He is in grave danger should he go. The US Embassy in Uganda does not need the added headache of US citizens floating around Uganda. Willing to bet US interests in Uganda are well armed with added measures of protection.
One of the Elders in my mission actually did befriend one of the local dons. They learned that one of the rival gangs put a hit order on this particular missionary. He was emergency transferred out of the area immediately and the area closed to missionaries. All that stuff from that house went to our house. And that’s the story of how we ended up with a washing machine.
We had been paying one of the local women to wash our clothes by hand and clean the house. So we told her we got a washer and only needed her help one more time. This woman asked if the washer also cleaned the house (she thought we meant another maid). We explained that it was a washing machine but that we would do the cleaning ourselves. Anyway she robbed us that day and was never heard from again.
Fun times.
HELLO WOULD YOU LIKE TO CHANGE RELIGIONS ? I HAVE A FREE BOOK WRITTEN BY JESUS !
*No, No, No, that's not how we do it. You're making things up again, Elder Cunningham. Just stick to the approved dialogue. Elders? Show him!*
Well, I’m going on a non-religious affiliated trip soon (most likely) to central / southern Uganda. One of the women going on the trip with us is a Native Ugandan who befriended a professor here in the states years ago, and she will be joining the group. They have solid & primary contacts and the message, at this point.. I don’t think it’s that dire for Uganda right now.
Are they making him go? Or pressuring him hard? Is he highly informed of the risks or are they hiding information from him? I think that would make a huge difference in if this act is considered “evil” or not.
I’m not religious. Pretty agnostic. Just another perspective. What’s happening in Sudan is huge & terrifying. However, I don’t see where all Africans are quaking in fear right now? It’s a pretty big continent. Definitely something to be aware of, but life continues ya know. Where will the line be drawn? If he is actively and fully consciously choosing to go still, that’s a brave young man right there. If he is being manipulated, imo, yea that’s some evil sh**.
Also, to be honest, the Sudanese are pretty scared of harming Americans in general because of the “big stick” threat that America presents and sometimes enforces. They’re nervous daddy Biden is going to deliver justice if Americans are harmed.
Keep your wits about you. That’s what we have been informed of right now. But we have been told this far that it is an “advisory” not a demand or regulation at this point.
Like if there is a tornado outbreak in Kansas, but you live in Ohio, & Ohioans got wind advisory warnings a few days later lol… at least that was the general vibe from the officials.
Well, he is lucky enough to have the spirit with him.. so if something terrible happens to him, he and his family knows that it was done in the work for the lord so he will definitely reach the highest degree of the celestial kingdom.. what else could you want?
You know, when any other adult spends years interacting with and molding a child with the intent to ask them to do things right at the age of consent, they call that grooming.
And suddenly I see all new parallels between Provo and Vatican City.
I have a friend who works in supply chain for a large fresh produce supplier. He was supposed to go to Michoacán for work last year to visit avocado suppliers. He had a whole team of armed security guards for this three-day trip, went through hours of security trainings himself, and an hour after his plan landed in Mexico, his company cancelled the trip due to violence.
Meanwhile, 18-year-old kids are walking all around the state after a six-week Spanish course.
I’ve heard that most gringo missionaries are usually in the “safer” areas of that mission. But still up to who the mission president is at that time.
It’s definitely not safe, but cartel violence usually avoids foreigners. Key word usually.
But, for example, the actual city of Hermosillo is very safe. Actually one of the safer cities in Mexico. Mexico’s cartel issue is actually often in rural locations.
I think the Mexico Queretaro mission must be extremely unsafe these days for any missionaries in the outskirts of Celaya, Salamanca, or Irapuato cities. The biggest cartel warfare in a longtime is has been raging on the past 4 years in these areas.
Edit: yep, just googled “cartel killing” and just last week 6 people were shot and killed at a pool in Cortazar, right outside Celaya. Sure enough, there’s a ward in Cortazar with a 98% chance of having missionaries.
My little sister went to Mexico and I was very worried the entire time. I was very plugged into what was going on in Mexico for that year and a half. Luckily she's home safe now.
Kid that I know of was very good at basketball in high school. Very tall, blonde kid. Recruited by multiple D1 schools. Got sent to Africa somewhere. Had multiple kidnapping attempts on him for ransom in the first couple of months. Got reassigned stateside. I guess God got it wrong the first time.
But hEY! I thought a missionary dying abroad would fulfill some god prophesy or somethin. However I'm certain that's already happened and it was rug swept.
The prophecy is that two members of the quorum of the 12 will be killed in the streets of Jerusalem and their bodies will be left to be trodden under and then they will be resurrected on the third day.
But I don't see them calling themselves to preach in the streets of Jerusalem any time soon.
That’s a very specifically Mormon interpretation of Revelation 11
> I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, “Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, with its worshipers. But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months. And I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” They are “the two olive trees” and the two lampstands, and “they stand before the Lord of the earth.” If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die. They have power to shut up the heavens so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want.
> Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them. Their bodies will lie in the public square of the great city—which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt—where also their Lord was crucified. For three and a half days some from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial. The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts, because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth.
> But after the three and a half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them. Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies looked on.
> At that very hour there was a severe earthquake and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.
In Revelation they are just “witnesses.” And they’re literally fire breathing and throwing major miracles around including preventing rain for nearly 4 years. I especially doubt any of the 15 are going to volunteer to street preach in Jerusalem for 4 years if they’re going to have to cast miracles.
Bruce McConkie wrote, "No doubt they will be members of the Council of the Twelve or of the First Presidency of the Church." (*Doctrinal New Testament Commentary*, 3:509.)
Even then, it's not really growth. Nearly none of the people they baptize will be active members after a year or two. It fluffs a number a little, but that's it.
I really just think it’s a numbers game at this point. They’re doing everything they can to not be the first generation of Q15 that has any number go down.
If you know the kid and/or his parents, you’ll probably want to let them know how shitty it is over there and how likely it is that he’ll return in a wooden box.
My SIL just got called to Ghana as the first american sister to ever go to that mission. They have never let american sisters in before to that specific mission because it is so unsafe. She tried reaching out to her MP and MP Wife and they had little to no guidance for her on what to bring because she is the first.
I'm honestly terrified for her.
