Mission dinner appointments

[The_Douger]

No doubt he is.

Even if President Whateverhisnameis is wrong.

[Dwight Schr-ute]

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?

I'm currently a ward missionary. Our stake mission president, is still really keen on the set a date program. As is also our ward mission leader. "It works!" So we've been charged to visit EVERY ward member to have them set a date. I personally don't buy into the program as an efficient tool to motivate members to do missionary work, so refuse to try and pressure them into it. A missionary experience, a spiritual message leaving with the question if there was anything we could do to help with any of their missionary efforts.

While serving in Southern California (English) I was able to have a lot of baptism success working with members and receiving referrals. Apparently my mission president noticed this and asked me to detail my strategy at an upcoming mission conference. I'm not sure exactly what he had expected me to say, but I sure didn't ever get any kind of response from him after I said it. My message was that I hadn't once asked a member for a referral. My only secret was to display competence and love. Until members see these things, they're not going to trust you with their friends and family.

As for the feeding of missionaries, I never understand missions that put such tight restrictions on these things. It's almost impossible for a missionary companionship to have a productive relationship with ward members without the informality of a shared meal.

[BigPiney]

We always ask the missionaries if they have any dietary restrictions, or if they have a favorite meal or dessert that we could make.

We did have a diabetic elder once, so we tried to made low carb desserts and have less breads and less all sugar stuff. I am sure no one else in the ward knew, but we found out after asking and tried to accommodate.

No time restrictions for the missionaries here, that is just plain stupid.

[wuapinmon]

. 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.

This! A thousand times, THIS!

[Paperback Writer]

We always ask the missionaries if they have any dietary restrictions, or if they have a favorite meal or dessert that we could make.

We did have a diabetic elder once, so we tried to made low carb desserts and have less breads and less all sugar stuff. I am sure no one else in the ward knew, but we found out after asking and tried to accommodate.

No time restrictions for the missionaries here, that is just plain stupid.

In a few years one of my sons plans on serving a mission and he is a Type I diabetic. I hope he gets fed by thoughtful members like yourself. Foods with healty carbs like bread and many fruits (slow acting carbs with nutrition) are usually not a problem for a diabetic. It's the fast acting carbs like fruit juices and sugary stuff that can spike glucose levels in a diabetic's blood. My son's favorite dish continues to be spaghetti. Lot of carbs but the slow acting kind. Even so, the real problem is not estimating very well on the amount of carbs on one's plate which can be difficult with home cooked meals prepared by someone else. I wouldn't put it past him to inform a member while serving a mission that he's a Type I diabetic and can only eat spaghetti (because he eats it so much he knows the carb content very well).

[wuapinmon]

In a few years one of my sons plans on serving a mission and he is a Type I diabetic. I hope he gets fed by thoughtful members like yourself. Foods with healty carbs like bread and many fruits (slow acting carbs with nutrition) are usually not a problem for a diabetic. It's the fast acting carbs like fruit juices and sugary stuff that can spike glucose levels in a diabetic's blood. My son's favorite dish continues to be spaghetti. Lot of carbs but the slow acting kind. Even so, the real problem is not estimating very well on the amount of carbs on one's plate which can be difficult with home cooked meals prepared by someone else. I wouldn't put it past him to inform a member while serving a mission that he's a Type I diabetic and can only eat spaghetti (because he eats it so much he knows the carb content very well).

Big difference between being diabetic and choosing to not eat gluten. A diabetic gets my absolute best low-carb/healthy carb cooking. I'd make brisket with chimichurri for a diabetic. But saying that you don't eat gluten means that if and when, these hermanas are getting beans and rice.

[The_Tick]

Big difference between being diabetic and choosing to not eat gluten. A diabetic gets my absolute best low-carb/healthy carb cooking. I'd make brisket with chimichurri for a diabetic. But saying that you don't eat gluten means that if and when, these hermanas are getting beans and rice.

The only time we have had to deal with this is when and Elder had Celiac Disease.

