My mission of creating facebook pages for LDS meetinghouses has passed the 1500 mark with many more to go. I started this mission when my Brazilian Gonzaga family started their missions. When Mauricio was set apart to preside over the Brazil Maceio Mission I felt a desire to also serve. Elder Neal Andersen expressed confidence I would find a way. Sharing the Gospel Online church-service mission has been my way.
I've done several projects. In the back of my mind I've been concerned about the fb pages I've been creating. They are there, but what is happening to them after I make them?
A couple of months ago fb came up with an app to more easily monitor the pages. The problem was that it only accommodated 50 pages! Blindly I added the app and step by step I've figured out the value for my work. Simply said, it helps me to be aware that "something" is going on in the pages.
Sunday I felt to browse the long list of fb pages on my desktop for indications of comments/likes on any of the pages. A quick scroll through the list startled me with how many contacts had been made. For the next three days, probably about 10 hours I started opening and responding to the posts.
Occasionally I find messages left wanting more information. Last week a woman and her family inquired about rentals in the ward in Indiana.
A summary of my favorite from Champion Alberta:
A non-attending member inquired about the RS leader leaving messages each month but no contact information. Fortunately, ldsmaps had the bishop's phone number. His wife answered and is pleased to contact the inquiring member. This is very sweet!
An inquiry for information about the members in Georgetown SC in 1897.
Another at Laval Quebec:
Comment: Jaimerais suivre une formation biblique?
Response: S'il vous plaît téléphone Bishop Lallemant, 450-592-3935.
Tom and Christopher, I hope my google translator French is correct.
Every week there are a number of likes on various pages. Then there is this man who has left the same message at many of the Orem fb pages.
Hello my name is Arturo Ibarra I need your help for to know in which church it is my son because his register in these moments it is in my church here in Tijuana. Insurgentes Stake - pinos please I need his number of church for send his register thank you for your help. atte. Brother Ibarra . second bishop in pinos My son name's is Arturo Limhi Ibarra Counter year old's 11
Passed to my Spanish-speaking manager in September. No response, yet.
Andii L Carmichael
Hi there. I was just wondering if Bryan Meyers still goes to your church? He came to Australia 12 or so years ago as a missionary and I just wondered whatever happened to him. Last I knew he was getting married to a girl named Melissa, or at least I think that is what her name is. It would be very much appreciated if you can answer me back. Thank you. Andrea
My response:
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - 55 E Idaho Falls ID
I'm a church-service missionary assigned to make fb pages for the meetinghouses. I don't live in Iona.
You might try a Skype call to the Iona Ward bishop, Bishop Cox, +1 208-403-7771.
I tried his number but he was not available. You might also try writing to him at the church address. Sorry I wasn't able to help you further.
More examples:
Uday Teki
Hi ! I completed my mission in India Bangalore Mission few months ago. Please forward my resume to any who can help me find a job.
Referred to
https://www.ldsjobs.org/ers/ct/?lang=eng
Joice Amabile Almeida
Hello how do I make mormon friends in Chula Vista!?
Response:
You are welcome to visit the church. Meetings are held every Sunday, 1590 East H St, Chula Vista. Otay Lakes Ward 9:00 AM Chula Vista YSA Ward 11:00 AM Chula Vista 3rd Ward 1:00 PM
Then this one from a very irritated woman influenced me to monitor posts every day and to respond within 48 hours.
May
Janet
I wish to lodge a formal complaint about harassment. My mother, Pearl Schmidt, who lives with me, does not wish to be contacted by anyone to do with the LDS church. I sent a letter to a nice but persistent little old lady who continually came over to teach my mother when she first moved to Corvallis to live with me three years ago. I told this woman to cease calling on my mother - who is elderly and too polite to express her feelings directly to the woman. The visits upset my mom. She is not of the LDS faith, and does not wish to be approached by anyone affiliated with your organization, because although she belonged to your faith between the ages of 17 and 30, she rejected the tenets of your particular cosmology long ago. Two young men came to my door this afternoon and asked for my mother by name. My mother was very upset by this. Your missionaries and your home teachers are not welcome to pursue my mother against her will. Any further pursuit of my mother by your organization will be construed as harassment. Please make your people stop harassing my mother. If you wish to respond through Facebook, that is fine. I tried to reach people at your local telephone numbers all afternoon and never got an answer. I want to be reasonable, but pursuing my mother for almost sixty years is harassment pure and simple.
