Has anyone tried this with religious people coming to the door?

[IdaBriggs]

123. We've been feeding Mormon missionaries for about twenty years.

And the sisters regularly came and did dishes for me / cleaned my kitchen in those first few months after the twins were born. The elders (the boys - they get switched out sometimes) have provided service to us as well; one year they "waterproofed" a tent for us. Part of their "mission" is looking for ways to "serve" others during their mission time. I have found them to be "good kids" and we support them, even though we are not followers of their particular brand of faith. They are on limited budgets, and I open my cupboards to them as often as possible, especially since I know they also "know people" who need some extra help/will make sure it gets to them discretely as needed.

The interesting thing on reading this thread was that they stopped by last night (without an appointment). We have sisters this round, and they were cold, tired, and feeling discouraged. I fed them ice cream and hot cocoa, and we talked through some of the challenges they face, especially wondering if they are making any positive difference.

Remember, they are giving up twenty to twenty-four months of their lives, putting off education and employment opportunities, with no entertainment/television/movies/books/music/video games - basically NO DISTRACTIONS, and minimal contact with loved ones to *serve others* by word and deed at a time when they could be "partying" at college, AND they pay for the privilege. If they are able to educate, it makes them happy; if they find a convert, they are joyous. But regardless, they are GIVING of themselves at every level to help others for TWO YEARS -- and they are usually late teens/early twenties.

I would rather my children did this (again, not a member of their faith) than join the military. They are young people, and they are demonstrating courage in the face of cruelty/mockery/scorn, persistence in doing what they believe is right, sacrifice to help others, awareness of the needs of others (poverty/soup kitchen work and getting glimpses into the suffering of others), modesty/humbleness (the ones I've dealt with), and a dedication to charity/kindness I am simply in awe of.

I *definitely* support them.

After we talked for a while, I pulled out a religious text, randomly selected a chapter, and then we talked about how it was (or was not) relevant to things going on in our life. Without going into detail, it dealt with "prisons", which took us in a conversation about how being a person of faith does not protect you from the challenges of life/we are responsible for our own actions/thoughts, and also how easy it is to become a prisoner of our own negative thinking, bad habits and willful ignorance. ("I don't know *why* that happens to me all the time!" <-- my battle cry when I am late, which ignores *me* leaving late - lol! Free will, baby!) I had been annoyed with one of my children "acting up" in a retail establishment earlier in the day, and the conversation provided me an opportunity to "self-reflect" on how I had made the behavior a reflection on *my* parenting (prisoner of my own ego!), instead of being aware that my child was tired, bored and hungry. I hope to do better the next time that type of situation arises in the future.

I am grateful they stopped by. It was a nice visit. They seemed happier when they left; they made a difference, even if I don't convert to their faith. They are nice people.