Some of my friends have missionaries out in the field. They post pics of them on their missions and my first reaction, "oh, you poor guy."

All I have for missionaries is pity. It is two years of mistreatment on all fronts. Unless you learn a language or go somewhere cool, and those are disappearing, it's just a big waste of 2 years of your life.

I couldn't wait to go home and had PTSD nightmares about it for years afterwards.

I feel that pity, too. I know the mishies and their families don't want that pity and I've got no one to share it with, but really, it's so awful. Two years (or 18 months) of abuse, and typical of all experienced abusers, the church has its victims fully on board - even willing to pay for it.

I have two cousins in the past year who have had their missionary sons return home within six months of leaving. This was unheard of when I was growing up. I don't know what has happened with the culture, there doesn't seem to be nearly as much shame associated with coming home early. Whatever it is it is positive, I knew too many young guys who got absolutely nothing from spending two years peddling bullshit and having every tiny little aspect of their lives controlled, and some became severely depressed, or otherwise broken.

Going home was a threat because if the shame involves. One of my friends came home after a year and everyone kept trying to get me to find out why.

It was the male equivalent of being knocked up.

I was told if I were to come home early don't expect to live here. You better find some other place to live if you come home early.