Job Discussion Forums

[Will.]

Sunday, the day of religion and a question concerning a group mentioned by Khmerhit in the drinking thread. It concerns the pair of look alike missionaries, y'know white shirt, cropped hair, young, healthy and full of the joy of life but wearing a black name badge identifying them so you can avoid them, which I do, having had the pleasure of their acquaintance on numerous occasions.
A thought occurs to me. The desire of non-native speakers to practise English and the desire of missionaries to meet their quota of converts, are our schools and workplaces a recruiting ground for these missionaries? Were you a missionary and a native speaker of English working abroad would not your job be made easier if you had access to a group of people who spoke your language already?
Back to my question has your school been visited? Does anyone have an idea if this is happening?
I heard from a personal friend who had the opportunity to study stateside at an institution in SLC "explained" to her by one of these people. Of course it was a "members only" option. I am curious to know if this was an isolated case.

[dyak]

I have seen the very individuals you describe numerous times in London. They hunt in pairs, cornering foreign students and from what I�ve overheard they usually have South African accents. I�m not sure what designer religion they�re selling as I haven�t been talked at yet. I�m not sure if they�ve approached the school either but I doubt they�d be welcome, their look is just too off-putting.

As a teacher I have been approached by the more harmless �give these to your students and come along yourself� plain clothes �followers� coupled with the usual invitation to explore spirituality but within the confines of Christianity� an oxy-moronic task if ever there was one.

[jud]

We have them too. In our case they come from Utah (I'll avoid indicating the religion just to be over-cautious) and are doing compulsory "foreign service." They teach English for free at their centers. They seem to be unwilling to teach those with "alternative" sexual preferences, however.

[Roger]

Yeah, those from Utah have their agenda on China as well...
Met a guy several years ago who claimed he had divorced his American wife but was still maintaining a friendly relationship with her and their children. Nothing untoward, far from it, but...
He had come to China specifically to mutliply the human race here.
He married a woman, and next thing I knew was that sh was pregnant... with twins!
They were even reported on in the local paper - the laowai husband and his Chinese wife enjoyed a special status in this one-child-family nation.

Actually, I get along with some of these devout folks well enough. It is in small lifestyle questions that friction can result.
I had a jolly good time with one American who was happily married to his wife who was still in the US of A; I noticed, however, that he entertained many a fancy about local women and their availability.
While I did not want to meddle in his business, I was a bit annoyed by his insistence that "drinking beer or wine is un-Christian!" He was not exactly upset about my drinking habit (although I never get drunk), but he disapproved of it in no uncertain, though ever so polite terms...

[Wolf]

[scot47]

In Bulgaria missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints ofer free English lessons.

Fortunately only the very gullible fall for this recruiting ploy.

[Will.]

Thank you for your responses.
I must admit to no surprise at the free English classes. I wonder if the teachers are qualified or received any sort of training to prepare them for their role before leaving home.
I return to my original question about people, gullible or at least not as worldly-wise as ourselves being offered, or having the opportunity to study in the States explained to them as one of the benefits of being a member of this organisation. Is this an isolated case or common practise?
I suppose I could contact them...but cans of worms....I thought I would ask you guys first.
Thanks for your help.

[shmooj]

Come to think of it, what makes these "missionary" types any more conniving than those running English schools to make money?

Aren't both as guilty as the other for their false motives? Here in Japan there are free classes offered by Mormons as a way of proselytizing and there are also classes offered around the clock (yes by video-conferencing) by Nova as a way of monopolizing.

Who, if either, is the baddie?

[khmerhit]

Missionaries do some good work, and Christian NGOs do some good work, too, for people who have no one to help them. Nevertheless, I think there is something odious about proselytizing to desperate people. And I also suspect that under the guise of their charitable works, some organizations have found useful ways of avoiding taxes and or shifting wads of money around. Can't prove it though. Cynical? Yeah, well..

[Wolf]

[Lucy Snow]

Then again, you could always do what my husband did: Invite them over and greet them smoking a cigarette and drinking a beer. Try to convert them over to your way of thinking. They'll leave you alone after that.

[Ajax]

We have these kind of missionaries in East Europe too. You can spot them on the street immediately (white shirt, black tag name, young and with the Bible in their hand). They offer free English courses, which I have never attended, due to their prozelytizing mission, but for non-natives they are a good way to practice English. They are quite avioded by the commoners, and the students tend to be believers of different sects. When they finish their missionary journy they will get financial help back home (US or UK) with their studies. The period they're supposed to spend abroad as missionaries is longer for boys than for girls.

[scot47]

I have not come across any of these guys in Saudi Arabia. I wonder why.

[Will.]

seems like this post is back again,
Thanks Scot a good answer for the next time I run into a pair of 'em I will know what to say to them, this time they will want to get away from me.... here's hoping.
I have met a lot of religious wierdos over the years, sometimes even spent time with them , Krishnas, Shamanists, I even stayed at a Moonie mansion (it was!) for a couple of days and a whole bunch of west coast wierdos (was it the Love family?, something like that) but the SLC bunch bug the hell out of me whenever I have the unfortunate luck to run into them. Anyone else out there have a pet hate or bug bear with any of these groups?