Originally Posted by
MileageAddict
For a while now, I've been interested in volunteering my time and labor while visiting a country I normally would not visit for concern about safety or other restrictions. I'm thinking about places such as Haiti, Cuba, South Pacific Islands or Central Africa. I'm not religious so I am not interested in any work associated with a religious organization.
Yap on Yap Day a few years ago was interesting. The two main volunteer groups of outsiders with a standing presence on the island were the Peace Corps volunteers, and the LDS missionaries. Couldn't have been more different, it seems. The PC people tried to "go native" as best they could, while the LDS ones were just like the ones you might see in your own neighborhood. The Peace Corps ones seemed to do much better in winning over hearts & minds.