follow the money

When the "missionaries" visit those countries they just go door to door like they do here, pestering people to join their goofy church. They don't bring food or medicine; they don't start schools; they don't do anything but proselytize.

That has to be kind of dangerous.

And far from friendly territory for doorknockers of the evangelical bent.

Perhaps not quite Kolkota, but separated only by the welfare state.

n/t

Yes, some tiresome doorknocking pest could get mugged in a dodgy neighborhood in England (just as they could here in the U.S.), but it's nothing like spending months or years in some remote village in Africa or India to bring impoverished people food and cholera medicine.

Rich white kids backpacking through Europe distributing religious tracts are not exactly budding Mother Teresas.

Hell even Jehovah Witnesses have more with 131,000 followers.

maybe the French were sick of their pensions and tired of national HC ?

...help a leper colony in Vietnam by constructing needed facilities and providing financial support--with no proselytizing at all.

I was a Mormon missionary, believe me they are no vacation. Yes they are not helping the sick and the poor (I believe 4-5 hours a week are supposed to be spent on "service," the rest of the time is preaching the gospel).

It is no vacation though, you have a very regimented routine and strict rules. Up at 6am, an hour of study by yourself, an hour with your companion and breakfast. Out the door by 9:30 am. You are not supposed to return until 9:30pm. You have to report how many contacts, commitments etc you have each week with set goals and supervision. No TV, Radio, Music (other than church music), no phone calls except one to your mom and dad twice a year. You get 1/2 a day off on Mondays to write letters and do your laundry.

Its far from a vacation.

Or a year spent building an irrigation system in a 3rd world country.

But who is benefiting from this service?

And it's a far cry from what people in the military are doing, especially those on active duty or what many other missions do where they actually help people.

I find it difficult that a man wants to be president who would send other people's kids to war and yet not only has he not served but would never serve and the same with the rest of his family.

Kind of like going to a school that teaches theocracy? Still nothing that compares to serving in the military...is it?

And while you were on your mission, did you have have people shooting at you or trying to blow you up?

You see your missionary work could be considered like a vacation to someone who has to live in a hole in the ground, eat their meals out of a plastic bag, carry over 100 pounds of equipment walking many miles, and then standing guard duty at night with little sleep.

Just saying...

Is that like the Osmonds or something.

Sounds bad.