Uplifting Music All Year Long
Though men may be difficult to shop for on Valentine’s Day, this CD by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir is the perfect gift for anyone serving a mission. Filled with beautiful songs about love, this album not only fits in with a Valentine theme, but can also be enjoyed for the rest of the year.
A Variety of Shapes and Sizes
Organizational supplies, while not the most exciting present, are still a good idea when mailing a Christmas package to a missionary. I have purchased the Command brand of hooks and wall mounting supplies, and I really like them. My sister and I found several other types of hooks and hangers that our brother could easily install without damaging walls or doors. Anything to help him get organized!
It seems like it’s always harder to think of presents to ship to missionaries serving in warmer climates.
My sister and I searched hard to find things for our brother (who is leaving for Honduras today). One of our ideas was a lightweight, battery-operated fan. I know that when I lived in the Dominican Republic, it was so nice to have a little breeze when trying to fall asleep — the rooms were usually sweltering. When I asked my husband if a fan would have been nice in Brazil, where he served his mission he said he would have loved it, and added that the smaller hand-fans work out very nicely, too. This is a picture of the fan we bought for my brother. I included the batteries in the photo to show the size of the fan (they are D batteries), but my sister and I decided not to send them — way too heavy! You be the judge.
One easy project that I have done for several different missionaries is a checkbox letter. Unfamiliar with this concept? It’s simple: the goal is to create a letter that your missionary can complete and send to her friends and family – the fun part is, she can only choose answers that you have provided. Start with a list of statements (for example “The food here…” or ”My companion is…”), and then beneath, like a multiple choice exam, list several optional answers, and tell your missionary to check all that apply. Don’t be afraid to get creative — it makes it more fun! For instance, under the food statement, you could list options such as: ”…is nothing like mom’s” or “…kills a little piece of my heart each day” or ”…is probably going to be my Abrahamic test while on my mission” or “…watches me as I eat it.” You get the idea. Be sure to send multiple copies, so that your missionary can send them to friends as well!
You all remember these delicious desserts, right? Well what better way to celebrate summer than by sending your missionary the simple ingredients for dirt cups.
What to include:
1. Chocolate pudding mix (be sure to get instant – it’ll keep things simple)
2. Oreo cookies (try to find the six-packs for cheaper shipping)
3. Gummy-worms (spice it up with sour gummies)
There are not a whole lot of ways a person can mess up dirt cups, but perhaps you’ll want to include some instructions, just to avoid unforeseen misunderstandings. If you are unfamiliar with this recipe, the instructions are simple: Make the pudding, scoop some into a cup, crush the Oreos on top (it’s supposed to look like dirt), and then decorate with gummy worms. It’s that easy! You can send a single serving’s worth, or enough for your missionary to share with his whole apartment — a very good way to get the “in” with his friends. You’ll be the coolest girlfriend/mom/sister on the block! :)
This is a cute idea for Elders and Sister Missionaries alike, and it comes from blogger MomoMushy. Compile a mini address book, filled with the mailing addresses of his family, friends, or ward members. Be sure to keep things in alphabetical order, and include several blank pages at the back in case he needs to add an address or two sometime throughout his mission (often missionaries like to keep in touch with companions who return home before they do). Another way to show your support would be to send a him a blank book toward the end of his mission, so that he can collect the contact info of members and investigators he wants to keep in touch with after he gets home. Talk about going the extra mile — you will show him that you care about the people he cares about.
Keep It Clean
A very handy tool for either purse or pocket, tide to go is a perfect little gift for your missionary. Small and lightweight, it is easy and inexpensive to ship, and can be used in any climate or country. Whether he’s headed out or on the go, it’s nice to know that quick cleaning power is just a few seconds away. A Tide-to-Go or similar detergent pen will definitely prove convenient and useful, and will help keep your missionary’s appearance neat and clean.
Decorate the Fridge!
Framed photos are a wonderful present for missionaries, but if you worry about desk space, magnetic frames are a convenient alternative. There are many inexpensive varieties (Walmart sells 20 for $15), and they are not difficult to find. Best of all, they are lightweight and easy to ship. Be sure to send along some cute photos, too.
An Indoor Garden
Sending your sister missionary a mini-garden is easier than you might expect. You’ll want to start by picking out some colorful flower pots and purchasing a small amount of potting mix. If you can only find soil in large packages, don’t worry: this product is usually inexpensive, and you can scoop the amount you’d like into a ziplock bag for mailing. Make sure the pots are secured with bubble wrap if breakable, and include several packets of flower seeds. Be careful to choose smaller flora, especially for the more petite pots!
Go From Funky to Fresh
One of the products my husband loved on his mission was axe body wash. You can find this in almost any store nowadays, in a variety of scents. I also included a black loofah with much assurance that it was not a woman’s product. The masculine loofah may take some searching, but it’s worth it! Whatever you do, don’t send pink!
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