Mission dinner appointments

[grapevine]

What is the rule on that in some missions? I know it is not stay more than an hour. Some have rules on what days to eat and who can be there. Who keeps all those rules? We were not to solicit dinners but if we showed up at right time members still fed us anyway most did.

I have seen talks were it said members feed the missionaries. Brings me to another point. I hated with a passion asking for rides to members homes for dinner though we had limited miles. They didn't. On there schedule and cooking was a burden to them anyway why ask them to pick you up and take you back.

I had some sour things come up when we had people who called for dinners. ONe elderly women was close to bishop who was in other area. We were not to eat out of area but she insisted on us going there anyway so we did.

Another one we passed out calender in Releif Society they did and had one for missionaries. One time it got left somewere so got double booked. On splits and someone asked if we were coming. Saw one thing at peoples house. 5 minutes later calling person called and said they didn't sign up to feed you you can't do that. My comp got one as he was senior and they were at another home. She was going to tell President and on and on. We felt stupid but that was for forgetting something. Other people weren't mad at us new we got double booked. the ones we stood up. So that can cause problems.

I didn't mind da's and don't know as a giver. Just never was fan of asking them to pick us up and give us a ride back.

[LA Ute]

In our ward it's kind of a ward project to keep the missionaries fed. We pass the calendar around in RS and other meetings. In PEC we routinely ask the missonaries if they're getting fed. Some families take them out to dinner (the elders love that). We also try to be a little strategic about it and get them into less-active and part-member homes for meals (as long as they are welcome in such places). I guess how "feeding the elders" (and sisters, when we have them) is one of those traditions observed differently from ward to ward.

[wuapinmon]

Ward Council tonight. We're now making assignments to feed the sister missionaries. If you cannot fulfill your assignment, it's your responsibility to cover your assignment by finding someone who can.

[STLcoug]

We had a rule in our mission that we could only have a dinner appointment with members if there was an investigator or less active member present at the dinner.

Needless to say we didn't get many dinner appointments...I really learned to stretch my missionary funds. It kinda bothered me to know how well fed the missionaries were in other stateside missions that didn't have this rule, and we were stuck eating pbj and ramen to get through the month.

[Maximus]

We had a rule in our mission that we could only have a dinner appointment with members if there was an investigator or less active member present at the dinner.

Needless to say we didn't get many dinner appointments...I really learned to stretch my missionary funds. It kinda bothered me to know how well fed the missionaries were in other stateside missions that didn't have this rule, and we were stuck eating pbj and ramen to get through the month.

beats not being able to have dinner appointments at all.

[wuapinmon]

We had a rule in our mission that we could only have a dinner appointment with members if there was an investigator or less active member present at the dinner.

Needless to say we didn't get many dinner appointments...I really learned to stretch my missionary funds. It kinda bothered me to know how well fed the missionaries were in other stateside missions that didn't have this rule, and we were stuck eating pbj and ramen to get through the month.

Oh yeah, here are the rules for having them over:

1. No Saturdays or Sundays unless there is an investigator present.
2. No meals after 5:30PM. That's right, you have to have them fed and out the door by 5:30PM, even if you both work.
3. No breakfasts unless it's p-day.
4. They cannot consume caffeine. "It's a mission rule. We're living a higher law" (no bullshit one of them told me that).
5. No gluten (one of them is gluten free)

Seriously. I ate rice and beans for three meals a day every farking day of my mission unless I fasted to get over the chronic diarrhea.

[The_Douger]

No doubt, and I ate whatever normal food I could get ahold of. We got by on like 40dollars a month after paying the lady for rent. It was never enough.

I live in Utah so my contact with the missionaries is limited, we don't always have them in our stake. Sometimes, after hearing the stories here, I'm happy of that.

Though, I did enjoy when they stopped by and taught me the first discussion with an elder from Tonga who was learning English. I quite enjoyed that.

[Omaha 680]

Oh yeah, here are the rules for having them over:

1. No Saturdays or Sundays unless there is an investigator present.
2. No meals after 5:30PM. That's right, you have to have them fed and out the door by 5:30PM, even if you both work.
3. No breakfasts unless it's p-day.
4. They cannot consume caffeine. "It's a mission rule. We're living a higher law" (no bullshit one of them told me that).
5. No gluten (one of them is gluten free)

Seriously. I ate rice and beans for three meals a day every farking day of my mission unless I fasted to get over the chronic diarrhea.

Our last MP was a good guy but in his last few months he instituted a rule that dinner appointments had to be done by 5 unless there were investigators present. The reasoning was after 5 is prime teaching/finding time. Needless to say the missionaries ate a lot less.

The new MP quickly did away with that rule and also mandated a minimum 10 hours per week of service. I like this new guy. And the missionaries are being fed again.

[LA Ute]

Oh yeah, here are the rules for having them over:

1. No Saturdays or Sundays unless there is an investigator present.
2. No meals after 5:30PM. That's right, you have to have them fed and out the door by 5:30PM, even if you both work.
3. No breakfasts unless it's p-day.
4. They cannot consume caffeine. "It's a mission rule. We're living a higher law" (no bullshit one of them told me that).
5. No gluten (one of them is gluten free)

OK, now that is ridiculous.

[bluegoose]

I'm not sure what, if any, policy our mission has.

What I do know is that we haven't had any Elders ask us to "Set a Date" in several years. Have they finally given up on that silly program?

[Joe Public]

Seriously. I ate rice and beans for three meals a day every farking day of my mission unless I fasted to get over the chronic diarrhea.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

I like having the missionaries over, even if they are always often sometimes socially awkward. I don't ask them if there are any rules, I should maybe know the rules what being the Assistant TO the WML and all.

We have them over for dinner at about once a month, starts between 5:30 and 7 depending on what we have going on with school/practices/games/work etc. I always make them give some spiritual thought when they leave. They are welcome to stay as long as they want, as long as they understand that watching sports is probably going to happen.

[Mrs. Funk]

Any sort of entitlement when it comes to members providing meals boggles my mind. My in-laws had a set of missionaries provide them a list of meals they refused to eat and consequentially they will never be feeding at least this set again. Also, the mission-specific restrictions like wuap mentioned seem the best way to make it hard for missionaries to get to know members of the ward, or for members of the ward to ever feel comfortable enough with the missionaries to give them the names of their friends. Gah.

[Shaka]

Sheesh I wouldn't have even paid lip service to those restrictions before I ignored them. I think any attempt to control missionaries, who in reality are living off a pittance, through food is lame.

[mUUser]

OK, now that is ridiculous.

Now, now....President Whateverhisnameis is entitled to receive inspiration for his mission!!