Bengali at laundromat. Mon, Oct 25, 2010.

10/25/2010. 1258. A couple from Bangladesh was using the washer next to mine, and I struck up a conversation with them. Later, I helped them use a dryer, as they seemed unfamiliar with the temperature setting, and how many dryer sheets to use.

Before I was done folding my laundry, they were sitting around waiting, so I offered them the Book of Mormon in Bengali. The husband agreed to receive it, and was enthusiastic about getting something to read in Bengali. I made him aware that it was Christian material from church, and he didn't have a problem with that. Almost all people from Bangladesh are Muslim.

I retrieved the Bengali copy and an English copy from my car and presented the books to them. They immediately started flipping through it, and they continued to read while I finished folding my laundry. We chatted some more and had a nice conversation. They helped me practice a few words and phrases in Bengali (aka "Bangla"), and I learned that there are regional differences in pronunciation.

Bengali at restaurant. Wed, Oct 6, 2010.

10/06/2010. 1257. It was getting towards dinner-time, and I didn't want to fix supper at home so I tried to figure out which restaurant to go to. I was trying to decide between a sit-down Chinese restaurant and a Chinese buffet. I was leaning towards the buffet while I was out doing some errands prior to eating. However, before I turned down the street to go to the Chinese buffet, it seemed like the Spirit was tugging me to a different shopping center a few blocks away.

As I got there, I still wasn't sure which restaurant to go to. But as I looked at the signs in front of the shopping center, I saw the name of one restaurant, and it seemed like the Spirit was directing me there. I've been there before, it's a national chain (and non-ethnic), and I didn't remember any ethnic employees.

I haven't been as close to the Spirit lately, so I wasn't sure about the promptings, but it felt stronger than the normal "background noise" so I decided to give it a shot.

Several of the employees looked Hispanic, but the cashier looked South Asian (from India). As I got to the cashier, he obviously had an accent, but when I guessed he was from India, he corrected me and said he was from Bangladesh.

There was no one immediately behind me in line, so I ventured to offer him a free book in Bangla (Bengali) from my church and he was very interested, and accepted the offer. I said I'd go out to the car and get him one. I made sure he knew it was Christian religious material, and he was fine with that. I also asked if it was okay to give it to him while he was on duty, and he said that was okay too. In fact, he wanted it then, and was very positive when I said I had one in the car.

After paying, I took my food to a table, then went out and retrieved a Bengali copy and an English copy of the Book of Mormon from my car. When I went back in, no one else was at the cashier station, so I had the chance to go and present it. He was very grateful for it.

Bengali at store. Pass-along card. Thu, Sep 3, 2009.

09/03/2009. 1185. While shopping at a department store I noticed a man who appeard to be from South Asia (ie, the Indian sub-continent). I stopped to ask him where he was from, and he said Bangladesh. He seemed busy, so I didn't want to make him wait while I went out to get a Book of Mormon from my car, so I offered him a customized business card size pass-along card that I had in my wallet. He politely accepted it. I explained that the Book of Mormon was available in a Bengali translation, and I said he could call the 800 number and get a free copy of one in Bengali and in English if he wanted. He was very polite, and it was a pleasant encounter.

I have to give the Lord credit for this. I was driving down the Interstate on my way home, and I felt a spiritual impression to shop for shirts at this store. And I was in need of a few new dress shirts. So not only did I get some nice shirts on sale at a ridiculously low price (I didn't even know the store was having a sale), I was able to make a contact to boot!

Bengali in parking lot. Thu, Jul 16, 2009.

07/16/2009. 1167. I went to the missionaries' apartment to pick them up to take them to a lesson. As I was walking from my car to their apartment, a man drove by whose car stereo was blasting what sounded like Indian music in Hindi. He parked just a few feet away, so I paused a few seconds while he parked. He saw me standing there, so I motioned with my hand (index finger pointing up) indicating I wanted a minute of his time. When he got out of his car and approached me, I asked him if that was Hindi music he was playing. He said yes. I said that the reason I asked was that I had some free books in Hindi from my church, and would give him one if he wanted. He didn't seem interested. I mentioned we had other languages of India too, like Telugu, Sinhala and Bengali. When I said Bengali, he got very interested, and he said that he'd like to see one, since that was his main language. I said I had them in my car, and as I went to get one, he followed me. I made sure he knew they were religious and Christian in nature, and he said that was okay. I retrieved a Bengali copy and an English copy and presented them to him, and he eagerly accepted them. I pointed out my card inside, and that he could call if he wanted any more. "And I went on my way rejoicing."

