I suspect that a number of the things that Sister
Anderson and I have done in our efforts to find and meet people would be
atypical for most missionaries, particularly for the young elders and sisters. But
one of the approaches discussed in Preach My Gospel for finding people is
community involvement. One of the biggest events of the year in this little
town is the annual arts festival. We had volunteered to help but no takers so
Sister Anderson and I went. It is kind of like Boise’s Art in the Park, where
all kinds and types of artists come and show and sell the items they make.
During the course of 3 or 4 hours we ran into and talked with a number of less
active members of the Branch and a number of nonmember people from the city who
we have met and know. I thought when I was out on my first mission in Denmark,
it could have taken several months to have that many positive visits.
The only thing we bought was a little Carmel Apple. But
even that was an interesting story. We ordered the Carmel apple and it was
three dollars. Well I haven’t had any cash in my wallet for several weeks
because the banks won’t cash a check unless you have an account with them and I
am too cheap to use an ATM that charges, when I am used to having that be a
free service. So I have been using the credit card for our purchases. I asked
the Carmel apple Lady if they take credit cards. She said no! And I said that
could be a problem since I don’t have any cash. Just then a lady behind us
offered to pay for us. I didn’t want her to have to do that so I open my wallet
and find there is money in there. We thank the lady for being so gracious and,
I am still not sure where the money came from because it seems like the last
time I looked, I only had 1 dollar in the wallet. Well, we eat the Carmel Apple
and walk around a little bit and this same lady that tried to pay for us comes
out from her booth,( it turns out she is one of the vendors) and finds Sister
Anderson and says “I have been looking for you, come over here, I want you to
have something”. She sells little mittens with the fingers and thumbs out so
that you can text or do whatever you do with your fingers. Anyway she tells
Linda that she wants to give her a pair of mittens and she could pick out any
pair she liked. Of course she picks leopard. Sister Anderson thanked this Lady.
We are wondering what prompted this lady to do that? As we have talked about it we think maybe we
need to find her and return a thank you gift to her. She told us she is from a
town about 35 miles north and just over the border in Missouri, but still in
the Branch. We think we know some people that can help us get contact
information, we will see what happens.
