
Subscribe to be entertained weekly and DM us on instagram @wheniwasonmymission or email us at contactonmymission@gmail.com to share a story of your own!
After being separated for 50+ years, my dad found a long lost relative in Denmark. He and my Grandpa tell the generational story.
Have you heard of Skinwalkers before? All the LDS missionaries who serve on the Navajo reservation have. Glen was one of the unlucky ones to have seen two of them. He is sure they are real and is also sure that God is stronger.
This is the episode everyone has been waiting for - missionary poo stories! Many, if not all missionaries have found themselves in a terribly awkward position when they absolutely had to go to the bathroom, but something went wrong. Some missionaries made it, some did not - these are stories of those missionaries who did not. Thanks to our guests Judd Tolman, Eric Bowen, and Sylvia Bowen for sharing.
Missionaries and drug dealers don’t have a lot in common - but sometimes they are neighbors. Living next to a trap house was new for Devin, and so was getting caught in the crossfire. Bryan shares an experience with some gangster friends in NC as well.
Rondo has built AMAZING momentum in Nuremburg, but just as his work begins to pay off, he is called to Stuttgart. This is part two of Rondo Fehlberg's mission story and you have got to hear how the rest of his story goes.
If you had the choice, would you join the Olympic team or would you serve a mission? Rondo was faced with that decision, and his experience was truly one for the books.
After two long years of dedicated missionary service, Robbie found himself without any pants to wear while flying home from Spain to Salt Lake City, Utah. The only question to answer - what would he do about it?
Adam could not have been more excited to teach his first lesson on his first day in Brazil as an LDS missionary. Things took a confusing turn when his trainer explained to the investigators that Mormons pray to Joseph Smith, pay 20% tithing, and drink coffee when the situation is right. When he was told he needed to drink some coffee, Adam had an interesting choice to make.
Rule #1 of a mission is - ALWAYS stay with your companion. What happens when they run away and cannot be found? Brayden found out while in Nicaragua.
Missionaries put up with a lot. Drew decided that multiple threats on his life were worth the price of admission to stay in his assigned area in Paraguay. Turns out, 3 was the limit though. Drew also shares how he has continued rewarding missionary work through the last 20 years.
Sometimes missionaries bite off more than they can chew. Ryan and his companion came close when hosting a BBQ for their ward Christmas Party in Argentina.
Whitney shares a melody of stories, from coaching a woman through labor, to connecting generational Navajo family stories to the Book of Mormon, to uniting a family.
Peter Tolman joins us once again to share the story of one man's journey of paddling 3 days in a homemade canoe through war torn Sudan to receive the gospel of Jesus Christ. Then the subsequent impact of changing the lives of hundreds of refugees.
Missionaries are always looking for unique opportunities to serve others, sometimes those opportunities get out of control. This time, Eric almost burned down the Amazon rainforest.
Few things terrify a missionary more than an untimely need to use the bathroom. Daniel's came during the closing prayer of a lesson with a lovely Mexican family. He was never forgotten after the mess he made.
When Chris's family came to pick him up from Chile, they didn't expect to get car jacked. Live and learn. Chris shares that experience and two other stories during his time in Chile.
Alex left on his mission believing his girlfriend would wait for him. Not only was he wrong, but he didn't expect that part of that relationship would follow him to Mexico.
Two hours ahead of a scheduled appointment, Austin received an intense phone call warning him not to go. He was told "The man you are planning to meet is going to kidnap you and hold you for ransom..." Austin had to think quickly to maintain his freedom and safety.
Judd watched in amazement as a local shopkeeper went from cheating his customers out of their money to recognizing his faults and changing his life. This experience showed him the power the gospel of Jesus Christ can have on a family and a community.
Sometimes you fall short, and that is why missionaries have a companion. Its especially helpful when your wife is your mission companion. Elder Mike Dunn of the Quorum of the 70 shares what it was like to be called as a mission president and some amazing stories about great companions he had as a young missionary in Hawaii and as a mission president in South Africa.
At 14 years old, Paris was following in the footsteps of his older brothers who died from gang violence. One day, God sent missionaries to his mother and changed his life completely. His turnaround would take him across the world to offer his own missionary service.
Lisette's mission started a little rocky when she ended up with a positive pregnancy test and purple hair. But inspiring investigators and other experiences helped her know she was in the right place and grateful for the ride.
Millions of refugees flooded western Europe after the collapse of the Soviet Union. While serving in Belgium, Derek was right in the middle of that mass migration teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. Little did he know he would be playing the most complicated game of telephone across 4 languages.
Sam never imagined that a military coup would sweep through Madagascar while he was there as a missionary. He also didn't expect that the Malagasy army would mistake him for a mercenary.
Arrested in Russia, captive in a concrete basement, sitting across a table from giant guard dogs and machine guns. This was not Eric's first run in with Russian authorities and this time he had an ace in the hole.
We are so excited to have Peter Tolman back on! Peter shares an LDS mission story where he invited a drunk guy to come to church and was surprised by what happened. He learned not to judge a book by its cover and made a lifelong friend.
When Hunter's golden investigator completely ghosted, turns out he was in the last place Hunter expected - jail. How he got there, and what he did next are a different story entirely.
The tables have turned on this episode and Bryan is in the interview hot seat. What is the most awkward hug you have ever given? Bryan's came at a critical moment and he is glad he didn’t follow his instincts.
Dianna noticed a woman from her local congregation behaving strangely and had to act quickly to help a mother in need.
*This episode discusses a suicide attempt, please be aware of this sensitive topic
Deen had to travel to the other side of the world to learn he was missing an important body part. The story launched a rumor that lives to this day.
Sometimes Santa needs some help from the missionaries, and sometimes that brings a community together…
Can the gospel of Jesus Christ really change a person's outlook, identity, and life? Devin got a glimpse of what the gospel can really do when he met a ex clan member in Alabama.
Sometimes missionaries find themselves in the right place at the right time. For Matt and Dakota, that was in the Subway in the middle of Singapore to meet two strangers who somehow knew them…
Missionaries experience some crazy stuff - this story is on an ENTIRELY different level. I can't say much more than expect the unexpected and be careful who you shake hands with.
Eric never imagined he would perform an exorcism - but there he was - trying to help a friend who waded into a voodoo religion with deep ties to slavery in Suriname.
Kevin's lifeguard training came in handy as he dove into the American river to save a drowning woman. The intensity increased up when Kevin pulled her to the side and she pleaded - "please save my kids".
You would never guess the clothing (or lack thereof) that some people wear when they answer the door. Lance and Bryan shoot the breeze about funny door knocking experiences.
"Do not come out of the bathroom or we will kill you" were not words Spencer thought he would hear while serving his mission. Spencer had no choice but to remain cool and rely on his apartment mates to survive an armed invasion and burglary in Argentina.
When David showed up for a teaching appointment in downtown Oslo he was caught off guard by a broken front door and ransacked apartment. He had to quickly shift his playbook as it was clear his investigator was in some trouble.
Listen to David Cramer tell about an experience in Oslo, Norway when he served a man in unusual circumstances.
Listen to Spencer Peterson recount his experience with bidets, guns, and death threats in Argentina.