missionary games

We have the missionaries over most every week.   last week, the kids decided they needed to come over for a game night for family home evening.   hmmm . . . games to play with the missionaries.

here's what we came up with -

SCRIPTURE SCAVENGER HUNT
I came up with a couple versions of this game. You can make this fit any scriptures you are studying or subject you are talking about.
you could always use scriptures you're working with or the
 Articles of Faith,
The Family: A Proclamation to the World,
The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles,
 http://seminary.lds.org/mastery/?lang=eng
you can use 4 teams with each using the scripture mastery set from the 4 sets of works, old test., new test., book of mormon, doc. & cov.   everyone can use the same set, mix it up however suits your purposes.   use time limit or til each team is done or just go all together.   we aren't competitive, so we don't keep score anyway.   it would be a fun thing to take on a nature walk or on a car ride  as well.   basic scavenger hunt  except you get to be creative with it.

take this scripture for example : john 10:16  And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
you could find a sheep or something sheep related. - we got toy sheep taped together into one fold and we got a toy sheep with a farmer (shepard).
you could find something to represent fold, like folded clothing.
something for hearing or voice.
a shepherd or shepherds staff or a stick.
possibly a fence to keep the sheep together
the number 1.
you could get less symbolic and go with america or nephites/lamanites which is what this refers to. . . .
you get it.

it's fun to see what people come up with.   if someone gets too far off, take a vote.

one of the other options is to use the scriptures as clues to where to find things/more clues.
genesis 8: 6  And it came to pass at the end of forty days, that Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made. That would lead to the window where another clue would be found.  
Leviticus 25:22 22 And ye shall sow the eighth year, and eat yet of old fruit until the ninth year; until her fruits come in ye shall eat of the old store which would lead to your food storage etc.
if you've read book of mormon sleuth, it does this all the way through and has some really obscure references.

I found a quick list for a scavenger hunt if you are too lazy to look some up, (like i am)    http://katscratchme2.blogspot.de/2009/04/scripture-scavenger-hunt.html
I used all but the last one and added john 10:6 from above. We got some really creative answers. It was fun to see what they came up with.


BALLOON BOUNCE
*spiritual thought - surround yourself with those who are uplifting and be uplifting to others*
we always have balloons, they are better for you than candy.    everyone enjoyed batting them back and forth.   there are rules, but no one really plays by them for more than a few minutes.   and when you're playing with a rambunctious 2 year old, just keeping the balloon it the air is great


WHO'S THE ANIMAL?
*spiritual thought - listen closely to recognize who you're following*
To start the game, you need a person that is it. Everyone stands in the circle, except the person who is it, they stand in the middle. Put a blindfold on the person who is it. Have them say "Go" everyone runs around, not making any clue of where they are. When the person who is it says "Stop" all the people stop in the circle again. The person who is it points in a direction, saying an animal. Whoever he/she points to has to make the animal noise that they were told. Trying not to sound like themselves. The person tries to guess the person who made the noise. If he/she guesses right, the person who did the animal is it, if not you just pick someone else to be it. - Maren Jacobs from http://ldssplash.com/fhe/fhe_games/family_home_evening_games.htm
this was really fun.   we got a bit off topic and started naming pokemon and other sci-fi creatures which was just more hilarious.   one of the missionaries wasn't familiar with pokemon so he was totally lost but a good sport anyway.


 FLOUR TOWER

*this is a great example of how satan and the world slowly cuts away at your will, truth, righteous choices etc. until your most valuable possession  your eternal progression falls.   through the Atonement, you can repent and rebuild your tower and again claim eternal glory*or show how the church was cut away until it fell and was taken from the earth by God.   he used the same things (priesthood prophets etc = flour) to rebuild the church (tower)*
 use a cup and form your flour like a sand castle.  you'll have to pack it to get it to stay.  .   then put your plate on top of the cup and turn them over so the flour can come out on the plate.   i used an old ice cream cup and put a hole in the bottom so it would release easier.    clear is best so you can see if it is coming out, tapp it a bit with knife.   place a penny on the top and take turns cutting chunks off of the tower with a butter or plastic knife.   you have to cut from top to bottom, no chicken little chunks.   the one who makes the penny fall loses.    we played this a lot.   the new rule we had to make is that the little blonde 2 year old curls gets to finish the tower after the penny falls and if you're holding the knife when he bumps the table making the penny fall, you lose.