Bengali at store. Sat, Nov 29, 2008

11/29/2008. 1093. I was still on a shopping trip, on my way to Meijer to see if they had any Turkey Spam, when I noticed a new ethnic grocery store, so I stopped there and did some shopping for some food items I needed. The cashier spoke with a Bengali accent, and he was indeed from Bangladesh. I offered, and he accepted, Bengali and English copies of the Book of Mormon. I had them in the car, so I retrieved them and presented them right there.

Various. Road Trip Day 2. Tue, Jan 15, 2008

01/15/2008. Hopefully, I'll get around to fleshing this out when I get more time.

Since I flew down, and drove back, I could only take so many books in my checked baggage, and I didn't have the normal complement of inventory in my car.

952. Hindi Book of Mormon to lady at desk at motel. She declined to receive the English.

953. German declined at book store.

954. Pass-along card, Hindi, at convenience store across street from book store.

955. Simplified Chinese and English copies of Book of Mormon at Chinese restaurant near book store. DVD too, probably Finding Happiness.

956. Urdu Book of Mormon. No English. At convenience store/gas station. Man was from Pakistan. Bought item made in Mexico.

957. English KJV New Testament to cashier lady at gas station. She declined Book of Mormon and DVD.

958. Inspired exit. Urdu at gas station to cashier from Pakistan. He declined to receive the English copy.

959. Inspired exit. Cashier lady at gas station accepted NIV Bible and English Book of Mormon.

960. Gas station/truck stop. I thought I was out of Bengali Book of Mormon so gave the Bengali cashier just a pass-along card. Second cashier who spoke English only wanted an English Book of Mormon, so gave him a pass-along card too. A customer came along, an American guy who was stationed in Germany with US Army, and he spoke German, he accepted a German Book of Mormon. I asked about other employees, and they said one of the night shift cashiers spoke Urdu, so I left an Urdu Book of Mormon for him.

961. Macon, Georgia. Gas station. Hindi-speaking cashier accepted pass-along card.

962. Tug to shopping center. International store. Owner was from Sri Lanka, and she spoke Sinhala, but I didn't have any so gave her info flyer with list of languages and toll-free number to call. She also asked for Arabic, and I had that Book of Mormon so I gave that one to her. Nigerian customer wanted Igbo, but didn't have any, so gave her an info flyer. Also gave her the cell phone number of an Igbo-speaking member in the US (had his permission to give out his number to other Nigerians.) Also left a Telugu Book of Mormon with the store owner, since she knew Teulgu-speakers. Also gave NKJV (New King James Version) paperback Bibles, and KJV pocket sized New Testaments to owner and three customers. I had bought those real cheap at the book store. I had a small gospel conversation with one of the customers who is a part-time pastor.

963. Supper at a Greek restaurant. Left an info flyer with the employees to give their Greek boss. I had a Greek Book of Mormon with me, but didn't feel bold enough to leave it with them.

964. Telugu cashier at gas station. Didn't have any Telugu copies of Book of Mormon left, so gave him an info flyer with list of languages and toll free number.

965. Ethiopian cashier at gas station. Gave him an Amharic Book of Mormon, and encouraged him to call the toll free number on the flyer/pass-along card for a free English copy.

966. Pakistani cashier at gas station. Gave him Urdu Book of Mormon. He searched info flyer for his other language, and he said he was originally from Afghanistan. I asked "Pashto?". He said yes. I retrieved Pashto and English copies of Gospel Fundamentals from car and he was delighted to receive them.

967. Pakistani/Urdu cashier at gas station. I thought I was out of Urdu, but later learned I had one. I gave him a pass-along card and suggested he call for free Urdu Book of Mormon.

968. Same exit, other side of Interstate. Bengali cashier, gave pass-along card to him. Later realized I had one more Bengali Book of Mormon in car, and went back and gave it to him.