So we asked everyone to accomidate accordingly if they were willing.

We have at least 4 families in the ward that deal with this issue, so they were very helpful.

[wuapinmon]

The only time we have had to deal with this is when and Elder had Celiac Disease.

So we asked everyone to accomidate accordingly if they were willing.

We have at least 4 families in the ward that deal with this issue, so they were very helpful.

Again, an actual medical condition gets no flack from me. Your dietary choices as rules for both of you? No way.

[wuapinmon]

Again, an actual medical condition gets no flack from me. Your dietary choices as rules for both of you? No way.

I mean, these missionaries moved houses because one was "allergic to dust." While I'm sure that can be true, I honestly think that they just didn't want to clean an apartment that had had elders living in it for a decade.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

I mean, these missionaries moved houses because one was "allergic to dust." While I'm sure that can be true, I honestly think that they just didn't want to clean an apartment that had had elders living in it for a decade.

I believe that many with dust allergies are actually allergic to the dust mite.

[Seldom Seen Smith]

I've got kids on a very restrictive diet (no protein of any kind, no meat, dairy, grains, etc). If members feed them I'll bet the members wont be inviting them back.

[Maximus]

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.

Oh the horror!!!!! Better than beans and rice and freeze dried potatoes.

[Green Monstah]

Our missionaries have an "hour of power" between 6pm and 7pm where they have to be on the streets or teaching an investigator/less active member.

They send around the calendar with no instructions or information regarding the 6pm to 7pm rule. So, this is how it goes The night before, the Elders call the family:

Elder: "Can we come over at 5pm for dinner?" {note:Because we live in the burbs, no one can be home from work that early.}

Member: "5 is a little early, can you come over at 6?"

Elder: "Only if you have a less active member or non-member at dinner. Sister, will you commit to having a non-member or less active member over for dinner tomorrow?"

Member: "Uh...that's short notice."

Elder: "Okay, can you just deliver dinner to our apartment at 5 then?"

Member: "I guess."

Member calls me to verify that there is such a rule and to ask me what Elder Douchebag's problem is.

I call Elder Douchebag and ask him to let people know about the hour restrictions upfront, and he responds, "No one will sign up if we put that on the calendar." So, when I don't sign up to have them over, they ask why not, and I tell them, "Because you didn't let people know that you have restrictions on timing, which is impolite." I get back, "But it's a great way to encourage members to invite non-members over." "No, it's not," I reply.

Then I get a call from the bishop. "Bro. Monstah, the missionaries are concerned that you don't like them." "I don't." {Awkward Silence}.

[The_Douger]

Sometimes I'm so glad I didn't go stateside.

[Northwestcoug]

Our missionaries have an "hour of power" between 6pm and 7pm where they have to be on the streets or teaching an investigator/less active member.

They send around the calendar with no instructions or information regarding the 6pm to 7pm rule. So, this is how it goes The night before, the Elders call the family:

Elder: "Can we come over at 5pm for dinner?" {note:Because we live in the burbs, no one can be home from work that early.}

Member: "5 is a little early, can you come over at 6?"

Elder: "Only if you have a less active member or non-member at dinner. Sister, will you commit to having a non-member or less active member over for dinner tomorrow?"

Member: "Uh...that's short notice."

Elder: "Okay, can you just deliver dinner to our apartment at 5 then?"

Member: "I guess."

Member calls me to verify that there is such a rule and to ask me what Elder Douchebag's problem is.

I call Elder Douchebag and ask him to let people know about the hour restrictions upfront, and he responds, "No one will sign up if we put that on the calendar." So, when I don't sign up to have them over, they ask why not, and I tell them, "Because you didn't let people know that you have restrictions on timing, which is impolite." I get back, "But it's a great way to encourage members to invite non-members over." "No, it's not," I reply.

Then I get a call from the bishop. "Bro. Monstah, the missionaries are concerned that you don't like them." "I don't." {Awkward Silence}.

I see many member referrals in that missionary's future