Missionary Work is - Hard! — Mark & Elaine Quinn

“If it’s hard, you’re probably doing it right.”

That’s something we often tell our missionaries with a lot of love, empathy, and sometimes while handing them a protein bar and reminding them to drink lots of water. Missionary work is difficult, and we are genuinely proud of our missionaries for being willing to work hard.

The Preach My Gospel manual teaches on page 161: “Missionary work is finding people, teaching them, and helping them prepare for baptism.” It also tells us that: “Nothing happens in missionary work until you find someone to teach.”

And “finding” usually requires missionaries to do something most people avoid and that is walking up to complete strangers and starting conversations. They do this everyday and sometimes while being chased by dogs.

This week while waiting for an interview with President Quinn, missionaries polished shoes and visited with me about different ways to find people to teach. I brought along a poster I made two years ago filled with creative “finding” ideas gathered from missionaries during past interviews. Looking at it again reminded me how inventive missionaries can be when they are determined to share the gospel.

*Elders Peterson, Brogan, Welling, Hill and Wiseman with Fishers of Men (finding) board*

*Elder Jensen polishing Elder Merrill’s shoes*

Sisters Wastlund, Brunette, and Meyer have been using a whiteboard with thought-provoking questions written on it to invite conversations. They are hoping to help people talk about how our Savior, Jesus Christ, brings peace into our lives. It’s amazing how often people will stop to answer a question on a whiteboard. Who can resist being asked their opinion?

*Sisters Brunette, Meyers, & Wastlund with their white board question about peace.*

While in Napa, Elders Cook and Hale came straight to interviews after taking a recent convert, Gabe, to the temple. It was wonderful talking with Gabe about his experience at the Sacramento Temple. I asked him how the missionaries had originally “found” him.

He said he had been watching YouTube when an advertisement from the Church popped up asking if he wanted to meet with missionaries and attend church. He was interested, so he filled out the referral form. Five minutes later the missionaries called him. We laughed saying missionaries treat referrals the way teenagers treat text messages. Good job, Elders, for following up quickly. So happy to meet Gabe. What a beautiful example of how the Lord can guide people to the gospel in so many different ways—even through a YouTube ad.

*Elders Cook & Hale with Gabe at the Sacramento Temple*

One of the very best ways to find people is what we call “member work.” Missionaries invite members of the Church to think about friends, neighbors, coworkers, or family members who could use a message about Jesus Christ and the peace, hope, love, and understanding He offers. And more importantly the salvation He gives to all,

It has been a wonderful week visiting with many of our missionaries. We continue to be amazed by their faith, goodness, and willingness to keep trying—even when the work feels hard.

*Elders Black, Christensen, Jackson, & Capell*

The week started out kind of rough with P-day activities. We thought we lost Elder Sommers and Elder Schwieder while hiking. Just as we were about to send out a search and rescue crew they called to say they had just turned their phone off and were safely back from their hike. My heart is still pounding when I think about it.

Elder L. Crawford (we have two Crawfords) came down on his foot sideways while playing basketball. Cringe! Unfortunately he really damaged his foot and can’t walk on it for 6 weeks or so. We had to send him home to heal. Darn - We can’t wait to get him back!!

*Elder Harper & Elder L. Crawford with foot wrap and in a brace*

On the grandparent front, one thing we especially enjoy is receiving video clips of our grandchildren. We have watched basketball shots go in, soccer goals get scored, dance routines performed, piano recitals, and speaking in church. What a wonderful day we live in that families can instantly share these moments.

This past week we enjoyed watching a video of our granddaughter Hailey performing in her school concert, another granddaughter Odessa performing gymnastics and another granddaughter Margo, speaking in church.