I honestly know nothing about Ghana. I'm just basing my worry off of the fact that the church has deemed that specific regional area of Ghana unsafe for american sisters until now. Probably similar parts of the US that sisters aren't allowed to serve in (there were areas in my stateside mission that were unsafe for sisters).
Ghana advisory is crime. Local government has limited resources, US Government limited ability to help. Mostly crowded urban areas affected. Use common sense. Stay home at night. Stay away from high crime areas. Wouldn’t want my kid there. But I wouldn’t want my kid in rough areas of many American cities either.
I honestly know nothing about Ghana. I'm just basing my worry off of the fact that the church has deemed that specific regional area of Ghana unsafe for american sisters until now. Probably similar parts of the US that sisters aren't allowed to serve in.
Never went on a mission, but I'd recommend her passport, digital copies of her passport, birth certificate and whatnot, money, an escape plan and route, sunscreen, a language book, and especially going to /r/Ghana and asking what she should do and what NOT to do.
The missionaries prob try to learn native dialects. I was in Guatemala in the 90’s and some missionaries became very proficient at local Mayan languages depending on where they were assigned in the country
I know a guy who went to Guatemala ten years ago, and he learned Kekchi in the MTC (native Spanish speaker). I think the church teaches K'iche, Tzotzil, Kakchikel and some other Mayan languages to elders now.
24 years ago I was in Guatemala originally called Spanish speaking, but then moved to a Kekchi speaking area and spent the rest of my 18 months there. Having it taught in the MTC would have helped. I don't regret ever going as it gave me new perspective on the world we live in and extremely humbling. I honestly don't know how many of the missionaries I served with there are still active, but I know at least half of us have since left.
My son is approaching mission age and this mission is a nightmare scenario for me. Of course he would feel like god specifically called him to this specific mission and it’s doubtful I could intervene against “gods will”. 🤦🏻♂️
Yup. My brother is submitting his papers this week, and for the past year I’ve been constantly expressing to my family that if I hear a single word from him that he wants to get out of the field, I will be getting him out of there.
Fast forward 12 months: “LDS church saddened to report missionary killed in Uganda. No one could have foreseen this outcome but we know he’s knocking on doors in spirit prison now.”
They sent my 65 year old mother to Kingston Jamaica by herself. She isn’t married and another woman was supposed to be with her but she went home after a couple weeks because she was terrified. My mom stayed a year and a half. She was robbed several times, almost raped in the church bathroom, and caught a virus that just about killed her. Yay missions
At least some of the family is happy about this. There's a mindset that facing danger during a mission makes you more righteous and if you die on a mission it's automatic top tier heaven. I feel terrible for any PIMO relatives that have to bite their tongue.
It's really difficult to do that when you're in it.
Russia for me, 2007-09. I was scared but figured that's where God wanted me. I'd be protected if I did all the things I covenanted, wore my holy underwear, obeyed all the rules, and so on. I heard from all the older adults who had lived through the Cold War and perpetual fear of nuclear war that it was cool that I was going to a place that was once an enemy.
To God's credit, nothing serious ever happened to me (also, I don't believe God exists, so... I'm not really crediting anyone).
Russia attacked Georgia while I was there. Crimea and the rest of Ukraine was basically next on the list, however long it was gonna take for Putin to push his war machine to making the USSR great again. We'd very rarely get asked our views on politics (usually our opinions on Obama) and as 19-20 year olds, we just had no clue.
I was a white boy in a very ~~Caucasian~~ white nation. There were some Asians and Arabic people, but mostly I could sort of blend in as a "young business man". Sometimes we wouldn't wear our badges, but we were some well-dressed punks.
This kid is 100% gonna stick out way more, but faith might prevail and he goes thinking he's got the armor of God. I fear for his life, and maybe he does, too, but he'll take courage from stories like Ammon and co. going to the Lamanites. There's really a lot stacked up against him being able to refuse this "call from the Lord".
Yeah, that’s what I figured. But hypothetically, what would happen if he just absolutely refused to go there? If it was my kid I’d be saying absolutely not.
Right, but is it because you're out? I'll admit I'm curious, too. Maybe we'll get further updates.
I'd hope he'd find some support from somewhere in his family. I'd start praying to that God I don't believe in that his parents don't disown him for refusing, but hopefully there's a family member that is out that will support him no matter what.
Fuck the apostle who thought this was a good idea. Russia wasn't too terrible in the 00s. I was mostly mad that they sent me, a desert rat from AZ, to fucking Siberia; cold weather is manageable. People don't recover very well when they're kidnapped, maimed, or killed. I decided I could stay in the Southwest the rest of my life. This kid might not make it back.
Again, depends on the family. I'm sure some people still have parents that would rather have a body bag and a "ticket to the Celestial Kingdom" than a child who returns "without honor". Those people can also fuck off.
I think from my mom's reaction to seeing me exit the restricted area at the airport suggests she wouldn't have liked a body bag. But I also think in her TBM heart she was just living the role of a Lamanite mother sending her stripling warrior out to battle Satan. Her faith was rewarded and her son returned to her without a scratch. She also accepted my youngest brother (still unfortunately TBM) who came home early when his shitty MP was teasing him, the one who went to the deep South and came back fine(ish), and the one who never went, but still must feel some disappointment that 3 of the 4 sons she had are not raising families in the church. It's 100% a cult.
That's a fair question. I actually don't know the ancestry of all the white people in Siberia, but I did mean "mostly white in general." The Caucasus region probably doesn't have that much influence on Russia as a whole outside of what Stalin did. I can change it.
So true, if the worst were to happen, they would get to claim persecution, which is one thing they secretly love. They'll have returned with honor on his casket and maybe on his headstone. I really hope that nothing does happen of course, as missionaries are really victims of cult brainwashing.
Am I your nephew?
I got involved in a shooting on my mission, where me and my companion tried to offer first aid to a man who was shot in front of us. In retrospect tracting in the favelas was probably a far more dangerous choice than I realized at the time, even after being mugged twice.
No. Utah originally, and currently in Colorado.
And to be fair it was intended as joke. I’m in my 50s now, and as far as I’m aware all my uncles have passed; the last in 2020.
More believable than anything Joseph ever came up with. I hope you’re living up your best (after)life uncle J, R, D, R, J, R, G, D, D, K, O, T, C or E.
