Well this was sort of an interesting week. We got our first snow fall of the season. Claire had Hot Chocolate for the first time. We had the missionaries over for dinner. I had a missionary moment.
First off it snowed here yesterday. I was beginning to wonder if it was going to snow at all here. Most people had told us that it didn’t usually actually snow here so I wasn’t expecting too much. But yesterday we got a blizzard. Yep. They canceled our ward Christmas party, business shut down early; there was even talk about cancelling church today. It did snow a full inch and a half. The roads actually almost had snow sticking to them and the grass was almost completely covered. And yes I am serious. Apparently, last year it snowed about this same amount and they closed school for a week and people stormed the stores to stock up because they were going to be “snowed in.” A hurricane hits the coast and people still go to the beach that same day, we have tornado warnings about once a week and no one blinks an eye. We get an inch of snow and BAM you can’t buy bread at the store anymore because they’re all sold out. Crazy. Ok. Obviously it isn’t that bad. But they really did cancel the ward Christmas party, and business did shut down early, and it really did only snow about an inch and a half and it really has all pretty much melted already. I guess everyone has their things though...I can only imagine the panic if a Hurricane somehow hit Idaho or Utah….
In conjunction with the first snow fall Claire had Hot Chocolate for the first time. (See pictures below). Needless to say she loved it. Who doesn’t? What a cute kid. Obstinate at times, yes. Demanding as only a two year old can be, of course. Infuriating, often. Absolutely the cutest, most adorable, funest kid ever - without question.
We had the missionaries over for dinner. First, let me just say that the experience made me feel old. I remember when I was younger that missionaries always seemed so old and wise and cool. Then, obviously, when I was a missionary I held that same viewpoint. Now, they just seem young. Very young. Anyway, so we had dinner. Then after dinner like good missionaries do, they ask us if we know anyone they can teach, Hillary has a few people she has met in law school that she thinks might be interested so they challenge her to ask them to a ward activity or to come to church. I know no one except for the few moms from playgroups and the few guys from the ward I play basketball with. So they give me a pass along card and challenge me to give it to someone I run into a store or wherever.
Well Hillary invites a family to the Ward Christmas Party but it was cancelled. The other girl she knows already knows a lot about Mormons, she dated a few and was a brides maid to some others and thinks the missionaries are awkward. And me well I got scammed. That is correct. I got scammed in my missionary moment.
So there we were Tuesday morning we had just finished grocery shopping and me and Claire were getting ready to pull out of our parking space when all of a sudden this lady is tapping on my window. I roll it down. She relates this story about how she is to get to Jacksonville and has run out of gas and lost her credit card and can I please help her. I say sure no problem. So we go over to the gas station which is across the parking lot I go in have the cashier swipe my card then go back out to pump the gas. It only takes about 15 dollars to fill it up. I think, hum, that is strange I thought she said she had ran out of gas…but then she says, “wow I thought it was closer to empty my gas gauge is broke so I never know for sure…” she then start thanking me profusely. Then a light bulb comes on in my head, give her the pass along card! Wow, I think what a great idea! So I pull the pass along card out of my pocket tell her a little about the Book of Mormon and the Church and give her the card. She says thanks one more time and then gets in her car and drives off.
At this point I’m feeling pretty good. I helped someone out and fulfilled my missionary obligations. Then after I finish buckling Claire in and am getting into the driver’s seat a gold Toyota Camry pulls up next to me with a little old lady driving and a middle aged woman in the back. Their windows are rolled down and they are motioning me like they want to say something. “I think you just got scammed Sir.” The little old lady says.
“What?”
“You just got scammed. She has been doing this for years. She lives here in town. She did it to me about two years ago.”
“Seriously?” I reply.
“Yeah, I’m sorry. She tried to get her too,” she motions to the other lady in the back seat, “but I stopped her. We were trying to stop you too, but you were too fast.”
“You have to be careful” she says in a way a mother might lecture a naïve son. “Anymore, unless you know them, usually they are scammers and you shouldn’t help them” she continues.
“That’s sad” I say. “But, it was only 15 dollars and I think it would be sadder if people stopped helping other people just because of suspicion.”
“Oh that is true” she replies, “but you really need to be more careful.”
“Well, thanks for the information” I say.
“God bless you” she says.
The missionaries called on Weds to see how we were coming along with our challenges. I told them. They got a good laugh out of my story and said that was a first. They had never heard of anyone getting scammed while trying to spread the gospel. I said “me neither.” But hey you never know maybe she will actually call the number on the card or visit the church website…you never know what might happen.
Picture of Claire with snow from "blizzard"
Snow fall from the "blizzard" there was a little more last night..but not mcuh. (our building is in the background on the right)
Claire with hot chocolate on her face
