A Hug and a Hamburger from “In and Out”

Interview weeks are always a highlight!

This round, I had fun drinking hot chocolate with the missionaries and playing “Two Truths and a Lie” in the hallway while they waited for their turn to interview with President Quinn. A word to the wise: never assume there’s a pot in every church kitchen. I had to get very creative about how to heat up water for that hot chocolate!

*Sisters Knotts, Cockrell, Hankins, Beattie and Quinn*

It was a great week, and I learned many interesting things about the missionaries. The missionaries also shared entries from our “Coming to Know Him” journals with me. I love seeing how one prompt can lead to 150 entirely different reflections. For example, Prompt #14 reads:

“Christ knows me. He understands my heart, my area, my exact struggles. How would I imagine Him encouraging me this week?”

Here are just a few of the responses that touched my heart:

• One elder said the Savior encouraged him by painting the sky with a double rainbow—a beautiful reminder that He was aware of him.

• Another missionary admitted he hadn’t been thrilled with his area, yet the Savior helped him recognize he was perfectly positioned to bless people only he could help. He even listed those people and the reasons why it was him that needed to be there for them.

• Another wrote that he felt the Savior reassuring him, saying, “I trust you. You’re doing a good job.”

• One missionary shared that it had simply been a good week—full of lessons with a recent convert—which was exactly what he needed.

• Someone else said that seeing cool cars on the road encouraged him. You don’t usually spot them in that area, but that week they seemed to appear everywhere.

• One sister missionary wrote that she could see promises and protection from heaven manifesting in her life and then described them in beautiful detail.

• Another missionary said the prompt reminded him of Lawrence Corbridge’s talk “The Fourth Missionary,” which really inspired him.

And a few more tender entries:

• “I imagined Christ telling me to be kinder to myself—and to take my day one step at a time.”

• Another said “Sometimes I feel like I’m not enough. Christ would tell me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you.’ You are enough. You are growing and becoming. I am with you.”

And then… Elder Clark had me laughing out loud.

He said, “Sister Quinn, I probably shouldn’t write in my journal when I’m hungry, because here’s what I put:

‘What I need from Christ is a hug… and a hamburger from In-N-Out.’”

Bless these missionaries. Their honesty, humor, and faith are a joy to witness every single week.

*Sister and President Quinn off to more interviews next week*

I hope you have a wonderful week full of family, fun, friends, good food and maybe even a little football as you celebrate Thanksgiving. I so appreciate your support with our mission updates. And here is our “Coming to Know Him” journal prompt #20 ‼️

A few more photos from the week:

A Hug and a Hamburger from “In and Out”

Technology, eMed, and Caring for Our Missionaries