Dear skm,

I don’t think that you will find a church directive on the care and feeding of missionaries. They normally should be fed three times a day. However, they would eat more often if you would let them. When left on their own both the quality and the quantity of their dietary intake suffer. Quantity goes up and quality goes down.

Their eating habits vary according to the mission to which they are called and according to the Ward or Branch in which they are serving. In some units the local members are so organized that the missionaries never have to ask for a meal. They just follow the printed schedule. In other areas they graciously make appointments to visit the member just at meal time (when everyone will be home) and sometimes they are invited to stay for dinner.

Members should be sensitive to the culinary likes and dislikes of the missionaries, especially those that are serving in countries other than their country of origin. It is often difficult for a young person to quickly adapt to a dietary regime with which they are not familiar.

Members should also be careful not to be overly friendly or familiar with the missionaries. Their activities and their time are rather restricted. I understand that they shouldn’t spend more than an hour in a member’s home at mealtime.

In some areas missionaries try to board with non-members. This gives them an opportunity to share with the non-member the spirit of the gospel, and hopefully find teaching opportunities. If you ever see a missionary sitting listlessly on a street corner he is usually revived by a candy bar or a milk shake.

Gramps