June 15
Janet
So, you do not answer your facebook pages any more than you answer your telephones? How nice for you.
June 17
Janet
What I would like is assurances that you folks will leave my mother completely alone and an apology for the harassment she has experienced over the past many decades. What was done to my father - hounding him until his death a few years ago - was unforgivable. I was present when he clearly requested that he be left alone. What made it worse is that he knew many of his harassers - which they probably thought made it OK to harass him.
Response:
Janet, I didn't see your messages left in June until now.
My apologies. I suggest you call Bishop Moore, 541-753-3975. This is his home phone number where you should be able to have better success speaking with someone. He will be able to arrange that representatives of the church do not contact your mother. Again, I'm sorry you've had such a difficult time.
From Hillsboro OR
Jessica
I am all moved up to Hillsboro. I have been going to my new ward at Beaver creek but have been unable to really talk to anyone I have two small children who are going through a lot right now so do not want to leave my side I am in desperate need of a queen or full bed, size 5 diapers and a job. please I have left a message with the relief society president for my ward but have gotten no response. We have a place to stay and I am so thankful but the kids and I are currently sleeping on the floor we had an air mattress but it has gotten a hole in it.
Response:
I hope things are better for you now Jessica and that you've been able to speak to the Beaver Creek Ward Relief Society president.
Jessica
Yes Thank-you so much. Living a crazy busy life but I feel so blessed to have it!
This is an interesting one for 2012:
John Cunningham Pastor and Staff. My name is John Cunningham I am the Republican Candidate for Indiana State Representative Dist 43. I have been endorsed by Indiana Right to Life as a Pro-Life Candidate. I am a member of Grace Baptist Church in Terre Haute Indiana. I am very Conservative,Pro family,Pro Constitution and Bill of Rights. I want to invite you to visit my website www.jc43.org and I would like to visit your church and give my Christian testimony and let people know where I stand on the issues. I am not asking to campaign at your church this I would never do out of Respect for the Lord and the Law,just an Opportunity to let people know who I am, Where I stand,and to answer any Questions they may have for me. I can be reached anytime by email or phone,I have provided contact information for you below. Thank You John Cunningham Republican Candidate for Indiana State Representative Dist 43 john.cunningham1973@yahoo.com www.jc43.org 1-812-841-5734
Another:
Nicole Slinker Who is responsible for the page? I would like to update the pictures and information about the place as well as add missionary contact info.
Response:
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - Louisville KY
Nicole, I just came across your comment from May. Sorry for the delay. I'm a church-service missionary creating fb pages for LDS meeting houses. You can add the missionary contact information as a post as well as add pictures as posts. Please do. Thanks for your interest.
There have been about a dozen scam-type posts which I've opted to delete but this one I kept and answered.
Chrize Ugo hello my name is chrize Ugo from west Africa i well like to know more about the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Response:
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - Windsor Lake, Columbia SC
Visit mormon.org and learn more about the Church.
The above is only from the first day
Yesterday, the wife of the ward mission leader in Dawson Creek Alaska Ward asked who was creating this other fb page for Dawson Creek Ward. After a few exchanges they accepted me in their "closed" (at the request of the bishop) fb page. It has really been interesting to browse the page since they began in April. I think the value of a ward fb page is not to just post newsletter-type information of events and happenings but also to post interesting wall photos, videos and Church news as DeAnna is doing.
DeAnna's post of "The District" prompted this blog entry. I've only watched the first 25 minute video of the series and look forward to the next two episodes.
Take a look at:
http://byutv.org/watch/188fb34f-53bc-4c0e-bc65-ef659b55652a/the-district-number-one#ooid=lma3A4NjoQVQgUpxAM0MKxkWHYHS5RpA
I'm surprised that I'm as interested in seeing the next episode of "The District" as the next of "Downton Abbey" or "Sherlock"!
Who would have believed. It feels like I'm back at the BPL reference desk.
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