French at gas station. Sat, Aug 28, 2010.

08/28/2010. 1249. I was on my way home from doing laundry. A new gas station had opened up on the route that I had chosen to drive home. The idea occurred to me to stop and get a newspaper. I don't know if it was a spiritual prompting or not.

Anyway, the cashier was a black man who spoke with a heavy accent. So after I paid, I took a guess and asked "Parlez vous francais?" He said yes, or maybe "oui". I asked where he was originally from, and he said Niger.

I didn't offer anything at the time, but when I got back to my car, I dug out a Together Forever DVD (that has a French audio track), and an old copy of a French Liahona magazine, and took them back in.

I got back in line, and when it was my turn, I asked if he'd like a free DVD in French and a free magazine in French from my church. He was very excited about them, and enthusiastically greed to receive them. I asked if he was Muslim, since most people from Niger are Muslim. He said yes. So I made sure he knew it was Christian material and if he still wanted them, and he said no problem. He also spoke Hausa, but when I offered him a Hausa copy of the Sunday school manual (Gospel Fundamentals), he said he didn't read Hausa, just spoke it.

I don't know why I didn't offer a French Book of Mormon, but since I'm regularly in that area (about once a week) I should have opportunity to follow up.

Road Trip. Tue, Nov 24, 2009.

Road trip, on the way back from Florida.

11/24/2009. 1227. Punjabi and English Gospel Fundamentals. Bought chicken sandwich and two cans of soda. Had to drive a ways off interstate to find. Inspired stop.

11/24/2009. 1228. Another exit. Chinese declined at restaurant. But young man was interested in taking ESL class. Inspired stop.

11/24/2009. 1229. Same exit as before, just next door at the grocery store. Borrowed a phone book at the service desk. Another customer spoke with an accent. I struck up a conversation with him, and offered him a Swahili Book of Mormon, but he declined.

11/24/2009. Journal entry. Missed opportunity. I felt inspired to stop at a particular store, but didn't offer anything to the English-speaking cashier/owner.

11/24/2009. 1230. Vietnamese declined. I forget where this was, or what this one was about.

11/24/2009. 1231. An Indian couple at a gas station spoke Gujerati, gave them a pass-along card and suggested calling for Hindi. They spoke of a group of Telugu-owned stores in Atlanta.

11/24/2009. Journal entry. Missed op. Stopped at an Hispanic grocery store, and I didn't make any offers.

11/24/2009. Journal entry. Missed op. Saw a laundromat near the grocery store and thought of going there. I had only 2 days of laundry to do, and I talked myself out of it, wanting to get back home that night. But a guilty feeling later made me realize I should have gone there.

11/24/2009. Journal entry. Gas station. I thought it was inspired but nothing happened. (Several cats were on the property.)

11/25/2009. 1232. Just past midnight at a gas station near Cincinnati, I bought something and offered some DVDs to one or more ladies behind the counter, and she/they accepted them. I think I gave them a Mr. Krueger's Christmas DVD, and a Joy to the World DVD.

Chinese Bibles and DVDs at restaurant. Mon, Feb 23, 2009.

02/23/2009. 1114. I felt inspired to go out of town to have lunch at a certain Chinese buffet restaurant that I was aware of.

I put several things on my table while I ate: Traditional Script and Simplified Script copies of the Chinese Book of Mormon, English Book of Mormon, Chinese and English copies of a Liahona magazine, and two copies of a bilingual Chinese/English New Testament from the International Bible Society.

On one of her passes by, I asked the waitress if she liked to read in Chinese. She said she did, so I offered her the free material. She started flipping through the stuff, and soon we were joined by another waitress and the male cashier. Before they had to get back to work, two of them accepted the bilingual New Testaments. They said they already had copies of the Chinese Book of Mormon. However, since the word for "book" on the cover of the Chinese Book of Mormon means "Bible", they may have mistaken it for "Mormon Bible", and already having a Chinese Bible, they just said they already had it.

(Update) I later remembered that a year or more ago I sent copies of the Chinese Book of Mormon to the missionaries in that city, so it is possible that they already had copies of it.

When I paid up front, I offered the cashier DVD's of "Finding Happiness", "Together Forever" and "Heavenly Father's Plan" which he accepted.

I saw a Big Lot's on my way to this restaurant, so I planned to stop there on my way back home. But apparently, there was another delivery to be made.

Chinese to YSA RM. Mon, Jan 19, 2009

01/19/2009. Journal entry. I was on the other side of town, attending a Single Adult Family Home Evening, and had also given a ride to an investigator who wanted to go to the Young Single Adult (YSA) Family Home evening.

I met one of the YSA branch members whose family is originally from Taiwan. He still speaks and reads Mandarin. He served a mission in California. I told him about my book placements at Chinese restaurants and gave him some stuff to give out too. I gave him a copy of the "Finding Happiness" DVD, a couple Chinese Liahona magazines, and and English Liahona of the same edition as one of the chinese ones to present as bilingual material.

