I was in Pamida doing some quick shopping before going to get Jon’s paycheck and I spotted some guys in suits. OK… formal suit in Pamida in Montana on a day other than Sunday — the choices are a.) a really snappy dresser or b.) a Mormon missionary.

I ran into them around the soap/shampoo/lotion section and we had kind of a nice conversation. I commented that this was the first time in about 3 years that I’d seen a Mormon. Their response: “Where have you been living?!?!?” (We don’t get Mormons in rural Minnesota and they kept to themselves in Ohio.) I told them that I was a Lutheran pastor’s wife (and thus not a great choice for conversion) but that I’d heard that they go and play cards with the people at the nursing home and I said that I thought that was really great. (The old people get contact and the boys get their missionary hours in. It’s a win-win situation.)

When I was checking out, one of them watched me haul a 30 pound bucket of kitty litter out of my cart. When it came time to leave, he reached over and grabbed the bucket and put it back for me. My comment: “I’ll put in a good word for you with my husband’s boss (i.e. God).” He laughed.

I’ve gotta say… they’re the most chill missionaries that I’ve dealt with. When I told them where I lived, I told them that I’d make sure that the coffee was out of the house and they thought that was pretty sweet.