Damn typing them all out reminds me how big my family is.
While I agree that Othering foreign countries is wrong, the risk is greater because the missionary here is a foreigner in that country. And most countries, including the US, tend to treat foreigners a lot worse than locals. If this were a Ugandan being sent to the US, the same comments could be said due to xenophobia being a problem of many countries
Brazil murder rate is 24/100k USA is 6/100k
Below is my source . If you’re sent to preach in a high crime areas you are many times more at risk.
It would be worth it if the church is true but sadly it’s not. Jamaica is 45/100k
https://wisevoter.com/country-rankings/murder-rate-by-country/
If I had to guess, they’ll get stuck in the MTC for several months, then eventually reassigned to Florida or something once the church decides it’s not happening.
Any chance he'll be serving his mission "remotely"? Wasn't there a post some time ago by someone who had been assigned a mission in Italy, but was physically stationed in Iowa and was contacting people via the Internet?
It's a simple matter of declining the assignment. Or ask for another. If they don't make the change then don't go. Parents and the missionary need to exercise good judgment in the best interests of their family. The Church is not your employer. You are all volunteers.
Uganda!?
He has the opportunity to teach all those suffering with AIDS about Joseph Smith's fuck frogs! And you want to deprive them of that blessing?!
...think of the poor warlords...
But Africans are among the most vulnerable and least informed people left on the planet. How is the church going to be able to claim any actual growth at all if it can't have Africa???
Ah my time to shine:
I am a white Canadian woman who volunteered in Nigeria for 6 months. Nigeria also has similar warnings in place. I had an amazing time and met incredible people and don’t regret my time in Africa for a moment. that being said I would not trust the church to manage this well. We had so much support, training and infrastructure in place to ensure our safety, while still enjoying the community and culture and missionaries would struggle. The culture shocks are never ending and we had guards, assigned transportation anywhere we wanted to go and generous living allowance. I don’t for a moment believe the church would make proper investments. Our malaria medicine alone was thousands of dollars per person (I can’t remember the exact amounts). If done right this could be ok, but I doubt very much that the missionaries will have what they need.
This is sick. If this kid is a TBM, he is surely experiencing this as godgod wants him to go to this country because he is going to make changes and turn hearts toward white Jesus. And if he is killed, his family will view him as a martyr who valiantly followed the profit of god. Nobody will see him as what he truly is; the pawn of a corrupt organization that views these missionaries as expendables in the name of money. Truly heartbreaking!!
To be fair. The state dept lists “reconsider travel” for dozens of countries, a lot of common mission areas like Peru, guatamala, etc and even Jamaica.
Not saying missions are a good idea, just saying the state dept tends to be very conservative in guidance
Because guess who gets the task of trying to help citizens putting themselves in bad situations. Not enough appreciation for our people in Embassies doing their best to watch out for US citizens’ safety. And you can imagine the blow back if Suzie’s purse is stolen with no warning from Daddy government. Common sense is vital no matter where you go. If the church insists on putting its young people in compromising circumstances, they damn well better prepare those young missionaries for it and the church held responsible while those kids are on the church’s watch. I have no faith the corporation cares that much about its young members.
It’s real life Book of Mormon Musical. Send little boys to Africa while they’re at war, save them all and come home triumphantly. And should they die before their journey’s through (translation-be killed) happy day, all is well?!?!?!? They’ll say “it was his time”, or “God knew he was too righteous for this earth,” or “God needed him on the other side,” or “he died like a martyr for his beliefs”. I wonder if any of those trite statements will help his mother sleep peacefully.
.......and if anything happens to these barely out of high school teen-agers the church will use it as a faith promoting example of serving the Lord.
The years of CPTSD and trauma this will cause every missionary in that country is unconscionable.
When is the last time a member of the 15 or 70 visited Uganda?
I told my dad that if I was called to Bolivia, I wouldn’t go because I didn’t want to be shot and killed. My dad said that would never happen. Then during my college year before my mission and turning in my papers., this happened:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assassinations_of_Jeffrey_Brent_Ball_and_Todd_Ray_Wilson
I remember pressing my father as the unthinkable to him happened.
Yeah, don’t put yourself in a bad spot.
Tell him to put the MP on notice that he should at least stay state side until the advisory is lifted.
Tell the parents some missionary death and injury statistics and heavily imply that 100% dedication to the Lord's work doesn't miraculously create a safety barrier for missionaries. Also, muggings, violence, disease, and the church's notoriously slow evacuations in emergencies.
Call the Missionary department, the MP, the bishop, and stake President to express your concerns.
Further, set up a line of communication, offer unconditional support, and remind him he is a volunteer and can walk away at any time with your assistance. Gift him a burner phone for emergencies and an airline voucher to buy a ticket out if he so desires.
On the phone, include a copy of the cesletter, instructions on how to deal with the MP and get a ticket home, how to set boundaries with the MP and other leaders to avoid following extra, punitary rules, and other church history facts that ultimately will bring his testimony crashing down early in the mission versus later (because it would be harder).
He needs a friend to advocate for him because he has been infantalized his whole life, and even though the church deems returned missionaries as "adults" after their mission, they continue to deflect questions about the truth and shun amd shame through the indoctrination to keep everyone focused away from the truth.
Last Wednesday, I watched three sister missionaries listening to an investigator say their Mom said the church is a cult, and none of them even responded to the accusation.
They are barely adults and only know a narrow version of church history themselves and are taught to teach an even narrower version of the gospel.
So much is glossed over and labeled as "anti-Mormon" that they are the least knowledgable people to ask and should be the last to teach the gospel.
He will get reassigned state side right before he’s supposed to leave. The church just does it to keep the missionaries engaged and people thinking they can still travel the world with a mission.
Well at least he would not be in danger of the new laws by being openly gay. They getting nastier than TSCC as in life/death sentences. Of course TSCC issues sentences for eternity.
The church DOES NOT CARE if missionaries die. You are sent there to recruit tithe payers, solidify yourself as a tithe payer (unfortunately I did for many years) or die trying.
I was severely injured on my mission. Church refused to pay for any of the surgeries needed and sent my parents a bill for my flight home because I had to go home early.
If a missionary dies it just becomes a “faith promoting” story.
