"Not allowed to touch"? Once again, we have evidence that your sources on us don't know what they are talking about. I hugged both of my parents before we parted. When I arrived at the Missionary Training Center, my parents and I went into a room with another man who then laid his hands on my head and set me apart as a missionary. We then went into a larger room with all of the other missionaries that were entering the MTC that day and their families. We were welcomed and had a bit of a sermon and then we missionaries said good-bye to our families. (As I wrote I hugged both of my parents.) Then we took our luggage up to our dorm rooms where we met our MTC companions and roommates (four missionaries/two companionships per room). Those missionaries that were from Utah may also have had the opportunity to meet with their families and friends at the Salt Lake Airport as they shipped out from the MTC to their various mission. Some of the missionaries that shipped out with me even hugged and (gasp) kissed girlfriends they were leaving behind. (With the security changes that have been made as a result of 9-11, I expect that the tradition of meeting outbound missionaries at the airport has been ended.) No where in any of this were we told that our families were not allowed to touch us. As for only calling home twice a year, there are two reasons for this. First of all, there are the economic considerations. Missionaries are supposed to live frugally. Long-distance charges can add up. This is especially true if the missionary is serving in a foreign country. Second of all there is the distraction factor. Missionaries are supposed to focus most of their energies on the work. Calling home too often would be a distraction from this focus. Phone calls twice a year plus the weekly letter provide a good balance between maintaining contact with family and friends, maintaining the focus on the work and keeping the budget under control.

Their families are allowed to hug, touch, cuddle and kiss their missionary. The calls are related to very limited expenses and so that the missionary may remain focused on his/her mission. Often a mission is the first time a young person leaves his/her family and repeated contact would only maintain their dependance on them.In the mission feild each missionary must learn to become independant and learn to turn to their companion for needed support. Later on in life these lessons become very valuable.