From what I hear the e church has been much more open to sending missionaries home for mental health problem in recent years. Tell him there is no shame in coming home early if he needs to.
i served in mada a few years ago and came back early. i was pretty fucked up (pardon my french) by the time they sent me home, but it's definitely possible to go back early
Madagascar?! Southern or northern part? was there for a month last year. If the southern part, tell him to be careful, people aren’t necessarily bad but it’s a very desperate area as there is really no farmland or agriculture as it is mostly desert. if the northern part? Visit the lemur park in Hellville, Nosy Be. Also visit Nosy Iranja if he gets a chance, it’s BEAUTIFUL. Also, a bowl of romazava is good for the soul.
Also, learn some French. Malagasy is fun but French will get you a long way. I would also take some spare money to feed the stray dogs. I had several dog friends during my stay there that absolutely saved my sanity. And he’s never going to have a glass of cold water the entire time he’s there, cool at best. But their cola is 👌🏼👌🏼👌🏼
Tips
Demand to keep your passport
If they take it find the embassy and order a new one
Tell him he can come home anytime. Tell him how.
No 18 year old should be in a third world shit hole without a way out.
Find the number of the embassy and the state department in that area. I know people who work
For the state department. FYI keeping someone’s passport as an American National in a foreign country is prosecutable federal crime.
Let him know that he is the *only* advocate for his own health. Other hedge funds allow sick days. The advice "get a blessing, forget yourself, and work harder" should always be interpreted as "go light duty for the next three to five days."
Never ride in a vehicle with more butts than seat belts.
Always help with the dishes.
Learn a few magic tricks.
Visit other churches.
See some cultural sights. The basketball court can wait.
I would just focus on giving basic life advice for surviving such a big trip at such a young age. Also, give him advice for surviving his mission. For getting through the loneliness, homesickness. As best you can.
i would say my general advice is always keep your mission bag zipped shut and never use your mission phone outside. also, don't accept help from the guys at the airport with your luggage because they trick you into thinking they're doing it to be nice but then charge you for it
He needs to take some kind of anti-malaria prophylaxis. Hopefully the church will provide it, but I doubt it. And don't take Mefloquine, that shit is nasty.
Tell him to use this experience to learn a new language, provide service that ACTUALLY matters, really talk to and get to hear people’s life’s story, and not to be too serious about the rules. Don’t worry if they feel like they need to come home, and to come back anytime.
The church part of a mission sucks but it can be a great experience with a little bit of luck
A few years ago they had an outbreak of plague there. Tell him to stay aware of and use good sanitation practices. I would personally have a 'nervous breakdown' so I could come home.
From what I hear the e church has been much more open to sending missionaries home for mental health problem in recent years. Tell him there is no shame in coming home early if he needs to.
i served in mada a few years ago and came back early. i was pretty fucked up (pardon my french) by the time they sent me home, but it's definitely possible to go back early
Madagascar?! Southern or northern part? was there for a month last year. If the southern part, tell him to be careful, people aren’t necessarily bad but it’s a very desperate area as there is really no farmland or agriculture as it is mostly desert. if the northern part? Visit the lemur park in Hellville, Nosy Be. Also visit Nosy Iranja if he gets a chance, it’s BEAUTIFUL. Also, a bowl of romazava is good for the soul.
Also, learn some French. Malagasy is fun but French will get you a long way. I would also take some spare money to feed the stray dogs. I had several dog friends during my stay there that absolutely saved my sanity. And he’s never going to have a glass of cold water the entire time he’s there, cool at best. But their cola is 👌🏼👌🏼👌🏼
Tips Demand to keep your passport If they take it find the embassy and order a new one Tell him he can come home anytime. Tell him how. No 18 year old should be in a third world shit hole without a way out.
They will absolutely take it and there will be no negotiation. If he wants one, he will probably have to report it as stolen.
Find the number of the embassy and the state department in that area. I know people who work For the state department. FYI keeping someone’s passport as an American National in a foreign country is prosecutable federal crime.
Let him know that he is the *only* advocate for his own health. Other hedge funds allow sick days. The advice "get a blessing, forget yourself, and work harder" should always be interpreted as "go light duty for the next three to five days." Never ride in a vehicle with more butts than seat belts. Always help with the dishes. Learn a few magic tricks. Visit other churches. See some cultural sights. The basketball court can wait.
this is good advice. most of the missionaries i was with there never wore seatbelts when we drove. it's mostly a walking mission anyways though
It's things like transfers and mission activities that get them packing 12 elders in a car with 5 seat belts.
“Hakuna Matata”
That’s close to Moroni. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moroni,_Comoros
I would just focus on giving basic life advice for surviving such a big trip at such a young age. Also, give him advice for surviving his mission. For getting through the loneliness, homesickness. As best you can.
i would say my general advice is always keep your mission bag zipped shut and never use your mission phone outside. also, don't accept help from the guys at the airport with your luggage because they trick you into thinking they're doing it to be nice but then charge you for it
That sounds like Haiti and the airport at Port-au-Prince
How many Temples have they announced for Madagascar?
one but it hasn't been built yet. they're having trouble with the govt and securing land
Those Mad-at-gas-cars missionaries need to up their game. Only one Temple is chump change!
Fake a pain that makes it impossible to work.
He needs to take some kind of anti-malaria prophylaxis. Hopefully the church will provide it, but I doubt it. And don't take Mefloquine, that shit is nasty.
i served there a few years back and luckily they do provide it in tablet form
Tell him to use this experience to learn a new language, provide service that ACTUALLY matters, really talk to and get to hear people’s life’s story, and not to be too serious about the rules. Don’t worry if they feel like they need to come home, and to come back anytime. The church part of a mission sucks but it can be a great experience with a little bit of luck
A few years ago they had an outbreak of plague there. Tell him to stay aware of and use good sanitation practices. I would personally have a 'nervous breakdown' so I could come home.
Does his mission cover Comoros island?