The wearing of the missionary badge is more than just an emblem of identity as a Mormon missionary. It also opens doors for conversation about the Church.Since there isn't anywhere in Nauvoo where you can get much in the way of groceries, we have to go to nearby communities such as Keokuk, Iowa (12 miles); Burlington, Iowa (33 miles); or Quincy, Illinois (45 miles) to find a large grocery chain store such as Walmart, HyVee or ALDI's.
Missionaries often have people talk to them or ask questions when they see the missionary badge. It gives us the opportunity to invite them to Nauvoo as well as answer questions.
We've had individuals who work in a restaurant say something about Nauvoo and we ask them if they have been there. We have given out cards with our special Nauvoo Christmas activities schedules for December 6th. One lady told us that her husband shoed horses and asked if we were near where the horses were. We give all of them cards about Nauvoo and/or the Christmas schedule.
The most interesting person we talked to recently was a fellow in Burlington, Iowa about a week ago. We had stopped at an ADLI food market to pick up some items. This guy approached us pushing his shopping cart and said, "Your are Mormons aren't you?" I said, "Yes, why do you ask?"
We then spent the next 25 to 30 minutes talking to him. He told us that he spent eight years in the Marines and was a veteran of both Iraq and Afghanistan. When we told him that or son and two son-in-laws where also Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and that Justin had received a Purple Heart, we had some things in common. By the way he received three Purple Heart awards. He had Mormons in his squads and a Major General with whom he worked closely who was a Mormon. He had biked all over the western United States.
Anyway, by the time we had finished talking we had given him one of our calling cards I had made up and a Christmas activities schedule for the Christmas in Old Nauvoo to celebrate a pioneer Christmas on December 6th. He said that he would come and look us up. His last name is Whistler.
You never know who you may engage in conversation because of the badges we wear..
