A nativity set is a wonderful Christmas gift for any missionary. It works as a decoration, but reminds the viewer that Christ is the center of Christmas — something very important to remember, even though we may ship lots of fun or silly things to our missionary during the Christmas season. There are many simple nativity sets, without breakable parts. My sister and I found an inexpensive set at Walmart (not the classiest place, but undoubtedly useful), pictured here. The figurines look like ceramic, but they are of a sturdier material, and are fastened to the wooden frame of the stable. This is perfect, because not only will my brother not have to set up lots of pieces, but nothing will be damaged during shipping — at least not the figurines. I have wrapped this already, but am going to ask that it be wrapped in bubble-wrap before it goes in the shipping box. I’m sure you could even find smaller sets if you looked around a little bit.

There are so many inexpensive decorations you can ship to your missionary this time of year. My sister and I found these window stickers — kind of silly, I know, but still festive and fun!

Colored or White -- You Choose!

I picked up a set of Christmas lights at Walmart for $2.00, and the extension cord was less than a dollar. This is a very inexpensive idea, which will spread a lot of cheer! I included the ruler in the photo that I took, so that viewers can get an idea of size. There were several different color options, and each box is lightweight. You could send more than one, if you like.

Make Christmas Special

It’s my brother’s first Christmas on his mission! Our family is all together this year (my sister and her husband, my little family), so we’ll feel his absence even more. We decided to try to make Christmas feel special for him, so my sister and I put together a larger package with 12 wrapped presents inside, and instructions for when to open each. I’ll definitely post all our ideas, but don’t be afraid to branch out. Your missionary will definitely feel the love.

Update:

I’ve posted another collection of great ideas for a 12 Days of Christmas missionary package.

March means different things to different people, but for me it is forever associated with girl scout cookies! Find out your missionary’s favorite kind and send her a package — she’ll relish the treat! If you are unsure of where to purchase cookies, use this site to find stands in your area:

http://www.girlscoutcookies.org/

My brother’s favorite are the Samoas, so I’m planning to buy a few…

Get Creative!

This is a really fun idea, and you can use it multiple times over the course of a year. Just think of all the color combinations and cute messages you can come up with! The ordering process is very simple, too. Just visit the following site for directions:

http://www.mymms.com/customprint/?sc_cid=DR_LV1