As a way to encourage the Chinese tour guides to bring their guests by the Visitors’ Center as they make their way around the Island, the senior Elder on duty when the tour bus arrives has been going out to talk to the driver and/or the tour guide. We welcome them to the Visitors’ Center and thank them for coming by. We answer any questions they may have, such as where to park, whether or not we have people who can speak the language, and where smoking is allowed. As reported previously, that tactic is working and the number of Chinese tour busses coming has increased and they are staying longer.

We were sure that the tour drivers / guides talk to each other and would spread the word about being welcome at the Visitors’ Center. Today I learned how wide that is spreading. In addition to a number of Chinese tour busses, this morning a smaller commercial van stopped and the people who got out were obviously not Chinese. I found the tour guide, a very nice lady named Lana, and thanked her for stopping. Just at that time, one of her guests came up to Lana and asked, in German, whether or not they could take pictures on the grounds. I quickly responded, in German, that we highly encouraged people to take pictures both outside on the grounds and inside of the Visitors’ Center. The guest went away happily snapping photos.

I then asked the tour guide (in German) about her guests and why she had stopped. She said that another guide had told her that we were very friendly and had someone who could speak German. She was very pleased that what she was told was definitely true. Quickly all of her guest gathered around and we had a nice, short 5-minute discussion about the Temple and the Mormon Church and off they went. The tour guide said she would definitely be back next week.

A few minutes later a very large tour bus pulled in … with about 40 people from Louisiana. The tour guide was stopping here for the first time as he had heard that we were very friendly and welcoming and didn’t find being deluged with 40 people all at once was a burden. I assured him that not only was it not a burden, we welcomed all visitors. Again, the guide said he’d be back next week and would make this a regular stop. I not only thanked him, but encouraged him to pass the word to the other tour guides he knows and works with.

Just before our shift ended, another smaller tour bus arrived, this time with 23 Europeans on board; some from France, others from Belgium, the Netherlands, and Italy. Again, it was the tour guide’s first time to stop at the Center. She said she only had 5 minutes, but would definitely be back in the future.

Which only reaffirms what we already knew … we are friendly people over here!

Ta ta for now!