Asian languages at bank. Tue, Sep 8, 2009.

09/08/2009. 1187. I was at the bank. The customer at the next window over appeared Asian, and he was being chatty with the teller. So after we were both done, I started a conversation with him based on something he said to the teller. It turned out he spoke Korean, Chinese, Japanese, and German. He accepted my offer for copies of the Book of Mormon in those languages, plus English. He was parked just a couple spots over from me, so it was easy to hand them to him from the trunk of my car. He seemed genuinely appreciative of the gifts.

Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa, German at store. Mon, Oct 6, 2008.

10/06/2008. 1073. I was shopping at a nearby "close-out store". Two emloyees were talking in an aisle, and one had an accent. I asked him what country he was from, and he said Nigeria. I asked if he spoke Igbo or Yoruba, and he said both. I asked if he spoke Hausa, and he said he spoke that too. I asked if he read all those, and he said he did.

I offered him "free books from my church" in his languages, and he agreed to receive them. He said it was okay to bring them into the store, and I pointed out they were Christian, and he said that was okay.

I bought back in Igbo, Yoruba and English copies of the Book of Mormon, and Hausa and English copies of Gospel Fundamentals. I asked him to read a verse from the two copies of the Book of Mormon, and he could read them, but I don't know if he understood them correctly. I forgot to ask him which his main or tribal language was.

He was delighted to receive the material.

1074. Another customer joined our conversation, and she asked for something in German. I said I'd get one from the car for her, but when I looked I couldn't find it. I gave one out earlier in the year, and must have forgotten to restock the car. So I gave her a couple videos that had German audio tracks, "Together Forever" and "Introduction to the Church."

I told her of several options to get a German Book of Mormon. I pointed out the info flyer in one of the DVD cases, and said she could call the local office (the mission office) or the national toll-free number to have one sent. She had asked where the church was that I go to, so I pointed out the chapel I attend, and circled the time, and said she could just show up, and I'd give her a German copy.

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.

French, German, Ewe at gas station. Wed, Aug 1, 2007.

08/01/2007. 857. I stopped at a gas station to buy some gas and soda pop. The cashier was from a country in Western Africa. He spoke English, French, German, and Ewe. I offered him church materials in those languages and he accepted, and specifically asked for a French Bible. I gave him a French New Testament, and French, English and German copies of the Book of Mormon. I was out of Ewe translations of the Joseph Smith Testimony, but I have some back home, and I said I'd drop some off at his gas station later in the week.