Just wondering how often people let you in to talk to you while you are on Mission. Just wondering because it seems that NO ONE ever lets you in!
I might can answer for both faiths! Oddly enough earlier this week Jehovah’s Witnesses missionaries knocked on our door. My son spoke briefly and politely to them on the front porch and agreed to let them read him a scripture from the Bible. He listened politely and told them he was quite happy and committed to his faith already, but thanks for stopping by. Since it was such a hot day, would they like a glass of ice water before they go? He explained that he sure hopes if one of our missionaries knock on their doors, they’ll be as polite as he was to them.
Additionally, later today missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints will be having dinner with us. So yes we let them in, but then two thirds of this household are members. 
To anwer the OP, if I recall correctly, when my son asked recently how many teaching appointments the pair of missionaries that were visiting our home had that week, it was somewhere in the neighborhood of twelve or so.
Yes, people “let you in”, some days more than others, some days not at all. However, not every day is spent knocking on doors. In most areas at least one day a week, sometimes more, is spent in service, often at a food pantry, retirement home, or similar type secular, non-denominational, or inter-faith type community service. In fact, most (and the most effective) teaching done by missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is by referrals from members friends, family and neighbors.
Hope this answers your question adequately,
Abby
I always invite them in for a chat. I usually impress the heck out of them with my knowledge of religion, particularly their religion. After 15 minutes they leave and either a) realize that they won’t make a “sale” with me and never return or b) return the next week with someone who is more of an expert.
Haj
And, how do you respond if the resident claims to be Buddhist or Jewish or Moslem, or something?
(I personally don’t spend much time with anyone who comes soliciting or witnessing to my house, though I’m not rude about it.) I’d love to sit down & have dinner with a tablefull of missionaries, though & hear others’ beliefs in a less proseletyzing setting, I think that would be great.
As far as encountering Jewish, Buddhist, or Muslem people, we would be cool to them, and try to build on common beliefs. Once we did this, it was amazing the similarities we could find among our faiths.
I think this is a survey. Religious questions often end up in GD, but this looks more like IMHO.
Right on! I’ve always thought that the basic tenets of all major religions are the same (Be nice to people & worship God), & the differences lie more in the route one takes to believe, or the interpretations of the diety. I could never ever figure out why wars are fought over whose God is the right one.
OK, I realise that’s a simplistic take, but as a good little faithless girl 
that’s the best I’m gonna do here.
Hmmm. Maybe the next time someone comes to my door witnessing I’ll invite them in for coffee & a chat. I seriously doubt anyone is going to make a believer out of me, but I always enjoy learning other folks’ views.
A companionship of missionaries just left. I took the opportunity to pose your question to them. They explained that they try to ‘tract’ (knock on doors) an hour or so per day not counting preparation day or Sundays. They are rarely invited in on the spot for discussions and sometimes go a week or so without anyone agreeing to listen to a discussion. However they are routinely invited in for a glass of water and what usually happens is they make an appointment to return at a more convenient time for the contact. As I mentioned before they spend a day a week in community service, although they commented that lately they’ve been spending a good deal more than that in service because of the recent flooding here in Houston and surrounding areas and the great demand for volunteers with strong backs and youthful energy required to muck out flooded and mudded homes.
Abby
I served as a Mormon missionary in New Zealand many years ago. Whether or not we went door-to-door (we call it “tracting”) depended a lot on how well the Mormon church was established in the area. If there were quite a few members we generally spent most of our time visiting with people they had referred to us. If not, well you have start somewhere.
But your supposition is correct – going door-to-door is not a very efficient way to gain converts. Even people who otherwise might be interested in talking are frequently inconvenienced and sometimes offended. So it remains a last resort.
To answer your question directly there is an oft-quoted statistic that one in a thousand door contacts leads to a conversion. I don’t know whether that’s accurate or not. I’d say it’s a little high, if anything. Trying to recall a typical day tracting from long ago I’d break the responses down roughly like this:
Annoyed at being bothered: 5%
Polite but not interested: 90%
Friendly, but busy: 4%
Come in, let’s talk: 1%
I grew up as a Jehovah’s Witness so I have some direct experience with this.
We would usually “pioneer” on a weekend day for about 3 or 4 hours (there are some who can dedicate themselves full-time and will do so at least several days a week).
Despite the jokes and general comments you hear, most people are actually pretty polite about it. But, I would say that the success rate in actually achieving a dialog (at the door) of any sort ran maybe 1% and having the contact lead to study (if you indicate an interest, the Witness at your door would be happy to return, or have someone else sent, at your convenience to discuss thing) is much, much rarer. But it can work. That is how my parents became involved.
This is going to sound either really stupid or like a smart-ass comment, but I have to ask:
Do you get anything for converting people? Not like money or anything, but “points” of some kind? My mom grew up (we’re Catholic) in the days when you could buy “pagan babies” and the nuns at our school would have us believe that we had a better chance of getting into heaven if we donated to the missions. So I just wonder if you guys are able to earn anything when you go door-to-door. Also, are you required to do it, or is it on a volunteer basis?
Not like I think you are thinking.
Everyone that I’ve ever known said that what they received was far more than they gave. They talk about the spiritual growth and a strengthening of character from doing something that’s hard for them and finding that they could do it. Many learn a new language. Almost everyone mentions that they really learned how to study more effectively. Many find their public speaking skills strengthened. Most report they learn to live with a companion, which apparently serves them well when they go off to college and marry later. Many report gaining an understanding and love for a culture of people they previously knew little about or had little contact with prior to their service. Then there’s a feeling you’ve done something good if someone you taught accepts the gospel. However, they don’t mean points.
No, not only do they not earn anything they pay their own way.
Not only do they volunteeer but the vast majority of them save money from their first jobs to pay their own way.
Abby
Sorry for the double post, (and it’s long too) but I thought of something after I hit send. Missionary work has been part of the culture of the Church since the early 1830’s when the Church was organized. And like I mentioned above, most members not only volunteer by submitting papers that they are willing to be ‘called’ but pay their own way. However, just recently (May of this year) a Perpetual Education Fund was announced for missionaries (men and women), who serve locally in Mexico, Central America, South America, the Philippines, and other places. A few explanatory exerpts from the announcement:
As I understand it, this fund is not available to all returned missionaries, nor is it ‘only’ returned missionaries who will benefit. However, it’s clearly a benefit to the young men and women of those South and Central American countries where it is offered. I suppose it’s possible to interpret this as getting something for going even though going on a mission is not necessarily required to participate and does not necessarily insure participation.
Abby
Jehovah’s Witnesses don’t give anything specific, either (like toasters or anything).
I suppose the only real personal benefit (other than the joy of fulfilling your faith) would be that those who prove to be particularly adept would probably find themselves in leadership positions sooner (JWs don’t have a particularly rigid hierarchy).