I have no authority to do anything I’ll list below. I hope that some people who do have authority will discuss any of these ideas which look feasible.
My biggest concern for African missionaries is that presently they finish their missions and often can’t find work. If they learned certain skills during their missionary service, they would be better prepared for the future.
- Missionaries – Goal: Train all for post-mission service.
The LDS Church has a lot of money and an enormous work force in its missionaries, who come from all nations. They do good humanitarian service, but mostly proselytizing. I would love to direct this force into building schools and churches after full instruction from an accredited institution. This was done briefly in 2008, when students in the Congo learned wiring, plumbing, and other requirements of house construction and received a certificate of completion from the LDS Business College.
Teach missionaries the elements of peace building using a program such as exists at BYU-Hawaii. Missionaries who finish the course and do fieldwork receive a certificate from an institution like BYU-Hawaii or the Arbinger Institute. BYU-H’s program.
Teach the ethics of economy. This might serve as a model.
All missionaries should be literate, so missionary training should include literacy instruction for students who need it. Literacy should also be a program which missionaries would develop and teach. Church buildings are already used for this initiative, and could continue to be used.
Missionaries can also work in agriculture and help others develop productive farms. Nuskin has a good model for this.
Gospel instruction. If community members desire to learn the gospel, they may approach the missionaries to schedule time for instruction.
BYU Pathways
What a wonderful program this is! The need for computers and internet service is enormous, so the program will need to provide these.
Teamwork and organization can be taught in establishing wards and branches. This is a vital need for development in any country, especially poor ones. I personally love the interweave program, which also helps students develop enterprises.
Just a few ideas. Implementation is always complicated, but maybe a few of these ideas can be discussed.
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