969. Gas station about a mile from exit, pass-along card for either Hindi or Bengali, forget which one.

970. Second gas station across street from previous stop, still about a mile from exit. Hindi-speaking cashier. Gave pass-along card.

971. Chinese restaurant. Simplified script Chinese and English Book of Mormon, and bilingual Simplified script Chinese/English New Testament.

Journal Entry. Should have stayed at this exit to check into a motel, but I disobeyed the Spirit and drove on.

972. Gas station. Pass-along card to Bengali-speaking owner. Other cashier from Ecuador.

973. At motel, gave Vietnamese Book of Mormon to man ahead of me in line. He said he'd give it to his father. Didn't have any more English. Stayed at this motel overnight.

Various. Road Trip Day 1. Mon, Jan 14, 2008.

01/14/2008. Hopefully, I'll get around to fleshing this out when I get more time.

Since I flew down, and drove back, I could only take so many books in my checked baggage, and I didn't have the normal complement of inventory in my car.

941. Spanish. "Together Forever" DVD to fellow diner at a Chinese restaurant. He was from Guatemala.

942. Simplified Chinese and English Book of Mormon to cook at Chinese restaurant. Cashier/waitress declined, but cook later asked to see.

943. Vietnamese declined. Cold call at Vietnamese-owned nail salon.

944. Vietnamese declined. Cold call at Vietnamese-owned nail salon.

945. Korean. "Our Heavenly Father's Plan" DVD, at service place along turnpike. Two Korean ladies parked right next to me as I was getting out of my car.

946. Turkish/English copies of Joseph Smith Testimony pamphlet, and English Book of Mormon, at a mom-and-pop restaurant. 1 Nephi 4:6

947. French/Haitian Creole/English copies of Book of Mormon at an international grocery store.

948. Twi and English copies of Book of Mormon at gas station.

949. One Traditional script Chinese, one Simplified script Chinese, and two English copies of the Book of Mormon at a Chinese restaurant. Cashier's sister is a member of the church.

950. At a gas station. Hindi/English copies of the Book of Mormon. Hindi Liahona. Punjabi Gospel Fundamentals. Punjabi/English Joseph Smith Testimony pamphlets. Punjabi man knows someone in Indianapolis.

Journal Entry. Missed opportunity with a Spanish-speaking couple at a McDonalds.

951. Bengali Book of Mormon (no english) at gas station at exit where I stayed the night.

Pass-along card, Bengali, at airport. Fri, Jan 11, 2008.

01/11/2008. 939. I was at an airport (not Indianapolis) to change planes, and noticed a sky-cap or other airport employee who looked South Asian (India or Pakistan). As I was hoping to give out the Urdu Book of Mormon, I stopped to ask him what languages he spoke. He spoke several, but his main language other than English was Bengali (also known as Bangla).

I showed him the Urdu Book of Mormon anyway, explaining that I was looking for someone who spoke Urdu, but he didn't know any off hand. He did show curiosity in the book, so I got out a customized Book of Mormon pass-along card, and gave it to him, explaining that he could call the toll-free number and get a copy in Bengali. He accepted the card, and seemed interested.

Bengali at gas station. Wed, Jan 2, 2008.

01/02/2008. 935. It was after midnight, and I had just finished up doing laundry at a 24-hour laundromat. There's a gas station next door, so after putting my laundry in the rental car, I went there to buy a newspaper.

(I had procrastinated earlier in the evening, and didn't really have to do laundry so late if I would have gotten around to it earlier. Earlier in the evening, I had felt inspired to go to a different 24-hour laundromat on the other side of town. But since I delayed, and it was so late, I went to the one on this side of town.)

The family that runs the gas station is from Bangladesh. I had given at least one of the employees there Bengali and English copies of the Book of Mormon at least a year ago.

I didn't recognize the cashier tonight, so I figured I could offer him some material. Even though I had earlier felt that I should have gone elsewhere to do laundry, I now felt as there may have been some inspiration to make an offer of material here tonight, while I was there anyway. Sort of like an "Okay, as long as you're here" kind of thing.