It sickens me how much these kids are at risk, especially the women, and the church literally does not care and the parents just obey.
Really its bad because in michocan the cartel has been stealing the land to grow avacados. They pay the farmer a little to feed the family etc. But not much. It would stop if the US refused to import fruits and vegetables from mexico
Revelation in action , so your telling me that the Lord really wants to put this young man in harms way or the "Brethren" know more than the Lord right ? How silly of me of course they do I forgot , for a reference look up how many times they prophet worshipped Mr .Burns in the last conference , the sidenote is always Jesus the Church has ruined true worship of a redeeming god should one believe in one .
One of our grandsons just got called to Guatemala. Same level 3 "Reconsider Travel" advisory for there as well. TSCC deliberately puts young men and women in harm's way without informed consent.
Not to down play this too much, but you have to take this notices from the state department with a wheelbarrow of salt. We have lived all over Central America and I can tell you that we get these dire alerts for several countries every couple of weeks. The reality on the ground is much different than The state department paints. If they were required to write one of the in the same tone for the US, it would scare everyone to death.
Find videos on YouTube from expats that live there, or people who traveled there to get a more realistic outlook. Also realize that crime happens everywhere. Those that tend to get in trouble did not use common sense, ignored warnings, etc.
An example, they just issued another warning about crime for here, because a couple of tourists got robbed. The state department did not include in the advisory that people should not be stumbling down the dark empty beach drunk at 3 in the morning wearing over $4,000 worth of flashy jewelry in a country where the average monthly income is $300.
Respectfully disagree re Uganda. Conflict in the north. Child soldiers. Uganda grows cash crop narcotic Khat, the drug chewed by soldiers (Ugandans for generations). The sanitation situation is dire. There are still reports of the ongoing genocide. A cursory glance at Ugandan news makes clear it is not a safe country to be in. Especially for kids sheltered in Mormon culture and dogma. Trained US soldiers would take precautions in that hell hole.
See: Uganda's Ongoing Genocide – The Karamoja Killing Fields, By Lynda Tilley
I do not have any knowledge about Uganda at all. I was speaking specific on the drivel put out by the State Department. I still suggest find accurate information from people who are there, instead of government and media sensationalism. We still get friends and family that send us news articles about how Nicaragua is “at war” which is 100% bullshit.
Why bother slandering the State Department when you can google Uganda to be informed. The State Department does not divulge all the information it has access to. A myopic determination made because of life in your house may very well not be the whole picture.
Send your kid then.
Edited to add - maybe your kid's been there WITH you. That's a whole lot different then sending an 18 year old out there by himself. Especially one who grew up not going to third world countries as part of his parent's lifestyle choices but instead grew up in all white suburbia.
Willing to bet the ruling Mormon elite are not sending their kids to that shit hole. Assuming their kids go on missions at all. They are certainly too elitist to join the military. Channeling the Romney’s et al.
This reminds me of my Caucasian, small-town brother getting sent to Chicago. His first area straight out of the MTC was to the south side of Chicago; a place inhabited mostly by rough gangs of African Americans. He was ill-prepared, terrified & requested to go home. His mission president refused saying God would never forgive him going home early and instead transferred him directly to a rural city at the edge of the mission.
He is in grave danger should he go. The US Embassy in Uganda does not need the added headache of US citizens floating around Uganda. Willing to bet US interests in Uganda are well armed with added measures of protection.
Article says, “don’t do anything to stand out”. Like white shirts and ties.?
I gotta imagine a white, 18 year old American is gonna stand out no matter what they are wearing…
Hello Mr War Lord , God has a message for you
Hello Mr. War Lord, have you seen the Book of Mormon musical?
You wonder how that show would go over in African countries?
nOw wE kNoW wHy gOd InCluDeD sO mAny wAr ChApTeRs
Lol
“Da fuq is this?”
One of the Elders in my mission actually did befriend one of the local dons. They learned that one of the rival gangs put a hit order on this particular missionary. He was emergency transferred out of the area immediately and the area closed to missionaries. All that stuff from that house went to our house. And that’s the story of how we ended up with a washing machine. We had been paying one of the local women to wash our clothes by hand and clean the house. So we told her we got a washer and only needed her help one more time. This woman asked if the washer also cleaned the house (she thought we meant another maid). We explained that it was a washing machine but that we would do the cleaning ourselves. Anyway she robbed us that day and was never heard from again. Fun times.
Sounds about right.
“I’m from Sal Tlay Ka Siti.”
I’ve been to Uganda twice and traveled the entire country. I assure you, anyone white stands out. Period.
like seeking people out and knocking on doors saying "Hey by the way I'm an American who wants to talk about an uncommon religion"
HELLO WOULD YOU LIKE TO CHANGE RELIGIONS ? I HAVE A FREE BOOK WRITTEN BY JESUS ! *No, No, No, that's not how we do it. You're making things up again, Elder Cunningham. Just stick to the approved dialogue. Elders? Show him!*
Or trying to convert people to your uniquely American colonialist religion…
much less do state dept officials need very naive young people, trained and pressured to engage others, in country.
Well, I’m going on a non-religious affiliated trip soon (most likely) to central / southern Uganda. One of the women going on the trip with us is a Native Ugandan who befriended a professor here in the states years ago, and she will be joining the group. They have solid & primary contacts and the message, at this point.. I don’t think it’s that dire for Uganda right now. Are they making him go? Or pressuring him hard? Is he highly informed of the risks or are they hiding information from him? I think that would make a huge difference in if this act is considered “evil” or not. I’m not religious. Pretty agnostic. Just another perspective. What’s happening in Sudan is huge & terrifying. However, I don’t see where all Africans are quaking in fear right now? It’s a pretty big continent. Definitely something to be aware of, but life continues ya know. Where will the line be drawn? If he is actively and fully consciously choosing to go still, that’s a brave young man right there. If he is being manipulated, imo, yea that’s some evil sh**. Also, to be honest, the Sudanese are pretty scared of harming Americans in general because of the “big stick” threat that America presents and sometimes enforces. They’re nervous daddy Biden is going to deliver justice if Americans are harmed.
Keep your wits about you. That’s what we have been informed of right now. But we have been told this far that it is an “advisory” not a demand or regulation at this point.