SCREAMING TOES-
spiritual thought for this game – when faced with temptation, scream and run away
so much fun!   Everyone gets in a circle. Look down, close your eyes, someone says, “1.2.3” and everyone opens their eyes to look at someone's toes. You look at the face of the owner of those toes and if that person is looking at you, you scream and get out of the circle. Sometimes we get an elder that is shy and doesn't really scream. We tell him he is going to outer darkness because he won't scream in the face of evil and then show him how to scream. They usually will get into it after they hear everyone else screaming like madmen. It's tons of fun! One of our elders made crazy noises while screaming. He unleashed his t-rex scream on my daughter. She laughed so hard that she just sat down to keep from falling over, (so did everyone else).


SIGNS A.K.A. NEPHITE IN THE MIDDLE
*spiritual thought - you could talk about gadianton robbers or recognizing evil, the murders around the judgment seat during pahoran's time is a great story for this game.
(one of the missionaries taught us this game and we have now passed it on to the next set of missionaries.) everyone has a sign.   like a finger mustache, bunny ears, pulling your hair, scratching your chin, something with your hands. It should be something you can do quickly.   one person in the middle closes their eyes and turns three times.   the people around the outside start the game while "it" turns.   That just gives everyone a chance to get going without “it” seeing. the first person makes their own sign and then another person's sign. that person makes their own sign to accept the turn. Then they make the sign of another person.   the person in the center tries to catch the person who has the sign.   so if the person has not accepted the sign yet, the person who sent it is still has it.   another version is if you send "it"out of the room and everyone makes up their sign and the person in the middle tries to guess someones sign.   the person whose sign they guess correctly is it. This gets crazy. You can sit or stand. It's better to stand, I think, so you can all move a little easier and see the other people.


STICK PULL
this is just a favorite game of joseph smith.
usually, two people sit opposite of each other, they grab a stick and try to pull the other person over.  we didn't have stick so they just held hands.   my younger two ganged up on the missionaries but it was lots of fun.


NINJA.
I failed to get spiritual thought for this one. I told the kids they could play it if they come up with something spiritual for it, didn’t but played it anyway because they all like it so much.
i don't get it cuz i'm old.  but the missionaries had played before and all of my kids thought it was great.   the little blonde curls didn't play by the rules, surprise surprise.   bow to each other.   pose like a ninja.   step or attack each move.   so the first steps or makes a new ninja pose that tries to hit the other person's hand.  you can move your hand/arm or step back to avoid the attack.  it's looks like robot ninjas and i love watching them.   its hilarious!


we'll have to do this again when it's warmer and can play outside.   one of the neighbors showed up and played with us.   the missionaries gave a short lesson and we had treats, (of course).   any other fun games?   ldssplash had a lot of other fun games as well.   they tried gospel says but it didn't go very far.    i think the curly toddler had something to do with that.   


Update-
We have now done another round of missionary monday. They did get to play the scavenger hunt outside. I gave them a positive propulsion book and a puzzle object lesson that we worked on and talked about during dinner. All worked out wonderfully again and was extremely fun! This last time we had four missionaries over instead of two. The increase in people was great.

update jan 2014
this time, we used the articles of faith for our scavenger hunt.   i have to keep reminding them that they have a time limit and it is not a race.   the scavenger hunt gives me time to get food started.  i always have to remind them to really think out of the box and get more than one thing for each scripture.   whatever is the same from the other team, doesn't count.  

we learned a new game this time.  
WASH THE DISHES
to play this game, you need a piece of paper and pencil.   decide on an order, we just used how people were sitting around the table.   the first person writes down a number and everyone in turn tries to guess it.    they are told higher or lower as they go.   the first person to guess the number is the washer.   the next person in line writes down a number.   the guessing continues until you find a new washer and the old washer becomes the drier.   this rotation in and out continues with the drier going out or putting away until all the dishes are done.   this was lots of fun but we had to keep everyone guessing.   some of them decided they wouldn't guess very fast to keep their turn from coming up or they would just guess up and down one number at t time.   stinkers.   i had to implement some rules.   the number had to be a whole number between 1 and 100.   no fractions or decimals, no numbers like 827,340,827,350,928,309,470,374 and no negative numbers.   if you have math geeks in the group, you may need to specify more rules.

 http://ldssplash.com/fhe/fhe_games/family_home_evening_games.htm

plowing straight

this joke actually has a couple of morals to it and it strikes a chord with me because i'm a farm girl.