After paying, I asked if he spoke Bengali and he said yes. I offered him a book in Bengali from the church, and he agreed to see it. I went out to the car and retrieved Bengali and English copies of the Book of Mormon. When I went back in, he must have been in back room, as I didn't see him. So I gave the the books to one of the other employees, and said that it was in his language.

Bengali at gas station. Tue, Jun 19, 2007

06/19/2007. 837. (Road trip to visit family, continued.) Between the last entry and this one, there were some other stops, but with no obvious opportunities, and no placements attempted. Again, some stops were on my own initiative, and some were prompted, or at least I thought so.

Anyway, this particular stop was prompted, and it was obvious. This was the event that made the trip worthwhile, aside from visiting family. It made all the rejections, the confusion, the dejection, and the fruitless other stops worth it.

I bought a newspaper, and the cashier was from Bangladesh. He was outgoing and chatty, and pleasantly suprised when I spoke a few words in Bengali. He was delighted to be offered something to read in Bengali, and didn't mind at all that it was Christian material. We chatted for some time, and I eventually had to beg off when other customers got in line.

I left thinking that that encounter was meant to be, and that something will come of it.

A few miles down the road, I pulled off the Interstate again, looking for more opportunities, stopped at a couple gas stations, and then checked into a decent but inexpensive motel for the night. I probably could have driven for another hour, but felt strongly prompted to stay the night at that particular motel. I wondered if it was a timing factor to get into position for the next day, or some other reason.

I went to bed grateful for the day and for the two very enthusiastic receptions I had received along the road.

Bengali x 2 at gas station. Fri, Oct 13, 2006.

10/13/2006. 732. On my way home from a club meeting I passed a gas station that I don't think I've been to before. I thought about it, and instead of going straight home, I turned to go around the block and went back. I bought a newspaper. The two clerks appeared to be Middle-Eastern, so I asked where they were from. The one said Bangladesh. He kindly reminded me that I had spoken to him before somewhere. But I wasn't able to tell if he still had the Bengali Book of Mormon, or what exactly I had given him. He agreed to receive a copy, along with the other guy, so I retrieve two Bengali and two English copies of the Book of Mormon from the car. I also brought in a Bengali and an English (NIV) New Testament.

The first clerk gratefully and enthusiastically received them, and the second clerk was clearly interested too.

Moment #587. Hindi/Bengali/Punjabi/Malayalam at home. Tues, May 23, 2006

05/23/2006. I was going to the gym this afternoon to work out. I took a couple copies of the Book of Mormon with me out to the car to restock it due to the ones I gave out yesterday.

A taxi pulled into the court-yard and let out a passenger on the other side of the parking lot. It was a taxi company that employs many drivers from East Africa. And there I was holding an Amharic Book of Mormon in my hand. "Too easy," I thought, "I'll just wait until he pulls around, because he'll drive right past me and I can flag him down."

He took a few seconds to fill out his log sheet, and pulled around the parking lot, and I flagged him down. He stopped, and I asked what languages he spoke other than English. He spoke Hindi, Bengali, Gujerati, and Arabic. I told him my church has free books in those languages, and he asked for Hindi and Bengali.

I had the wrong one in my hand, but I was standing about 3 feet from the trunk of my car, so I asked him to hold on, and I turned around, and put the Amharic back in and got out Bengali, Hindi and English Books of Mormon, and presented them to him. He thought that was cool. I offered more for any of his friends, and he asked for Punjabi and Malayalam. I said those were in the house, and asked him to hold on again.

There's no book of Mormon in Punjabi yet, but there is Gospel Fundamentals, so I retrieved one of those from inside my apartment, and the English to go along with it.

There is Gospel Fundamentals and the Joseph Smith Testimony pamphlet in Malayalam, and I had the Joseph Testimony pamphlet, but I had forgotten that I had it. I had the Malayalam Bible handy (from International Bible Society) so I retrieved that too.

I went back out and gave him the Punjabi and English Gospel Fundamentals, and the Malayalam Bible. He was very pleased. I mentioned that the church address and my card was in the books, if he wanted to learn more or visit.

He was pleasantly surprised about the encounter, and did not give any indication that I was troubling him.