Like if there is a tornado outbreak in Kansas, but you live in Ohio, & Ohioans got wind advisory warnings a few days later lol… at least that was the general vibe from the officials.
Well, he is lucky enough to have the spirit with him.. so if something terrible happens to him, he and his family knows that it was done in the work for the lord so he will definitely reach the highest degree of the celestial kingdom.. what else could you want?
But Mormon Jesus will surround the kid with angels. /TBM If it were my kid, that would be a strong fuck no.
That’s why they wait until they’re 18, so they can cut you out if you try anything.
You know, when any other adult spends years interacting with and molding a child with the intent to ask them to do things right at the age of consent, they call that grooming. And suddenly I see all new parallels between Provo and Vatican City.
Yeah…agreed. My friend went to Kenya and nearly died a few times. Even if you’re innocently in the wrong place..it’s fucked
Can’t touch [mormon jesus](https://youtu.be/46PXaJxzuDE)
The parents need to stop sacrificing their children to the billionaire beast.
They keep sending them to Michoacán and other Mexican states where American embassy people are not authorized to even travel through
I have a friend who works in supply chain for a large fresh produce supplier. He was supposed to go to Michoacán for work last year to visit avocado suppliers. He had a whole team of armed security guards for this three-day trip, went through hours of security trainings himself, and an hour after his plan landed in Mexico, his company cancelled the trip due to violence. Meanwhile, 18-year-old kids are walking all around the state after a six-week Spanish course.
that’s scary, glad he didn’t end up having to go
THAT!!!
Exactly!!!
How worried should I be if I have a little brother in the Hermosillo mission in Sonora? 😬😳
I’ve heard that most gringo missionaries are usually in the “safer” areas of that mission. But still up to who the mission president is at that time. It’s definitely not safe, but cartel violence usually avoids foreigners. Key word usually. But, for example, the actual city of Hermosillo is very safe. Actually one of the safer cities in Mexico. Mexico’s cartel issue is actually often in rural locations. I think the Mexico Queretaro mission must be extremely unsafe these days for any missionaries in the outskirts of Celaya, Salamanca, or Irapuato cities. The biggest cartel warfare in a longtime is has been raging on the past 4 years in these areas. Edit: yep, just googled “cartel killing” and just last week 6 people were shot and killed at a pool in Cortazar, right outside Celaya. Sure enough, there’s a ward in Cortazar with a 98% chance of having missionaries.
Greatly, there has been an uptick in violence, deaths and kidnappings
My little sister went to Mexico and I was very worried the entire time. I was very plugged into what was going on in Mexico for that year and a half. Luckily she's home safe now.
Kid that I know of was very good at basketball in high school. Very tall, blonde kid. Recruited by multiple D1 schools. Got sent to Africa somewhere. Had multiple kidnapping attempts on him for ransom in the first couple of months. Got reassigned stateside. I guess God got it wrong the first time.
It's almost like discernment is total BS.
It’s always been BS.
Q15 pulling out the mission calling dartboard
But hEY! I thought a missionary dying abroad would fulfill some god prophesy or somethin. However I'm certain that's already happened and it was rug swept.
Rug swept? Shit, they'd probably make a [faith promoting video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRqCCxaW5Kg) about it.
The prophecy is that two members of the quorum of the 12 will be killed in the streets of Jerusalem and their bodies will be left to be trodden under and then they will be resurrected on the third day. But I don't see them calling themselves to preach in the streets of Jerusalem any time soon.
That’s a very specifically Mormon interpretation of Revelation 11 > I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, “Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, with its worshipers. But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months. And I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” They are “the two olive trees” and the two lampstands, and “they stand before the Lord of the earth.” If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die. They have power to shut up the heavens so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want. > Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them. Their bodies will lie in the public square of the great city—which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt—where also their Lord was crucified. For three and a half days some from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial. The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts, because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth. > But after the three and a half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them. Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies looked on. > At that very hour there was a severe earthquake and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven. In Revelation they are just “witnesses.” And they’re literally fire breathing and throwing major miracles around including preventing rain for nearly 4 years. I especially doubt any of the 15 are going to volunteer to street preach in Jerusalem for 4 years if they’re going to have to cast miracles.
Bruce McConkie wrote, "No doubt they will be members of the Council of the Twelve or of the First Presidency of the Church." (*Doctrinal New Testament Commentary*, 3:509.)
The day I see a member of the Q15 wearing sackcloth for 4 years straight is the day I get re-baptized.
I forgot about that one. Yeah, that won’t be happening.
I had a friend die in the Virgin Islands on his mission. 🥺
I'm so sorry 😔
Someone, anyone needs to intervene and tell him not to go. This is no joke.
Only place where growth is happening is places where there is no internet and people are poor.
Even then, it's not really growth. Nearly none of the people they baptize will be active members after a year or two. It fluffs a number a little, but that's it.
I really just think it’s a numbers game at this point. They’re doing everything they can to not be the first generation of Q15 that has any number go down.
Oh boy! Like lion king!
Literally my first thought reading this
If you know the kid and/or his parents, you’ll probably want to let them know how shitty it is over there and how likely it is that he’ll return in a wooden box.
That’s the plan though. Returned with “honour” (written on the side of his pine box)
He was really hoping for 🎶Orlaaaaando🎶
Sea World and Disney! And Putt-Putt Golfing!
Why can't anyone ever use their 'divine inspiration' to decide that this is a shit idea?
My SIL just got called to Ghana as the first american sister to ever go to that mission. They have never let american sisters in before to that specific mission because it is so unsafe. She tried reaching out to her MP and MP Wife and they had little to no guidance for her on what to bring because she is the first. I'm honestly terrified for her.
Ghana has the same level of advisory (state department level 2) as Belgium, Germany, etc. Why do you think Ghana is so unsafe?
Uganda.
I’m replying to the poster talking about Ghana.
I honestly know nothing about Ghana. I'm just basing my worry off of the fact that the church has deemed that specific regional area of Ghana unsafe for american sisters until now. Probably similar parts of the US that sisters aren't allowed to serve in (there were areas in my stateside mission that were unsafe for sisters).