two farmers plow their fields.   the first has nice straight rows where as the second has terribly crooked rows that don't follow each other.   the second farmer looks at the field of the first and askes him how he gets his rows so straight.    he tells him that its simple, "pick something off in the distance and use that as your guide instead of watching the ground ahead of you all the time."   so the farmer tries to plow his field again using this advice.   he comes back again with horribly crooked rows and goes to the other farmer to ask for more advice.    the experienced farmer has never seen such a thing and asks if he had chosen a distant object to focus on.   the second replies "well, i kept lined up with something in the distance just like you said.   but that dang cow i was watching just kept moving!"

quick morals to this story.   choose your long distant goals, leaders, destinations, whatever you focus on, choose wisely.  

the thing that struck me though was the reprocussions of not following a straight path.   first off, straight rows are not about looking good.   water has to flow down those rows and later, the harvester will be driving down them.   crooked lines mean the water doesn't flow correctly, the crops don't grow as well or at all.   when the harvester tries to drive through, if the lines are crooked and don't line up with each other, it runs over crop instead of running down the rows so your losing crops.   so the choices you make now can have larger effects on future "harvests".  

and really, if you don't have experience driving a tractor, maybe you shouldn't buy a farm.  

Jelly Doughnut

"The Jelly Doughnut" is a modern day parable.   I heard it from a missionary a few years ago.   My telling is no where near as good as the rendition the elder gave in sacrament meeting, but I hope that you can get the meaning out of it.   

Bro. Nichols was a great seminary teacher.   He worked to bring the spirit into every class and encourage unity within the kids.  Of course, in every group there are always those who are outsiders.   In this particular group, the outsider was Jason.   He arrived alone, sat alone, and left alone.   In between, he rarely spoke and was rarely spoken to.  

One Friday, Bro. Nichols stopped Jason as the class was leaving.   "Jason, your in pretty good shape, aren't you?" he asked.   
"I guess."  was the simple reply.
"I know you work with your dad on the weekends.   It's some heavy labor you guys do.   You could do 10 push-ups easily, couldn't you?"  Bro. Nichols asked.   
"Sure" replied Jason, with a shrug.   
"How about 100, just 10 at a time?" Bro. Nichols plied further.
"Yeah, I could do that"
"How about 300, 10 at a time?"
Jason's interest was peaked "How long would I have to do them?"
"An hour, I know you can do it" Bro. Nichols assured him.
"What's this all about?   Why am I doing push-ups?"
" I need you to help me out in class, I'd really appreciate it."
"Okay" said Jason


Monday, a large bakery box greeted the class as they entered the room.   The kids were barely able to contain themselves as the smell of doughnuts had filled the class.   Everyone quickly took their seats as napkins began to be passed out.   The first jelly doughnut was lifted from the box.   Jason proceeded to do 10 push-ups.   The doughnut was placed on the desk.   Obvious wonder passed over the class.   Another doughnut was lifted from the box, ten more push-ups, and another happy student received their treat.   First, doughnuts for no reason and then push-ups for no reason? 
The confused class began asking what was going on as the treats continued to be passed out.   Brother Nichols simply said that Jason was doing push-ups so that they could have their doughnuts.   This answer was not acceptable to the football jock, Brian, who was next to receive his doughnut.   
"I don't need Jason to do push-ups for me!   I'm doing my own."
"You can't do your own, Jason has to do them for you."
Jason was already working on a set of push-ups for Brian.  
"I don't want one then."
"Okay, that's your choice.   But you still get one." said Bro. Nichols and he placed the doughnut on Brian's desk.
Brian threw his doughnut in the trash with contempt.
Now, as the strange situation continued, there was less eating and more questions.   Jason was going more slowly, a few extra breaths between sets.   One of the girls asked if she could help Jason.   It was the first show of compassion that he'd ever received from his classmates.   It spurred him on.   Following her lead some began to voice sporadic support.   Others followed Brian's lead and vainly refused the gift.   
Half way through the class, Jason was beginning to sweat.   The supporters were more abundant now and the refusals were less.
Students began leaving their seats to stand and give encouragement where Jason began to struggle.
20 desks with doughnuts, few of them with students in them.   Students were actually cheering on the outsider.
250 push-ups done, sheer determination on Jason's face.
Even Brian and his followers had joined the encouraging on lookers.
By push-up 300, Jason's arms burned, so did every heart.
Tears flowed as Bro. Nichols explained that Jesus Christ gave all for the most precious gift ever given.   
Understanding crossed Brian's face when it was explained that we are free to chose.   We receive that gift, even if we throw it away.   No one else can earn it for us, we can not earn it for ourselves.   Salvation comes only from the one chosen by The Father.
Christ is always there, his Atonement is done, all is payed.   We chose our path, near him or far removed.   We chose what to do with our gift.  Throw it away all together, partake of a just a portion, or use it to it's fullest.   




