You will probably receive this same letter from your Bishops, but because you often serve as the administrator to assist the missionaries in being invited into members homes for dinner, we wanted to make sure you understood the desire of Pres. Pingree in allowing the missionaries to have their most productive time available for appointments to teach and find those interested. Your presidency may come up with alternative ways to serve and feed the missionaries. Box lunches, meals at lunch time rather than dinner (remember another priesthood holder should be present). Our missionaries are wonderful, try and work around the mission guidelines, but don't forget or ignore these young missionaries, they need the boost from ward members also to sustain them.
We love and pray for you.
Sis. Samantha Kirby
Letter from President Pingree:
Dear Stake Presidents, High Councilors over Missionary Work, Bishops, Ward Mission Leaders, and Full-Time Missionaries -
Please find attached a weekly update from the Texas Houston Mission for the week ending April 28, 2013. So far this calendar year in the mission, 88 individuals have received the gospel through baptism and confirmation, and another 284 people have returned to activity in the Church.
Also, I want to address quickly the topic of meal appointments for missionaries.
As described in the Missionary Handbook, the primary purpose of meal appointments is for missionaries to strengthen members and to help them fulfill their missionary responsibilities (p. 35). In addition, prime proselyting time for missionaries is between the hours of 6:00 PM and 9:00 PM. This is when we can find and teach the most people. As a result, we ask that if members would like to provide meals for the missionaries it be done outside of prime proselyting time unless a non-member is also present. In such a case, a meal could be set at any time. Wards that follow this guideline find more people to teach and experience an increased enthusiasm for missionary work amongst ward members.
In addition, where more than one companionship is serving in a unit, we ask that the missionaries do not eat together as a group. By scheduling separate meal appointments, missionaries are able to reach more families and keep visits more focused on the family and sharing the gospel. Exceptions to this guideline may be warranted in rare circumstances (e.g., bishop's request, ward mission correlation meeting, holidays, etc.).
Thank you for your support and help in this matter. Please know that we are very grateful for the kindness of members in providing meals and that we do want a close association between members and the missionaries. These guidelines intend simply to help meal appointments to be more effective in moving the Lord's work forward. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.
We love serving each of you and the units for which you have responsibility.
With much love and appreciate you,
John C. Pingree, Jr.
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