Showing posts with label mail. Show all posts

Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Letters - OPEN WHEN you ............... (ideas to send to or with your missionary)

Tiffany Ann Dudley asks... "I am going to send a package to a missionary friend and in it I'm planning on containing some 'open when' letters. (Open when you are happy, open when you are having a hard day etc.) but I'm having a hard time thinking of some ideas for the title of the letters. Can you ladies help me out please?! XxX thanks!"

When you are frustrated (include bubblewrap)
When you've been caught in a rainstorm
When your dinner appt cancelled
When your not getting along with your comp
When you have seen an investigator feel the spirit
When you are chased by a dog
When you have had a really great teaching moment
When you are covered in mosquito bites
When you get a hole in your shoe
When you run out of miles
When you are happy
When you are sad
When you are lonely
When you need a hug
When you need to smile
When you need to know how much I love you
When it is your birthday
When you are stressed (good one to put bubble wrap in)
When you are bored
When you are missing me
When you get this
When you have a baptism
When you get transferred
When you are half way done
When you feel like giving up
When you can't sleep
When you need a break from everyone
When you need a hug
When you are angry/upset
When you're feeling unsuccessful
When it's New Years
When it's your birthday
When it's Christmas
When you need to laugh
When you have your 1st pDay
When you have a great day
When you need a miracle
When you want some alone time
When you're about to watch general conference
When you hit your 6 month, year, and 18 month mark!
When I leave for my mission
When you feel homesick
When.... for any holiday
When you need an extra push
When you're having a hard time learning the language
When you're feeling unsuccessful
When it doesn't feel like your prayers are being heard
When you are struggling with a companion
When you need to feel loved
When trials are great
When you are doubting (yourself your situation, or your experience)
When you are homesick
When you are physically sick
When you need courage
When the opposition doesn't seem to end
When the trials seem really long (faith is tested)
When your investigator didn't show up at church
When you tried every door and no one opened
When you feel lonely
When you can't find any miracles that day
When dinner made you sick or was canceled
Before you have to drop your favorite investor
When you feel like everyone forgot about you
When your favorite skirt got ruined
When you need inspiration to help your investigator make it to his baptism date
When you just need a big hug!
When you need a good laugh
When you need to be reminded that you are loved
Christmas day
Year mark
Flying home
Birthday
When you're feeling homesick
When you hit your __ mark (6-month, year, etc.)
When you need a testimony booster
When you just need a bunch of awesome quotes
When you need to remember a good memory
the day before transfers
When you need a good talk
When you find a golden investigator
When your golden drops you
When your golden decides to get baptized
When the stubborn one is still stubborn
When it's a sick day
When it can't be worse
When it rains on your party
When you're at the high point
When you're at the low point
When you're scared
When you're worried about home
When you're feeling fat

ADDED a few more (keep them coming and we will keep adding) :)

When you are missing your mom
When you crash your bike
When you watch your first general conference
When you only have 3 more months
When you drop the shampoo in the shower
When you wished you got married instead of going on a mission
When everyday feels the same
on your 1st day of tracking
on your 1st transfer, 2nd transfer, etc.
When you see a rainbow
on the 1st day it snows
on New Years Eve
on Halloween
on Easter
When you finish the Book of Mormon for the 1st time on your mission
after your first baptism
on hump day
When you miss amusement parks
When you place your 1st Book of Mormon with someone!
When you miss going to the movies
When you teach your first discussion
When you have a companion that won't let you talk to investigators
When someone almost commits to baptism and they change their minds
When you miss dating
When you miss girls
When you feel alone
When you feel homesick
When you miss the cat/dog
When you miss hanging out with friends
When you just feel rundown
When you know they feel the spirit and light up from the inside with that special glow!