This parable has been a strong influence for me.   One of the missionaries told me that it was actually done in his ward as a combined mutual night.   He testified of the strong spirit brought to that night by this activity.

Drink more water!

This is not a "saying" as such, but it is one of the pieces of sage advice you will hear from my grandmother.    It is the first thing she will say when: your tired, have a headache, sore throat, cough, fever, cold, flu, too hot, too cold, pregnant, working, going anywhere, coming home from anywhere, upset stomach, stressed. . . . . . . .you get the gist of it.    Have you been drinking enough water?   Do you have a bottle of water?   Let me get you a bottle of water.   You need to drink more water.


We tease her about her water obsession all the time.   We do, however, admit that it can't hurt and really does make a difference.   

So now, I've turned into my grandmother.   My kids know that the question will be coming, from me, and their grandmother, and their great-grandmother.    I ask anyone that's ailing in any way, "Have you been drinking enough water?"   I just had to laugh when my best friend called me to relate her visit to the doctor to me.   She was sick, the illness made worse because she was dehydrated.   Her doctor had asked her if no one cared enough about her to make sure she had been drinking enough.   She laughed, and said that yes someone cared.   I had been hounding her all week to drink more.   


Now, I tell you, because I care..... Drink more water!

If you don't listen, You'll have to feel

This is one of the things that I heard my grandmother say time and time again.   It was always her last effort to try and dissuade us from something she could foresee going wrong.    It was often followed by someone's pain.   After I had "felt" several times I began to listen.   Life was a bit less painful after that.

How long do I have?

This is a Mr. Bro. Nichols seminary lesson on how long we have to perfect ourselves.

You'll need:

a ball of clay for each person

blindfolds for each person, optional

  

Give each person a ball of clay and tell them to make something that represents themselves.   Blindfold each person or have them close their eyes while sculpting.   Do not give them a time limit just tell them that you will stop them when it's time.   Do not tell them how long they have or give any hint as to how much time they have, just that you will tell them when their time is up.

Give a lesson on our purpose in life.   Our responsibility is to mold our will and make ourselves into what we choose, good or evil.   

As people get "done", continue to teach the lesson.   As people begin hearing "I'm done" ring out in the room, they will try to finish up and you should be left with only a few still working.

Autn:ID - 40609

The real point of the lesson is evident when you call time and the last sculptors ask for more time.   We do not know how long we have in this life nor do we have a true vision of what we are making of the time we have.

When our class had this lesson, I figured I was done but just couldn't stop working.   Why not keep going til time is done I thought.   After all, "There is always room for improvement."   One other boy and I were the last ones working.   As time was called, he yelled out "No! Not yet, I'm not done!".     Where I was "okay, but might as well keep working", he had really made the most of his time.   He had really worked hard the whole time.   I had made better use of my time than those who had quit altogether, but I'd still not done all I could.   Truthfully, God doesn't compare us with others, so what I'd done comparatively was of no worth.   In the end, will I feel that I'm finished?   I hope that I never feel like "I'm done".   Instead, I intend to continue to work my hardest while yelling "Not yet, I'm not done!"   

Road of life

This is one of those spur of the moment, divinely inspired, quick life lessons delivered "on the spot".

Family night came around and I could not find my book that I've been teaching out of.   I hadn't gathered everyone in yet because of it.   All of a sudden an R/C car comes barreling into the living room with my son laughing behind it.   The family took turns running it around, and started building ramps for it.   As the ramps got higher, the car had a harder time making it and finally just couldn't do it any more.   My son remarked that it might have been able to do it if it had been fully charged.  
The moral of the story: We face challenges in life.   Those challenges are everything from minor bumps to mountains.   We can get over those challenges if we keep ourselves charged, tuned, in shape, whatever applies.
How do we keep ourselves ready for the challenges of life?   Primary answer time.....Prayer, scriptures, church....
We've been talking about family and how to make it better so we included love and family.   After all, that's why we have families, to give us that little extra push up the hill.
Take a hike, take a drive, get out the R/C cars or the 4 wheelers if you have 'em.   Go tackle life's mountain and mole hills together.   Just do what it takes to prepare yourself so you can make it to the top!