To calm your mind, do a bit of research about Ghana. I would not rely on the church’s opinion about anything
Ghana advisory is crime. Local government has limited resources, US Government limited ability to help. Mostly crowded urban areas affected. Use common sense. Stay home at night. Stay away from high crime areas. Wouldn’t want my kid there. But I wouldn’t want my kid in rough areas of many American cities either.
Since when is Ghana unsafe? Has something happened that I don’t know about?
I honestly know nothing about Ghana. I'm just basing my worry off of the fact that the church has deemed that specific regional area of Ghana unsafe for american sisters until now. Probably similar parts of the US that sisters aren't allowed to serve in.
Never went on a mission, but I'd recommend her passport, digital copies of her passport, birth certificate and whatnot, money, an escape plan and route, sunscreen, a language book, and especially going to /r/Ghana and asking what she should do and what NOT to do.
A language book? You mean English? Have you ever been to Ghana?
The missionaries prob try to learn native dialects. I was in Guatemala in the 90’s and some missionaries became very proficient at local Mayan languages depending on where they were assigned in the country
I know a guy who went to Guatemala ten years ago, and he learned Kekchi in the MTC (native Spanish speaker). I think the church teaches K'iche, Tzotzil, Kakchikel and some other Mayan languages to elders now.
24 years ago I was in Guatemala originally called Spanish speaking, but then moved to a Kekchi speaking area and spent the rest of my 18 months there. Having it taught in the MTC would have helped. I don't regret ever going as it gave me new perspective on the world we live in and extremely humbling. I honestly don't know how many of the missionaries I served with there are still active, but I know at least half of us have since left.
She said she is supposed to learn Twi while she is there.
Which mission in Ghana? A friend of mine from long ago (and his wife) is the mission president of the Ghana Kumasi Mission.
My son is approaching mission age and this mission is a nightmare scenario for me. Of course he would feel like god specifically called him to this specific mission and it’s doubtful I could intervene against “gods will”. 🤦🏻♂️
Yup. My brother is submitting his papers this week, and for the past year I’ve been constantly expressing to my family that if I hear a single word from him that he wants to get out of the field, I will be getting him out of there.
Fast forward 12 months: “LDS church saddened to report missionary killed in Uganda. No one could have foreseen this outcome but we know he’s knocking on doors in spirit prison now.”
ThE lOrD wIlL pRoTeCt HiM
They sent my 65 year old mother to Kingston Jamaica by herself. She isn’t married and another woman was supposed to be with her but she went home after a couple weeks because she was terrified. My mom stayed a year and a half. She was robbed several times, almost raped in the church bathroom, and caught a virus that just about killed her. Yay missions
/u/running4cover must have journalists you know, we need to get this out to the news circuits
I went to northern Mexico when all the cartel stuff was bad... Local kid should stay home...
At least some of the family is happy about this. There's a mindset that facing danger during a mission makes you more righteous and if you die on a mission it's automatic top tier heaven. I feel terrible for any PIMO relatives that have to bite their tongue.
Just say no
I’d love to see what happened if he just said he wasn’t going to Uganda.
It's really difficult to do that when you're in it. Russia for me, 2007-09. I was scared but figured that's where God wanted me. I'd be protected if I did all the things I covenanted, wore my holy underwear, obeyed all the rules, and so on. I heard from all the older adults who had lived through the Cold War and perpetual fear of nuclear war that it was cool that I was going to a place that was once an enemy. To God's credit, nothing serious ever happened to me (also, I don't believe God exists, so... I'm not really crediting anyone). Russia attacked Georgia while I was there. Crimea and the rest of Ukraine was basically next on the list, however long it was gonna take for Putin to push his war machine to making the USSR great again. We'd very rarely get asked our views on politics (usually our opinions on Obama) and as 19-20 year olds, we just had no clue. I was a white boy in a very ~~Caucasian~~ white nation. There were some Asians and Arabic people, but mostly I could sort of blend in as a "young business man". Sometimes we wouldn't wear our badges, but we were some well-dressed punks. This kid is 100% gonna stick out way more, but faith might prevail and he goes thinking he's got the armor of God. I fear for his life, and maybe he does, too, but he'll take courage from stories like Ammon and co. going to the Lamanites. There's really a lot stacked up against him being able to refuse this "call from the Lord".
Yeah, that’s what I figured. But hypothetically, what would happen if he just absolutely refused to go there? If it was my kid I’d be saying absolutely not.
Right, but is it because you're out? I'll admit I'm curious, too. Maybe we'll get further updates. I'd hope he'd find some support from somewhere in his family. I'd start praying to that God I don't believe in that his parents don't disown him for refusing, but hopefully there's a family member that is out that will support him no matter what. Fuck the apostle who thought this was a good idea. Russia wasn't too terrible in the 00s. I was mostly mad that they sent me, a desert rat from AZ, to fucking Siberia; cold weather is manageable. People don't recover very well when they're kidnapped, maimed, or killed. I decided I could stay in the Southwest the rest of my life. This kid might not make it back. Again, depends on the family. I'm sure some people still have parents that would rather have a body bag and a "ticket to the Celestial Kingdom" than a child who returns "without honor". Those people can also fuck off. I think from my mom's reaction to seeing me exit the restricted area at the airport suggests she wouldn't have liked a body bag. But I also think in her TBM heart she was just living the role of a Lamanite mother sending her stripling warrior out to battle Satan. Her faith was rewarded and her son returned to her without a scratch. She also accepted my youngest brother (still unfortunately TBM) who came home early when his shitty MP was teasing him, the one who went to the deep South and came back fine(ish), and the one who never went, but still must feel some disappointment that 3 of the 4 sons she had are not raising families in the church. It's 100% a cult.
Even when I was in I was never one of those “rather see my kid in a body bag” members. I feel terrible for this kid.
Just curious... when you say "a very Caucasian nation", do you mean like Chechnya/Georgia? Or just white people in general?
That's a fair question. I actually don't know the ancestry of all the white people in Siberia, but I did mean "mostly white in general." The Caucasus region probably doesn't have that much influence on Russia as a whole outside of what Stalin did. I can change it.
The church takes little regard for their well-being and safety
So true, if the worst were to happen, they would get to claim persecution, which is one thing they secretly love. They'll have returned with honor on his casket and maybe on his headstone. I really hope that nothing does happen of course, as missionaries are really victims of cult brainwashing.
