And you thought working for NOVA sucked

[Samurai_Jerk]

Student missing since ‘04 was kidnapped by North Korea

An American student reported missing during a 2004 hiking trip in China was kidnapped and forced to teach English to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, authorities say.

David Sneddon, a Brigham Young student, disappeared at the age of 24 in Yunnan Province in what Chinese police said was likely a hiking accident.

But the body of Sneddon — who spoke fluent Korean — was never found and his parents were suspicious.

“We knew in our heart that he was alive, so we had to keep fighting,” said his relieved mother, Kathleen Sneddon.

According to Choi Sung-yong, head of South Korea’s Abductees’ Family Union, Sneddon has been found living in the North Korean capital of Pyongyang, where he works as a school teacher. He reportedly is married and has two children.

North Korea has a long history of kidnapping foreign nationals, and Sneddon’s parents believe their son was targeted because he served on a Mormon mission in South Korea, where his language skills became known.

[matsuki]

Teaching English? Teaching Mormon?



Probably the worst Engrish teacher to kidnap...

[wagyl]

Looking at a twelve year old post in the Find David blog, where his family launches into action in a search in Yunnan, I am struck by their faith:

We do not believe that David is staying with a Chinese woman somewhere in China as his religious training and missionary service for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints would preclude this type of behavior.

If they were saying that he is not up to any funny business, that would not match with what I know of a few Mormons who let down their hair when free from the "paired everywhere except the bathroom" missionary experience, and free from family and societal watchful eyes in Utah. The eyes of God may be everywhere, but they are easier to ignore than the eyes of Aunt Mabel.

If, however, there were saying that he is not up to any funny business with a woman, well, that might just match with what I know... For some reason, I seem to be a person these guys choose to do a confession to.

[Russell]

So, did he convert a Kim to the Mormon faith?

[matsuki]

Kim just wanted a pair of magic pajamas

[Grumpy Gramps]

OTOH this is a very good example, how the right set of language skills can open a plethora of career opportunities for you. Personal teacher of a head of state, who wouldn't be proud to have that on their cv.

[Russell]

OTOH this is a very good example, how the right set of language skills can open a plethora of career opportunities for you. Personal teacher of a head of state, who wouldn't be proud to have that on their cv.

He has a great CV!

Unfortunately, he does not have much opportunity to move on...

[Samurai_Jerk]

Being a pet white boy Engrish teacher to Lil' Kim might not be such a bad gig as long as you don't cross him.

I like the part of the article where they say it's unsure why he never tried to contact his parents. Can we assume he never tried?

Anyway, I heard from a Mormon friend who has chosen to remain a Mormon for mostly secular reasons (family, tradition, culture, etc.) that A LOT of shenanigans go on during the missions. But what do you expect when you send a bunch of naive sheltered clean cut boys (and some girls) in their late teens and early 20s off to save souls.

I wish I could remember the details but my favorite story of his was the one about the two girls on their mission who got talked into providing sexual services to a lonely severely handicapped guy who they met going door to door. That guy obviously had mad game.




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[Screwed-down Hairdo]

Anyway, I heard from a Mormon friend who has chosen to remain a Mormon for mostly secular reasons (family, tradition, culture, etc.) that A LOT of shenanigans go on during the missions.

I heard of some Mormons who drank coffee.
And another one that didn't brush his Osmond-like teeth.
And another one who almost got stripped of his magic undies because he hung out with a black bloke. Once.