It all started in Argentina...

From May 2012 to November 2013, my parents were serving a mission in Buenos Aires, Argentina.  And one day my dad was walking alone along a river close to where they lived when a woman named Adriana spotted him and said (in Spanish), "Hey - you're a Mormon missionary, right?  Only - where is your companion and how come you are so old?" This naturally gave my dad the chance to stop and talk to her and explain the concept of senior couple missionaries. As it turns out Adriana had been praying for someone to help her get back to church and to teach her fiance about the gospel. And subsequently my dad was instrumental in both of these things. But there had been many people fishing by the river that day, and she was the only one my dad discussed the gospel with...why? Because Adriana saw his missionary badge and knew what it meant and she approached him. Of course my dad was always ready to share the gospel with anyone, anywhere, but he didn't know she was searching until he was approached by her. Hearing about this experience really made me wish I had a missionary badge of my own to wear!  But even though I am currently serving as a ward missionary, the Church won't issue you a missionary badge unless you are a full-time missionary. (I knew that, but I still had to ask!) So I had to let go of the idea of having an actual missionary badge of my own to wear. 

Then a few weeks ago my husband, Rich, and I were able to travel to the Barranquilla, Colombia mission where he had served as a full-time missionary fourteen years ago. With the exception of some MTC missionaries in the Bogota Temple, we did not see any other North Americans the entire trip.  So needless to say, a white couple wandering through the streets of Colombia drew quite a bit of attention.  Add to that the fact that my husband was speaking very good Spanish with their local accent, and people were quite curious about us.  So every time someone asked us what we were doing in Colombia we responded by saying that fourteen years ago Rich had lived and served in those areas as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This line of conversation pretty much meant that we were having many mini gospel-oriented conversations daily, which was awesome!  But the best conversation took place in a jewelry store in the old, walled city in Cartagena.  We walked in and my husband started talking to the people behind the counter.  True to his nature he was singing songs that were popular fourteen years ago and cracking jokes about being a "native" Colombian.  The salespeople were greatly entertained and naturally the "who are you and why do you speak Spanish like us?" questions followed. As Rich explained that he had lived there as a Mormon missionary, etc., a woman named Indira became very interested.  "Hold on," she said, (but in Spanish) "You are a Mormon? I thought all Mormons were boring!"  To which Rich replied, "Well - I guess not all of us!" She then continued, "Can I ask you a question...is that okay?"  She then asked us if Mormons believed in Christ.  She also wanted to know if we believed in the Bible and she asked what The Book of Mormon was then if it wasn't our "Bible."  In short we had an incredible conversation with Indira which helped her to realize that her own beliefs were already closely aligned with ours, but that she simply hadn't had a clue about who "Mormons" really were or what we believed.  It was as though she had these questions just burning in her mind but she didn't know who to ask, and she was also unsure if a "Mormon" would even want to answer them. Of course we were delighted to discuss gospel principles and our beliefs with her and we now want to follow up by sending her a Book of Mormon and our written testimonies. But again, this whole amazing conversation with Indira wouldn't have taken place at all if we hadn't had a reason to announce that we were Mormons. 

So now I am back home in Eagle, Idaho. I don't stand out, and as I go about my day no one comes up to me and asks me who I am or what I am doing here. And I certainly don't have an easy or obvious reason to announce to a complete stranger that I am a Mormon, so I don't. And as a result, the opportunity for mini gospel-oriented conversations is lost.  And that makes me sad! I found myself really missing those daily opportunities to be an "everyday missionary" to the random people I come in contact with during the course of a normal day. And I couldn't stop thinking about it.  Then I realized....the Church can't issue me an official missionary badge, but there is no reason I can't make my own "everyday missionary badge!"  I wanted something that would get noticed, something that would clearly let others know I was a Mormon, something that would let people know I welcomed questions, something I could wear everyday. And so -- My Big Yellow Button was born.
  

The idea is this: I will wear this button everywhere I go during the course of my normal life.  It is big and bright and bound to be noticed.  I may not be recognized as a "missionary," but people will be able to know that I am a Mormon and that if they have a question I welcome it!  And it would be so amazing to have someone actually ask me a question just like Indira did in Cartagena!  

And even if the person doesn't initiate a conversation, if I notice someone reading my "badge" it gives me something to start a conversation with. Not quite the same as being the only white woman in a Colombian city, but it's a start!  

And then as I wear My Big Yellow Button I will come to this blog and write about my experiences as an "everyday missionary."  At this point I am just really wondering -- Will I have anything to write about?  Will people notice? Will anyone ask me a question?  Will my experiences be positive?  Will my "badge" be effective?  Am I actually brave enough to wear it?  There's only one way to find out.....so Geronimo!!