Inspire Me
St Stephen's Newtown share one great way you can love and support your link missionaries, no matter where they are serving in the world.
You can look after your missionaries by sending them a personalised care package. First, make a list of items you would like to include in the care package. This may require a bit of investigation. What are your missionaries really missing from home? What do they like or need? You can include practical things as well as treats such as good coffee or Tim Tams. If your missionaries have kids, you could send them some age-appropriate gifts - maybe give each of them a small toy or a paperback novel.
Your whole church or Bible study group can get involved. Choose a range of items to suit different budgets, make a table listing these items, and then post it on your church noticeboard so church members can pick an item to buy. Announce it at your service and in your news-sheet, and provide a cut off date for bringing back the gifts. You might also want to ask for donations towards postage costs.
Once all the items have been collected, simply wrap them up with a card and send off your care package. Many hands make light work, so get a team together and start assembling a package!
Some tips:
Remember to consider the weight of items when you're compiling your list, and to work out the how much it will cost to send your package.
Make sure you chat with your missionary prior to posting to check whether there are customs duties associated with receiving your package. If there are, you could incorporate this cost into your postage budget.
When you're sending your package, mark it "printed matter only" (if that is what it is), "NCV" (no commercial value) or 'gift".
Download a checklist and template for your church
Get started planning your care package today by downloading here and following the steps listed.