Missionaries & the Internet

[_Dr. Shades]

I would pick up the mishies tab if I saw them out just because I'm concerned about them getting enough to eat and as a kind gesture from one mother to another. (the mishies mothers of course.)

If you live in the United States I don't think you need to worry.

[_MishMagnet]

I know - but I still would. I've had too many cousins, siblings, friends out to not care about their welfare.

[_charity]

Oh,yes, he says he has put on a little weight and is being fed very well by members. Not going hungry at all.

He must be serving in the U.S.A. Missionaries in other countries aren't nearly as lucky. There isn't always a member base that's willing (or able) to feed missionaries.

I served in Japan and would commonly go weeks without a dinner appointment. I lost about 10~15 pounds on my mission.

Besides, it's not the members' responsibility to feed missionaries anyway. It's the church's responsibility to ensure that its volunteers are able to adequately feed themselves sans outside help--a responsibility it's apparently willing to shirk even more than before.

It isn't a burden to share what you have with someone else. And why isn't it the responsibility to aid in the missionary work. When a family has the missionaries in for dinner, more happens than just eating. The members get acquainted with the misisonaries, the members get a little pep talk on doing missionary work, the missionaries give a challenge which some members actually take on, children in the family get the example of young men and women working for the Lord. And yes, they get a little food out of the deal.

Also, the church typically houses its missionaries in the cheapest places available. Japan was bad enough--no insulation, air conditioning, or central heating--but I can't begin to imagine what it must be like for missionaries in South America whose apartments have dirt floors and no running water.

My husband served in South America 50 years ago. They actually had it pretty good. A decent apartment and a maid. I think they don't allow maids anymore. And isn't it really rough on our affluent American boys to have to live without air conditioning and running water, which by the way 99% of the world puts up with. I think it is good for them to learn that maybe life isn't all aobut comfort and ease.

I know a missionary who lost a lot of weight on a mission in Korea. That was mainly because he hated the food. Not because it wasn't around.

Combined with the way that missionaries are all but denied access to adequate medical and dental care, the way the multi-billion dollar tax exempt corporate church empire treats its missionaries--especially when it has billions of dollars lying around to build a mall--is nothing short of deplorable.

I know of missionaries who have had serious medical problems and they have had good care. My son was run over by a car in Germany. (Fortunately it was a foreign car. He was on his bike, the car backed over him and then pulled forward running over his foot a second time.) His branch president was a captain in the Amry. An MD. He got good care.

Your characterization of the Church is both bitter and inaccurate. Do you really want us to believe that your posts have anything to do with sympathy for missionaries? How about trying to find a way to stick it to the Church?

[_OUT OF MY MISERY]

I read it on Infymus's blog. Have you look at his blog? The 110.00 came directly from the church itself.

Ibfymus's blog is not the the Church. I am skeptical of much on his blog. I am sure you have no clue how financing for missionaries work. I am also sure that you are unaware that local members where missionaries serve also help the missionary program by feeding the missionaries on a regular basis.

No my tune has not changed what made think it would?

I had hoped that you propensity for irrational rants with little evidence or reason for it may have dissipated I see my hope was in vain.

Infymus's gets his information directly from the church. Read his blog before you say I don't know what I am talking about.

[_OUT OF MY MISERY]

Combined with the way that missionaries are all but denied access to adequate medical and dental care, the way the multi-billion dollar tax exempt corporate church empire treats its missionaries--especially when it has billions of dollars lying around to build a mall--is nothing short of deplorable.

Your characterization of the Church is both bitter and inaccurate. Do you really want us to believe that your posts have anything to do with sympathy for missionaries? How about trying to find a way to stick it to the Church?

Shades pretty much sums it up.
Charity yes we will always find a way to stick to the church on this board.
Have you forgotten where you are at?

[_Trinity]

If we can get back to the topic: Today, my grandson on a mission called us. He said that in the "white book" they can only call parents. But he had asked his misison president if he could call us, too, since he had lived with us the 5 years preceeding his mission. The mission president, who had been raised by grandparents, gave him permission.

Oh,yes, he says he has put on a little weight and is being fed very well by members. Not going hungry at all.

You raised a grandchild? What happened to the parents?

[_Trinity]

Did I not recently read that the church has gone to having the missionaries live in the homes of the members in order to contain missionary expenses? So if the members covered at least one daily meal for the missionaries I think $110 would suffice.

The question still remains, though, about the law of consecration nature of paying for your missionary. You give $400. Your missionary takes $110 for food and probably another $100 of that would go to utilities that are a reimbursement to the member whose home you are staying in. Where's the other money? And would I, as a missionary parent, be content to give $400 out to the great wide missionary hole knowing that my child was only benefiting from a small portion of it?

I don't think so. This is not tithing. I would insist the church explain to me how the money I am sending them is allocated. Otherwise I would not be paying for it.

[_Gadianton]

Oh,yes, he says he has put on a little weight and is being fed very well by members. Not going hungry at all.

He must be serving in the U.S.A. Missionaries in other countries aren't nearly as lucky. There isn't always a member base that's willing (or able) to feed missionaries.

I served in Japan and would commonly go weeks without a dinner appointment. I lost about 10~15 pounds on my mission.

Besides, it's not the members' responsibility to feed missionaries anyway. It's the church's responsibility to ensure that its volunteers are able to adequately feed themselves sans outside help--a responsibility it's apparently willing to shirk even more than before.

It isn't a burden to share what you have with someone else. And why isn't it the responsibility to aid in the missionary work. When a family has the missionaries in for dinner, more happens than just eating. The members get acquainted with the misisonaries, the members get a little pep talk on doing missionary work, the missionaries give a challenge which some members actually take on, children in the family get the example of young men and women working for the Lord. And yes, they get a little food out of the deal.

OMG, Charity's bionic reading skills at work again. Shades never said it wasn't the members' responsibility to do missionary work. And he's right, ultimately it's the church's responsibility to feed missionaries.

Here's an analogy Charity might be able to understand. Numerous children around the world got a puppy for Christmas. These children are responsible for feeding the puppy, playing with it, and they can develop positive attributes by interacting with the puppy. But ultimately, it's not the child's responsibility to take care of it. If it's starving to death, the parents are the ones at fault.

[_charity]

You raised a grandchild? What happened to the parents?

His parents are fine. They have a good relationship with him. It was a complicated situation. They were not active in Church at the time. He was 14 and, like another 14 year old we all know, was a serious kid, who had some serious questions about what God wanted for him in his life. He felt he needed a change of friends and a home where the Gospel was a stronger influence. He asked his parents and us if he could live with us. We all agreed. All the adults survived, and it was a great choice for him.

[_MishMagnet]

Back in the early 90's when my friends were the ones going on missions how much you paid depended on where you went. Those that went to California had quite a bit to pay each month while those that went to Buenos Aires paid much less. It changed in, I think 91 or 92 where everyone paid in the same amount but more rent/utilities monies were paid out to expensive missions and it was all supposed to work out.

I know of two missionaries who have been home for 10+ years and still have serious medical issues from their missions so I'm not really convinced of the care they get. One has a parasite in his brain that causes seizures with no warning. That is quite a high price to pay for 2 years of supposedly doing the right thing.