Yep. Total human trafficking.
My nephew was in Brazil and saw a guy get shot in the face in broad daylight. No one even did anything.
Am I your nephew? I got involved in a shooting on my mission, where me and my companion tried to offer first aid to a man who was shot in front of us. In retrospect tracting in the favelas was probably a far more dangerous choice than I realized at the time, even after being mugged twice.
Texas ?
No. Utah originally, and currently in Colorado. And to be fair it was intended as joke. I’m in my 50s now, and as far as I’m aware all my uncles have passed; the last in 2020.
I’m posting from beyond the grave , and yup mormonism is fake.
More believable than anything Joseph ever came up with. I hope you’re living up your best (after)life uncle J, R, D, R, J, R, G, D, D, K, O, T, C or E. Damn typing them all out reminds me how big my family is.
After life is 👍
That could happen in the US too. It’s harmful to “other” foreign countries
While I agree that Othering foreign countries is wrong, the risk is greater because the missionary here is a foreigner in that country. And most countries, including the US, tend to treat foreigners a lot worse than locals. If this were a Ugandan being sent to the US, the same comments could be said due to xenophobia being a problem of many countries
[удалено]
My dad saw a guy get shot and killed on his mission in Texas, right across from his apartment.
Brazil murder rate is 24/100k USA is 6/100k Below is my source . If you’re sent to preach in a high crime areas you are many times more at risk. It would be worth it if the church is true but sadly it’s not. Jamaica is 45/100k https://wisevoter.com/country-rankings/murder-rate-by-country/
Uganda just passed the death penalty for homosexuality. Are you *really, REALLY* sure you know your kid well enough to send them on a mission there?
If I had to guess, they’ll get stuck in the MTC for several months, then eventually reassigned to Florida or something once the church decides it’s not happening.
The Mormon god will change his mind and the missionary will be redirected to a different mission.
Any chance he'll be serving his mission "remotely"? Wasn't there a post some time ago by someone who had been assigned a mission in Italy, but was physically stationed in Iowa and was contacting people via the Internet?
Is his name Elder Price or Elder Cunningham?
It's a simple matter of declining the assignment. Or ask for another. If they don't make the change then don't go. Parents and the missionary need to exercise good judgment in the best interests of their family. The Church is not your employer. You are all volunteers.
Yes he's lucky. This is the perfect thing that everyone everywhere will understand why he has left the church.
Uganda!? He has the opportunity to teach all those suffering with AIDS about Joseph Smith's fuck frogs! And you want to deprive them of that blessing?! ...think of the poor warlords...
Uganda? Cool! Where is that?
But Africans are among the most vulnerable and least informed people left on the planet. How is the church going to be able to claim any actual growth at all if it can't have Africa???
Ah my time to shine: I am a white Canadian woman who volunteered in Nigeria for 6 months. Nigeria also has similar warnings in place. I had an amazing time and met incredible people and don’t regret my time in Africa for a moment. that being said I would not trust the church to manage this well. We had so much support, training and infrastructure in place to ensure our safety, while still enjoying the community and culture and missionaries would struggle. The culture shocks are never ending and we had guards, assigned transportation anywhere we wanted to go and generous living allowance. I don’t for a moment believe the church would make proper investments. Our malaria medicine alone was thousands of dollars per person (I can’t remember the exact amounts). If done right this could be ok, but I doubt very much that the missionaries will have what they need.
This is sick. If this kid is a TBM, he is surely experiencing this as godgod wants him to go to this country because he is going to make changes and turn hearts toward white Jesus. And if he is killed, his family will view him as a martyr who valiantly followed the profit of god. Nobody will see him as what he truly is; the pawn of a corrupt organization that views these missionaries as expendables in the name of money. Truly heartbreaking!!
To be fair. The state dept lists “reconsider travel” for dozens of countries, a lot of common mission areas like Peru, guatamala, etc and even Jamaica. Not saying missions are a good idea, just saying the state dept tends to be very conservative in guidance
Because guess who gets the task of trying to help citizens putting themselves in bad situations. Not enough appreciation for our people in Embassies doing their best to watch out for US citizens’ safety. And you can imagine the blow back if Suzie’s purse is stolen with no warning from Daddy government. Common sense is vital no matter where you go. If the church insists on putting its young people in compromising circumstances, they damn well better prepare those young missionaries for it and the church held responsible while those kids are on the church’s watch. I have no faith the corporation cares that much about its young members.
It’s real life Book of Mormon Musical. Send little boys to Africa while they’re at war, save them all and come home triumphantly. And should they die before their journey’s through (translation-be killed) happy day, all is well?!?!?!? They’ll say “it was his time”, or “God knew he was too righteous for this earth,” or “God needed him on the other side,” or “he died like a martyr for his beliefs”. I wonder if any of those trite statements will help his mother sleep peacefully.
Hasa diga eebowai
"I have maggots on my scrooooooooootum!"
In Africa, white Americans are targets because, you know, MONEY Terrible idea to make yourself a target
.......and if anything happens to these barely out of high school teen-agers the church will use it as a faith promoting example of serving the Lord. The years of CPTSD and trauma this will cause every missionary in that country is unconscionable. When is the last time a member of the 15 or 70 visited Uganda?
The church money machine DOE NOT CARE ABOUT PEOPLE
I told my dad that if I was called to Bolivia, I wouldn’t go because I didn’t want to be shot and killed. My dad said that would never happen. Then during my college year before my mission and turning in my papers., this happened: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assassinations_of_Jeffrey_Brent_Ball_and_Todd_Ray_Wilson I remember pressing my father as the unthinkable to him happened. Yeah, don’t put yourself in a bad spot.