When you are feeling lonely
When you are missing home
When you are feeling rejected
on a rainy day
When you are exhausted
When you are nervous
When you are having a great day
When it is your 1st Christmas away from home
When it your 1st Thanksgiving in the mission field
on Mother's Day
on Father's Day
When you miss Grandma
When it's your birthday
When you are feeling trunky
When you are feeling worried
When you are feeling bored
When you need a good joke
When you are feeling overwhelmed
When you get sick or catch a cold
When you are in a disagreement
When you are in a disagreement with your companion
When you miss your brothers
When you miss TV/Movies
When you miss technology & social media
When you miss swimming

"I would suggest staying away from more of the when you miss things. More of the open after positive experiences."

"We had some friends, leaders, bishop etc. help with the letters! It was a lot of fun!"

Question - "What for you put in them? I doubt I could write a letter for all of them at once!

Answer - "I had friends, family and even the bishop joined in and wrote a letter it was so fun....that way you don't have to write them all and I think it's a nice surprise to the missionary to see so many were involved."

If you have more ideas.... please comment and we will add to the blog.

http://ldr13.wordpress.com/open-when-envelope-ideas

Thanks to Laura Jensen for sharing the below ideas for "Open When"

Friday, August 22, 2014

120+ questions to ask in your letters - We NEED more ideas, please share

A good reminder from Sister Newton - "Yes, keep it fun and don't criticize! After both my husband & I asking a couple times for longer, more informative letters, he wrote "I'm sorry you don't like my letters . . ." and I could feel his sadness. I was so sorry!"

"I always say a prayer before writing so that I may have guidance. It has been helpful."
~Sister Prado

Add your ideas to the comments and we will keep adding to our list

http://c586412.r12.cf2.rackcdn.com/writingamissionary.jpg

Questions to ask:

What has been your biggest success?
What has been your biggest challenge this week?
What has been your biggest concern?
Who has been your favorite person? Why? (I added contact...it made it more clear for my daughter) ie: Who is your person of the week and why?
What are you looking forward to this coming week?
Do you have a goal set for this week? Tell me about it.
Anything else I need to know or you want to share?
How was your walk with the Savior this week?
What was your most spiritual experience?
What was your best experience?
What is your apartment like?
Where do you do your shopping?
How much do they give you to live on monthly?
Are you doing well budgeting your money?
What is the best thing you have been fed?
What is the grossest thing you have been fed?
What do you love about where you are living?
Is there anything you need?
Tell me about your companion?
Do you have things in common?
What kind of car do you drive?
What is the biggest thing that has impacted your life this far on your mission?
Tender Mercy of the past week
What is the the nastiest thing you have had to eat?
What made you smile this week?
What is the most common food you are fed?

"The first time I sent them to her, I explained that if she had time for nothing else, she was to take time to answer these questions. There are only two weeks she hasn't answered them. She's gotten so it's the very first thing she does. I also put them at the very top of her email….Just after the Hello." Sister Hess

Sister MacKay - "I take notes in church and tell my missionary what people taught or said"

***If you mail them the questions, don't forget a self address stamped envelope.***

Thanks to Sister Hess, Sister Svedin, Sister Gittins, Sister Brown, Sister Larsen, Sister Rollins, Sister Webb, Sister Pitt, Sister Merrill, Sister Snider, Sister MacKay and more.

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Sister Jensen shared what she wrote to her missionary. Thank you Sister Jensen!!
(copy and past into a letter)

What your mom has always wanted to know:

What time do you get up?

Do you set your alarm or do you just wake up on your own?

Do you get ready for the day before or after individual and companion study?

Do you study one topic for a week for companion study or a different topic every day?

Who chooses the topic or do you take turns?

What is your favorite chapter or part out of PMG?

What is your current favorite scripture and why?

What do you usually eat for breakfast?

If you have time what is your favorite breakfast meal to make or cook?

What time do you leave the apartment?

Do you have to drive everywhere in Williams or can you walk some places?

Do you ever proselyte on main street or in the shops?

What time do you usually eat lunch?

How long is your lunch?

What do you usually eat for lunch at the apartment?

Do you share groceries in Williams with your comp?

Do you get a drink or snack every day from the Mish Fridge?

What are the Sister’s names in your district?

Where are these Sisters from?

Where do they live and serve now?

Do they have many investigators?

If they have baptisms, who does the baptizing?

What are some of your responsibilities as District Leader?