Chinese at restaurant. Wed, Aug 20, 2008.

08/20/2008. 1057. I stopped for supper at a Chinese restaurant on my way to an appointment with a client. I don't remember eating here before, but if I did, it's been a long time. I ordered, paid, sat down, and put some material on the table. When the cashier/waitress/owner brought my food, she didn't seem to notice the material.

When I finished eating, I was the only customer in the restaurant, so I stopped by the cashier counter and struck up a converstation with her. She accepted a Chinese and English Liahona, a Simplified Chinese copy and an English copy of the Book of Mormon, and the "Finding Happiness" DVD, which is only about 5 minutes long, and has a Chinese Audio and Video track. Their small children immediately started flipping through pictures in the magazines and in the book of Mormon.

Chinese at Restaurant. Wed, Jun 25, 2008.

06/25/2008. 1035. I was on my way back home from another city where I had supper at a Thai restaurant.

I went by a shopping center in another town. This shopping center had caught my attention on my way to the other city going the other direction. I decided to explore this shopping center, and turned off the highway.

There was a Chinese restaurant there. I had just eaten, but I figured I could get some carry-out and eat it later. I went in an ordered a meal to go. I didn't take any material with me, but struck up a conversation with the young man taking customer orders at the cashier counter.

He agreed to see some of the material I had, so I brought in a Chinese and English Book of Mormon, a Chinese Liahona, and a couple DVD's, Together Forever and Finding Happiness. He ended up accepting the "Finding Happiness" DVD.

DVD at Chinese restaurant. Tue, May 6, 2008.

05/06/2008. 1018. On my way home I stopped for supper at a Chinese restaurant that I haven't been to before. I ordered, and while waiting for the food, put out the two kinds of Chinese Book of Mormon, an English Book of Mormon, and a Chinese Liahona on the table. And I read an article in the English Liahona of the same edition as the Chinese one. When she brought the food, the waitress didn't seem to notice them. On a return trip to refill my beverage, I asked her if she liked to read Chinese. She said yes, but she didn't have time to read. She mentioned that someone comes by her house once a month to give her a Chinese magazine from a church, but it's probably another church, since she didn't say it was the same as the Liahona, but said it was smaller.

She did accept the "Together Forever" DVD that I offered her. It has a Cantonese audio track, which she speaks, and traditional Chinese script sub-titles, which are good for both Mandarin and Cantonese.

I forgot to offer "Finding Happiness" which is another good DVD for those who are not from a Christian background. So that's something to plan for next time.

Chinese DVDs at restaurant. Tue, Feb 5, 2008.

02/05/2008. 984. After volunteering at the storehouse I stopped for dinner at a Chinese restaurant that I hadn't been to before. I had the books (Chinese/English bilingual New Testament, Chinese/English copies of Book of Mormon, Chinese/English copies of Liahona) out on my table when the waitress brought my food, but she didn't say anything, and I didn't strike up a conversation.

After I was done eating the three employees were taking a break behind the counter. I could have struck up a conversation, but all I offered were two DVD's. I didn't offer the Book of Mormon, and later felt a little guilty about that since they were free and had time to talk.

They accepted the "Finding Happiness" DVD which has both a Cantonese and a Mandarin audio track, and a "Together Forever" DVD which has a Cantonese audio track, and a written Chinese (good for both Mandarin and Cantonese) subtitles option.

Behind the counter, they had a television with a built-in DVD player.

Chinese at restaurant. Fri, Feb 1, 2008.

02/01/2008. 982. I had supper at a Chinese restaurant that I hadn't been to before. I ate with a friend who is not a member of the church, so I didn't want to make too big of a deal out of it. I offered the waitress two DVD's, Together Forever, and Finding Happiness, which she accepted.

DVDs at Mexican Bakery. Wed, Oct 24, 2007.

10/24/2007. 906. 2 DVDs at Mexican bakery. I had given a man a ride to his mother's home on the opposite side of town. I used to live on that side of town, so I knew the area. I planned my trip back home, and intended to stop at a certain bank branch and use the ATM. As I neared one small strip mall, I remembered a bakery there, and felt "tugged" to stop there. I like the small loaves of white bread, so I went in and bought 3 loaves.

I thought I had enough change, but I had given my last 3 or 4 dollars in bills to the hitch-hiker. I searched my wallet and dug out all the coins from my pocket. I told the cashier I only had enough for two, and expected her to take one of the small loaves out of the bag, but she and her partner said not to worry. I paid them for the 2, plus gave them the other few coins I had.

This was kind of a lesson in humility for me, because the only reason I had been charitable to the hitch-hiker/beggar was because I felt inspired to help him, and I had been annoyed at his attitude (of not giving me enough information to feel completely safe, and of refusing the loaf of bread.) Now here were two strangers giving me a free loaf of bread and I hadn't really asked for it.

