From the Salt Lake Mission Home:

“It was with new enthusiasm, being called into missionary work, that I set out to be open to missionary and service opportunities.  With my missionary badge firmly in place, I was determined to accept a challenge from Elder Evans, of talking to everyone and asking for referrals.  My first experience happened at the grocery store. 

Coming from Delaware, I was unaccustomed to buying enough food to require help out to the car, since back east, most people shop every day for their dinner.  So, here I was at the checkout, when I heard the bagger say, ”Would you like to help out?”  I gave her my best deer in the headlights look.  I was really unsure of exactly what she wanted me to help out with, but I decided that if she needed help I could certainly offer my services.  “Sure,” I said, “What would you like me to do?”  I didn’t know how to use the cash register, but I thought perhaps I could sweep the floor or collect the carts in the parking lot or something.  She then gave me her best deer in the headlights look, and repeated herself.  “Would you like some help out?”  Understanding surged through my brain, I replied in the negative, and quickly walked out of the store embarrassed at my mistake.

Fast forward to another day and another store.  Again, in my enthusiasm for missionary work I set out to find at least one referral.  As I approached the checkout counter, I immediately heard the checker’s accent and started a conversation, asking her where she was from.  She explained that she was from Bosnia.   We began chatting about the differences in cultures between her country and ours.  I told her that even in the same country, there were many differences and told her my experience with the bagger at the first store.

As I was finishing my sort of long story, I glanced around and noticed that the three people in line behind me were all intently listening to my story.  The cashier in the next line over had stopped working completely, and was listening, as were the three or four people in her line.  As they all laughed at my story, I suddenly became very self-conscious and decided that now, with an audience of a dozen, was NOT the time to ask the Bosnian clerk if she knew about the Church. My intent was to get a referral from her, hoping she would allow the missionaries to come and visit, but instead I quickly paid for my purchases and headed for my car.  I was berating myself for being a coward.  Maybe I shouldn’t talk so much, or draw so much attention to myself.  If only I had handled things differently.

All the way out to my car, I chided myself for being such a wimp.  I was so annoyed that I had left the store without a referral!  As I was loading the groceries into the back of my Expedition, the gentleman who had been in line behind me walked up.  He started to chat with me, and I realized that this was my second chance.  He was a member of the Church, I discovered, and yes indeed he did live in my mission.  So I asked him if he had any friends or neighbors who might like to hear the message of the gospel from my missionaries.  He did!   I got a referral!  

Now, I don’t suggest that you approach things the same way I did.  But this is the lesson I learned:  When your heart is in the right place, the Lord will put people in your path.  And if you are as open and talkative as I am, all the better.

P.S.  Don’t worry, I have every intention of trying again with my new Bosnian friend, and anyone else the Lord puts in my path.”