This is a thread for both stories of people's encounters with missionaries, and for those who are or have been missionaries to share their memorable experiences.
I've had three encounters with missionaries that were memorable. One time, I was heading back to my dorm when a guy came up to me. FYI, I usually wear a yarmulke (skullcap) in public, which does have the habit of attracting missionaries. In this case, the guy was extremely polite, and we ended up having a 40-minute discussion comparing Christian and Jewish theology. He also gave me a free New Testament (which I later gave to a Christian friend, as I already had one back home).
The second was the polar opposite. A pair of Mormon girls had decided to take the give-them-the-website-and-leave approach, but what was memorable was that they were on bicycles. Points for efficiency.
Finally, several months ago I encountered a group of young men walking onto campus, all dressed in suits with nametags, and carrying a table and a box of books. Given that the college is directly across the street from a Mormon temple, I deduced that they were Mormon missionaries who were going to set up in the free speech area. As I had little else to do at the moment, I actually approached them. We had a brief, pleasant discussion, and they gave me a free copy of the Book of Mormon.
A word of advice for missionaries: if you're actually trying to find converts, avoid the guys with yarmulkes.
I've had three encounters with missionaries that were memorable. One time, I was heading back to my dorm when a guy came up to me. FYI, I usually wear a yarmulke (skullcap) in public, which does have the habit of attracting missionaries. In this case, the guy was extremely polite, and we ended up having a 40-minute discussion comparing Christian and Jewish theology. He also gave me a free New Testament (which I later gave to a Christian friend, as I already had one back home).
The second was the polar opposite. A pair of Mormon girls had decided to take the give-them-the-website-and-leave approach, but what was memorable was that they were on bicycles. Points for efficiency.
Finally, several months ago I encountered a group of young men walking onto campus, all dressed in suits with nametags, and carrying a table and a box of books. Given that the college is directly across the street from a Mormon temple, I deduced that they were Mormon missionaries who were going to set up in the free speech area. As I had little else to do at the moment, I actually approached them. We had a brief, pleasant discussion, and they gave me a free copy of the Book of Mormon.
A word of advice for missionaries: if you're actually trying to find converts, avoid the guys with yarmulkes.