Anyway, their generosity made it easier for me to offer them something in return. I felt I owed them something, and so their generosity was a nice excuse for me to give them something in return since I was out of cash. I've been to this store at least a few times, but forgot what all I had given them. (Maybe I need to keep a file in my PDA and sync it with my home computer so I can keep track.)

So I brought in a couple of DVDs that have Spanish audio tracks. I brought back in "The Testaments", and I think "Our Heavenly Father's Plan."

I showed them the DVDs and asked if they had seen them before, and they said they hadn't. So I gave the DVDs to them, and they received them gratefully. And I said "Feliz Navidad". The DVDs clam-shells had a copy of the info flyer listing the local chapels, and a Book of Mormon pass-along card.

Chinese DVD at restaurant. English Bible to beggar. Wed, Oct 24, 2007.

10/24/2007. Journal entry. Follow up at a Chinese restaurant that I haven't been to in a while. I think the last time I ate here was in 2004 or 2005, and they accepted a Chinese Book of Mormon, and maybe an English copy. (That part of my journal is on a hard drive that won't boot, and I haven't recovered the data.) Tonight after finishing my meal there, I stopped by the counter and offered the cook/cashier (he was the only one on duty) a "Finding Happiness" DVD, which he accepted.

It was interesting in that I believe I was directed of the Spirit to go there, and in so doing, began a cross town trip that included an interesting chain of events, and another lesson for me.

10/24/2007. 905. LDS KJV Bible to beggar/hitch-hiker. I left the Chinese restaurant and headed down the road on my way home. It was a well-travelled 5 lane street (2 lanes in each direction plus a center turn lane.) Therefore, when a pedestrian was crossing it, I completely stopped even though I didn't have to in order to let him cross. That also started a chain of events.

Right after letting him cross, I believe I was spiritually directed to go to a discount store as I passed it. I didn't really need anything, but since I can always add a little to my "year's supply", it wouldn't hurt.

The man crossing the street also went to the same store, and got to the front door just before me, and held it open for me.

When in the store, and towards the back, looking for something I needed to stock up on, the same man asked for my help. At that point I felt he had targeted me, because I had been kind to him and allowed him to cross. I also have a "sap" face, and I know I attract street people asking for handouts. Well, I "target" people for the purpose of giving out books, so I figured I'd at least let him have his say.

I also felt confident that this encounter was meant to be. I had been directed to that store. So after his pitch, I asked him to wait outside for me while I finished shopping. He had said he hadn't eaten in 2 days, but I could detect alcohol on his breath. At the last minute before checking out, I got a loaf of whole wheat bread to give him.

I talked to him again after I checked out and went outside.

He wasn't entirely forthcoming in his answers, but he seemed honest "enough." He said he needed a ride to his mother's on the other side of town, but first needed to get his stuff from a motel up the street.

So I took him up the street, and the motel was a real dive. He got his stuff together, and made a phone call to let them know he was coming. I probably should have asked for their number, and called them on my cell phone, in order to confirm it was legitimate and that they really wanted him to come by. But again, the Spirit confirmed that even though this guy wasn't entirely open, it was okay to help him.

He put his stuff in the back seat, and we headed across town. I said I bought him a loaf of bread, and he said he didn't want it. I was a little put off by that. If he really hadn't eaten in a couple of days, he wouldn't be turning down fresh food. When I asked what kind of food he wanted, he suggested we stop at a restaurant. I probably would have stopped the car and told him to get out at that point, but I had to remind myself of how we met, so I tried to keep it polite.

I also remembered a lesson I learned September 10th about beggars and opportunities. And I remembered that it doesn't really matter if they are telling the truth or not, as long as the encounter turns into an opportunity to share gospel material. So in the big picture it didn't matter whether he was totally honest, or totally forthcoming, or legitimate or deserving in his requests.

At this point I knew I was being played, at least to some degree, and it stung. And my frustration probably showed. However, I realized I needed to be humble, and not blow this opportunity to share something. I didn't entirely succeed, but at least I had an opportunity to do a little better than I did on September 10th.

I told him I'd stop at a grocery store to get something for him. I asked what he wanted, and he said a couple of TV dinners and a bag of chips. So when we got off the highway, I went to a popular grocery store a block out of the way. Again, he seemed a little too choosey for someone in his alleged situation, but I tried (not entirely successfully) to be non-judgemental and humble about it.

We eventually got to his mother's apartment, and I gave him 3 or 4 dollars, which was the last folding money I had on me. Normally, I don't give money, but again, this situation was special.

I had offered him a Bible, and he agreed to receive one, so I retrieved an LDS edition King James Bible from the trunk and gave it to him. I had given him the choice of a King James or a New International Version, and he chose the King James. I made sure there was a pass-along card and an info-flyer in it.

I went to the front door with him. He knocked and a lady answered, and recognized him and acted like he was expected. I asked if she knew him, and she said he was her son. So I was satisfied that I had not been involved in anything nefarious, or caused things to be worse than before getting involved.

Now the cool part of the story really starts here, as I realized that even if nothing came of this encounter, there were some people to meet on the way back.