What is the craziest thing you have ever down with Elder _________?

What was the most spiritual moment with Elder __________?

What time do you exercise in the morning and what do you usually do now?

What time do you have to be in at night in your apartment?

What time do you go to bed?

Do you shower in the morning or at night?

Do you still sleep on the bottom bunk?

Is it easy or difficult for you to fall asleep?

What time do you leave your apt. on P-days?

What time is p-day over with?

Do you eat most of your dinners at member’s homes?

Do you go to the laundry mat every P-day?

Do you email us from the laundry mat or from the church on P-days?

Do you go on splits with the Zone Leaders every week?

What do you usually do on your P-days besides laundry and emails?

What is the hardest thing you have ever done on your mission so far?

When have you felt the Spirit the Strongest?

What strengthens your faith when you feel down?

Top 10 moments of the first half of my mission:

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
******************************************************

Ideas for a letter to your missionaries companion:

Where he/she is from?
Favorite cereal?
Favorite snacks?
How many siblings?
Born in church or convert?
Where did he/she school?
Talents or interests?
Favorite scripture/ hymn?
Favorite food?
What are your plans after the mission?
What do your parents do?
Favorite vacation you have taken?
Favorite color?
Languages spoken?
Pets?
Embarrassing moment?
What they feel is their greatest accomplishment so far.
Share your testimony.
A spiritual experience they've had.

****************************************************************

I ask about foods because I love to send packages to my missionary AND the companion

I would also want to ask...Is my son a good missionary?

Does my child do the dishes?

Do they leave their laundry on the floor??

Family size, hobbies & interests, and I'd be curious..why they chose to serve

I wouldn't ever really ask but I would love to know stuff like how he and my missionary work through their differences, what they both gained from knowing each other, stuff like that.

When is their birthday and how long have they been on their mission?

Where are you from? do you have siblings? what has been your most spiritual moment so far? favorite part of your mission? how long have you been out? how many comps have you had so far? whats your fav part of PMG? was your mission area your first choice, if not where did you want to go? what do you miss most about not being at home? whats the craziest thing you have done thus far? birthday? fav candy? plans when get home? etc.

Ask why they decided to go on a mission? Favorite candy bar, snacks (for future packages)

Favorite type of music/movie/tv/sport to play or watch or both/flavor of ice cream/candy/snack/food/meal

My Missionary will only answer up to 7 questions at a time. Maybe I should split up these questions and ask 7 different questions to every companion.

Maybe most spiritual, scariest and funniest things that have happened on their mission so far.

Thursday, August 21, 2014

Letters from home.... we need YOUR ideas!?!?!?????? What was your favorite?

Thanks to Sister Gilbert and her list below!

"Cute idea, writing a letter on a beach ball. I have a huge file of "missionary mailing ideas.... so I will share a few ideas here."

1- Write on a BIG piece of butcher paper with huge writing.
2- The back of a movie poster, maybe a movie you watched together before they left (Some theaters will let you have or buy the posters after the movie leaves the theater)
3- Write in finger paint.
4- Include in each of your letters a self addressed stamped envelope. This not only gets you a return letter, it acts as a reminder that your missionary needs to write to you too.
5- Write on a pillow case with permanent marker. (Make sure you put a piece of cardboard in so it does not bleed through)
6- Write backward, so they have to hold it up to a mirror to read.
7- Write on a roll of toilet paper, then roll it back up.
8- Blow up a balloon, write on it, then deflate, and mail.
9- Write a letter on cardboard, then cut into a puzzle.
10- Write a letter, cut it up and wrap each piece tightly in foil, and then bake each piece in cupcakes, so they have to eat the cupcakes to find the pieces. (Be sure to warn them there are things in the cupcakes, and to eat carefully.)
11- Write on a Frisbee, can start in the middle and go around and around so the letter is spiral. (This can be done just on paper too.)
12- Carefully open "cracker Jacks" put letter inside and hot glue back together so it looks like it has not been opened. (This can also be done with Mac and Cheese, or anything else that comes in a box)
13- Cut words out of magazines and put together to make the letter (Like you see ransom notes on movies, ha)
14- Write a letter, cut into 7 pieces, and mail one piece a day. (If the mail is efficient they will get it in order, if not it will be interesting to read)
15- For Christmas I sent a calendar with everyone in the family's birthday written on it and a box of birthday cards and a book of stamps.
16- Write with pictures for some of the words, (Like the stories in the Children's friend)
17- Write on back of toddler's artwork.
18- Write in a rhythm (Dr. Suess style)
19- Write with a code (make sure you include the key to the code. Like in the Children's friend)
20- Candy bar letters are always a hit!

