Missionary food stories: Called — and served

The interesting experiences that we have on our missions are all worth every minute.

Elder and Sister Read
Philippines Angeles Mission

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Eating dog soup (boshingtong) was a surprisingly pleasant experience. The fact is dogs one eats in Korea are not like any of the dogs we have here. They are large, almost cowlike, docile beasts that graze and eat grain.

Several missionaries went with a member out into the countryside to a particular restaurant that served this historically special meal. Unlike the stories you hear, dog soup and the lesser known dog rib meals are not everyday affairs, nor is it common in the general population by any means.

Dog soup is like many other Korean meals, full of vegetables, soy bean paste and a light serving of meat. It was not only tender but tasty. In many ways it reminded me of leftover stew from an American beef roast from the Midwest. It did however have the feel that it was somehow wrong, but when in Rome .... Also, eating live baby octopi is also a treat. Imagine trying to eat something that is desperately trying to get back out of your mouth and has the strength of survival in it. Interesting.

John Muhlestein
South Korea Pusan Mission

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Having issues eating many things growing up, my diet never included fruit, vegetables or many other things — my pallet just didn't care much for it. The dish a wonderful man from Ghana fixed us was called Ghana hot-rice. This contained a whole fish covered with a very hot sauce. I had no idea how I was going to eat this meal, but being young and full of missionary zeal, I put my faith in the Lord and started eating. To my surprise I ate the whole dish, which by the way continued throughout my entire mission.

When I returned home, on the way from the airport I asked that we stop and eat. I wanted my family to see that the Lord had blessed me to be able to eat all kinds of food that I had never eaten before. As I started in on my salad, the experience that I had while a missionary was gone. I couldn't choke anything down that I had ordered. Many missionaries are blessed with a gift of tongues. Mine was the gift of pallet.

John M. Shaw
Canada Toronto Mission

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