There is a mall near where we live that is almost deserted. Several stores have moved out and the spaces are empty.There is one name-brand store still there and to get to it you have to walk into the main entrance to the mail, down the wide corridor past empty storefronts and into this store's entryway. This store carries items we like to purchase so we go there once in a while.
There is always a table set up in the mall, staffed by a couple of pioneer dubs. Since this mall is located well away from our old cong it is run by a congo that was in another circuit and thus we don't recognize the dubs sitting there. I walked over once and asked them how business was. There were so happy that someone went out of the way to speak to them, they were almost giddy. They were "parked" in an empty doorway in front of metal bars that closed off an empty shop. It was at least 30 or 40 feet away from the front entrance to the store we were visiting. I asked them why they didn't move closer to the store entrance and they said the mall management allowed them to be there only under certain conditions. One was that they had to stay at their table, and this was the only place they were allowed to put a table. Also, there were not allowed to get up and walk around and solicit or approach customers. People had to come over to them to open up a conversation.
Since there were out of the way in a rather dark corner, almost no one ever came over. I asked them why they continued to do this, in view of the lack of response or interest, and they said they were doing the work commissioned by God and that even if they spoke to no one, they were giving a witness. I declined their offer of literature but spared them the little speech I had planned to give. I felt so sorry for them, wasting their lives this way.