This will give you a few ideas. Pinterest is also awesome with ideas! Please feel free to add to this list, this could be a fun post!

More ideas
"Write a letter on an apron."

"I had a letter the was written on a type writer. That was awesome! And anything with pictures always helps. Maybe a postcard with a personalized collage as the picture?!"

"I always like candy bar letters"

"I loved when my companions mom sent us a poster board with a message in it cut into a puzzle! The message was sweet but it was a lot of fun to put the message together!"

"I sent a letter to a friend where I colored pictures that had to do with the name of the color."

"I had a sunshine and stars package sent with parts of a song written on stars that I had to put together"

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Very cute mailing ideas for holidays
http://missionarymail.blogspot.com/search/label/4%20lbs%20or%20less%21

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If you have more ideas, comment below :)

Thursday, March 1, 2007

Missionary Mail - ideas

https://www.lds.org/new-era/2007/03/missionary-mail?lang=eng

Missionary Mail

BY CONNIE MYERS

What should we write about? How do we get it there? What should we send?

No matter where they are serving, missionaries love mail. Letters and packages from friends and family reassure missionaries that they haven’t been forgotten while they are away from home serving the Lord. Where it is available, missionaries are also authorized to communicate with their families by e-mail.

But what should we at home write about? What kinds of letters and e-mails do missionaries most enjoy? What are they hoping to find when they open a package from home? How can we best support missionaries?

Messages from Family and Friends

When you write to missionaries, tell them the important things that are happening in your life with school, family, and the gospel. Write as though you were talking to them face to face.

“I think it is very important to receive letters that are related to the gospel and the work of the missionary,” says Devin McCabe, who served in the Brazil Campinas Mission. “Keep your sense of humor, but stay focused on the true nature of missionary work. The more encouraged a missionary can be, the better the work will go.”

“Friends should write about spiritual or missionary experiences they’ve had in order to keep up the enthusiasm of their missionary,” says Elder Jesse Rock, serving in the Mexico Guadalajara South Mission. “They shouldn’t write about gossipy little things like who likes who or the party they went to last week. Those are a distraction.”

If you dated someone who is now serving a mission, make your letters friendly and encouraging, but not romantic. You can help missionaries focus on the work of the Lord with uplifting letters and reassurance that they are where they need to be. Avoid romantic allusions.

“Write about the blessings that you have received through his mission,” advises Eric Elggren, who served in the Brazil Londrina Mission. “Write about what you are doing to help the missionaries at home.”

Here are some more ideas.

Things to ask about

•
The work, the schedule, the culture, and the experiences of your missionaries.
•
Who your missionaries are teaching. When they tell you the names of their investigators, follow up in your next message and ask about them by name.

Things to share

•
Insights you’ve gained in seminary or Sunday lessons.
•
A scripture you’ve found meaningful.
•
Testimony-building experiences you have had.
•
News about mutual friends who are also serving missions.

Things to avoid

•
Don’t ask how many baptisms missionaries have had. The people in some missions are more receptive to the gospel than others. Encourage them in their work as they plant and spread the seeds of the gospel.
•
Don’t criticize missionaries, even if they haven’t written back to you.
•
Don’t mention every problem that arises at home. There are some problems they should know about, but there are many others that would only worry or distract them unnecessarily.

