Let me say this - if you don't try it out you will spend the rest of your life wondering about it and why you made it such a big deal in your head. We tend to regret the things that we didn't do as opposed to the things we did do - especially when we avoided it out of some misplaced sense of fear.
I will assume that you are still youngish (in school) and not married or committed to a relationship where chastity has been promised (living overseas for school).
Don't let "Mark" fool you - these people are professionals and could spot a "john" a mile away - before you or I ever saw it coming. Devotion to christianity (or any other religion) has not proven such a solid test when it comes to temptation. "Me thinks the lady doth protest too loudly" as Will Shakespeare said.
The whole STD scare reminds me of something out of a grainy 1950's health film. Protect yourself and use common sense and it is a non-issue. What the hell are you going to catch from a handjob anyway? Disease is the black cloud the church uses to maintain a moral upperhand. Again, the "massage therapists" know what they are doing and you would be more likely to catch something from a college girl back in at school in the U.S.
I say go into one of these places with just the backrub as your plan. Find a clean place with people who are friendly and worse case scenario you have a pretty girl rub your back and you will know what it is all about. Then you have made your decision based on what you know vs. fear and that's always a good thing. If you happen to fall prey to the dark side, we won't tell anyone if you don't.