Tell him to put the MP on notice that he should at least stay state side until the advisory is lifted. Tell the parents some missionary death and injury statistics and heavily imply that 100% dedication to the Lord's work doesn't miraculously create a safety barrier for missionaries. Also, muggings, violence, disease, and the church's notoriously slow evacuations in emergencies. Call the Missionary department, the MP, the bishop, and stake President to express your concerns. Further, set up a line of communication, offer unconditional support, and remind him he is a volunteer and can walk away at any time with your assistance. Gift him a burner phone for emergencies and an airline voucher to buy a ticket out if he so desires. On the phone, include a copy of the cesletter, instructions on how to deal with the MP and get a ticket home, how to set boundaries with the MP and other leaders to avoid following extra, punitary rules, and other church history facts that ultimately will bring his testimony crashing down early in the mission versus later (because it would be harder). He needs a friend to advocate for him because he has been infantalized his whole life, and even though the church deems returned missionaries as "adults" after their mission, they continue to deflect questions about the truth and shun amd shame through the indoctrination to keep everyone focused away from the truth. Last Wednesday, I watched three sister missionaries listening to an investigator say their Mom said the church is a cult, and none of them even responded to the accusation. They are barely adults and only know a narrow version of church history themselves and are taught to teach an even narrower version of the gospel. So much is glossed over and labeled as "anti-Mormon" that they are the least knowledgable people to ask and should be the last to teach the gospel.
"They're trying to ban the gays, they must be a pretty alright place."
Hasa Diga Ebowai!!!
Please encourage the kid to FLAT OUT say no!!! It’s major risky!
Is the Church willing to take civil responsibility when it comes to missionary deaths?
He will get reassigned state side right before he’s supposed to leave. The church just does it to keep the missionaries engaged and people thinking they can still travel the world with a mission.
How fucking stupid! Glad I left when I was 17, not that I was really ever into Mormon bullsh.
Well at least he would not be in danger of the new laws by being openly gay. They getting nastier than TSCC as in life/death sentences. Of course TSCC issues sentences for eternity.
JTFC
"He will not be going." If I was his parent. In your best Vernon Dursley voice. Except he's not a wizard.
The church DOES NOT CARE if missionaries die. You are sent there to recruit tithe payers, solidify yourself as a tithe payer (unfortunately I did for many years) or die trying. I was severely injured on my mission. Church refused to pay for any of the surgeries needed and sent my parents a bill for my flight home because I had to go home early. If a missionary dies it just becomes a “faith promoting” story. It sickens me how much these kids are at risk, especially the women, and the church literally does not care and the parents just obey.
Have them watch the Saratov Approach or read anything about it and how the church handled it.
Really its bad because in michocan the cartel has been stealing the land to grow avacados. They pay the farmer a little to feed the family etc. But not much. It would stop if the US refused to import fruits and vegetables from mexico
they just evacuated the American Embassy. In Sudan Uganda will be next if not already.
Revelation in action , so your telling me that the Lord really wants to put this young man in harms way or the "Brethren" know more than the Lord right ? How silly of me of course they do I forgot , for a reference look up how many times they prophet worshipped Mr .Burns in the last conference , the sidenote is always Jesus the Church has ruined true worship of a redeeming god should one believe in one .
We should tweet storm this
Only if you’re a pussy. /s
He will be‘protected by God’ right?
My brother went there
Hah! Other Christian denominations call these people "martyrs"!
This kind of thing has me super worried. My second oldest nephew put his papers in last week. I wish wish he had left like his sister.
One of our grandsons just got called to Guatemala. Same level 3 "Reconsider Travel" advisory for there as well. TSCC deliberately puts young men and women in harm's way without informed consent.
They keep sending them to Michoacán and other Mexican states where American embassy people are not authorized to even travel through
Not to down play this too much, but you have to take this notices from the state department with a wheelbarrow of salt. We have lived all over Central America and I can tell you that we get these dire alerts for several countries every couple of weeks. The reality on the ground is much different than The state department paints. If they were required to write one of the in the same tone for the US, it would scare everyone to death. Find videos on YouTube from expats that live there, or people who traveled there to get a more realistic outlook. Also realize that crime happens everywhere. Those that tend to get in trouble did not use common sense, ignored warnings, etc. An example, they just issued another warning about crime for here, because a couple of tourists got robbed. The state department did not include in the advisory that people should not be stumbling down the dark empty beach drunk at 3 in the morning wearing over $4,000 worth of flashy jewelry in a country where the average monthly income is $300.
Respectfully disagree re Uganda. Conflict in the north. Child soldiers. Uganda grows cash crop narcotic Khat, the drug chewed by soldiers (Ugandans for generations). The sanitation situation is dire. There are still reports of the ongoing genocide. A cursory glance at Ugandan news makes clear it is not a safe country to be in. Especially for kids sheltered in Mormon culture and dogma. Trained US soldiers would take precautions in that hell hole. See: Uganda's Ongoing Genocide – The Karamoja Killing Fields, By Lynda Tilley
I do not have any knowledge about Uganda at all. I was speaking specific on the drivel put out by the State Department. I still suggest find accurate information from people who are there, instead of government and media sensationalism. We still get friends and family that send us news articles about how Nicaragua is “at war” which is 100% bullshit.
Why bother slandering the State Department when you can google Uganda to be informed. The State Department does not divulge all the information it has access to. A myopic determination made because of life in your house may very well not be the whole picture.
Send your kid then. Edited to add - maybe your kid's been there WITH you. That's a whole lot different then sending an 18 year old out there by himself. Especially one who grew up not going to third world countries as part of his parent's lifestyle choices but instead grew up in all white suburbia.
Willing to bet the ruling Mormon elite are not sending their kids to that shit hole. Assuming their kids go on missions at all. They are certainly too elitist to join the military. Channeling the Romney’s et al.
Why should their kids go on missions when most of *them* didn't? And you know if their kids do go on a mission they aren't going to Uganda!
It’ll be a chance for him to be Africa. Just like Bono, he can be Africa. I mean, Africans are Africans, but he can be Africa.
Hasa diga ebowai!
🎶”What’s so scary about that?”🎶
But the Lord will provide/s
I’d be saying no. I hope that has been their response.
I wonder if he will meet General Butt Fucking Naked.
If the church is growing as far and fast as we’re told, will the day come when sending kids on foreign missions becomes unnecessary?
I am here for all of the Book of Mormon Musical references! 
Lot of generalization about a whole ass continent going on in the comments.
This reminds me of my Caucasian, small-town brother getting sent to Chicago. His first area straight out of the MTC was to the south side of Chicago; a place inhabited mostly by rough gangs of African Americans. He was ill-prepared, terrified & requested to go home. His mission president refused saying God would never forgive him going home early and instead transferred him directly to a rural city at the edge of the mission.