Good Things in Small Packages

Missionaries love receiving thoughtful packages from friends and family back home, but make sure to honor the guidelines of their mission. Some missions discourage packages, and some ask for restraint on food, music, and other items. In considering what to send missionaries, remember that they often have limited time and budgets for shopping. Favorite food items from home may not be available in their fields of service. And receiving a package tells missionaries that someone back home is thinking of them.

Remember to keep your gifts simple. “Keep the packages small. Make sure the contents are economical and not extravagant,” says Aaron Turner, who served in the Mexico Guadalajara Mission. “Remember that for every package sent, there’s a companion that probably didn’t get one.” He suggests including an extra item for your missionary’s companion.

If your missionary is serving in another country, customs fees can be very expensive. Some missionaries report paying $200 or more in fees to pick up Christmas packages. These high fees are more common than you might think. Check before sending off a box to a missionary abroad.

Missionaries enjoy receiving Church materials both for personal use and for investigators. Mormon Tabernacle Choir music, Church pictures, Church stickers, pictures of the Savior, and bookmarks are all popular items. But remember to consider the circumstances of the mission. For example, in some areas, people may not have electricity, let alone a CD player. Also, in hot climates, some food items may melt.

Other thoughts:

•
Some items may be less expensive to purchase in the mission. Doing this will also help avoid theft and customs fees.
•
Missionaries must pack everything they own into two suitcases for transfers. Bulky items may be thrown away or left behind.
•
Record your testimony and send it to your missionary.
•
Don’t send books. Missionaries have the Church basics they need. Extra books are not approved and add weight to their already full suitcases.
•
Don’t send toys or games. Missionaries have plenty to do on their preparation days.
•
Don’t send cash through the mail. It is illegal to send cash internationally. Even within your own country’s borders, cash is often lost in transit.

Post Script

Having a friend or a sibling out on a mission can be a great experience for you, too. What’s the best thing you can do at home to support your missionary?

“Pray. Write good, supporting, spiritual letters. And pray some more,” says Jesse Rock, who served in the Mexico Guadalajara South Mission. “Prayers that are offered for missionaries are felt and received with gratitude.”

“Pray for them. Keep in touch with them,” says Sister Kathryn Kane, serving in the Nevada Las Vegas Mission. “Most of all, while your friends are serving missions, you too should be doing things to help yourself grow spiritually.”

Your missionaries are growing from their daily experiences. Create opportunities for growth in your own life. Serve your ward members through a Church calling or through acts of service. Pray and read your scriptures each day. Participate in temple work with family history research or proxy baptisms. Look for opportunities to share the gospel with those you meet each day.

“Love them, support them, and send them pictures!” says Elder Ryan Malone, serving in the Knoxville Tennessee Mission. “Pictures from home are like a lifeline. They really are worth a thousand words.”

Though missionaries love receiving letters from home, they can’t answer every letter they receive. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t hear back regularly. Continue to write. Know that missionaries value your words and thoughts and prayers as they continue in service to the Lord.

[Packages]

Missionaries love packages. But it’s especially nice when the family remembers to include a small item or two for the companion.

The New Era asked a few returned missionaries about items they appreciated receiving that were useful and still reminded them of home. Here are some suggestions:

•
Socks
•
Familiar-tasting toothpaste
•
Dry drink mix
•
Seasoning packets
•
Recipes for simple dishes
•
Gift certificates to chain restaurants (only if mailed in the same country)
•
Letters from younger siblings, cousins, or Primary children
•
A favorite treat

Missionary E-Mail

Missionaries are allowed to communicate with their families by e-mail. Their mission presidents set the specific guidelines for their e-mail use. Here are some general guidelines missionaries follow:

•
They may use e-mail only on preparation day.
•
They may use computers in public facilities such as libraries or appropriate commercial outlets.
•
Companions should always be together while using a computer.
•
They should not impose on Church members who may have computers.
•
They should pay any cost for using e-mail.
•
They should exercise caution in the content and language of the e-mail, making certain that no confidential or sensitive information is included.

Due to limited resources, missionary training centers do not provide e-mail service for missionaries.

(See Missionary Handbook [2006], 20–21.)

Find additional ideas in Q&A, New Era, Feb. 1997, p. 17.