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Note 1: Appropriate Music
| So here's the question: what kinds of music is appropriate for our
missionaries serving so >far from home? What have your missionaries
enjoyed? From: Michele Everett I am also interested in hearing the
responses to this. On the initial papers we received with my son's call,
it said - no music - no CD's, no tapes, no CD or tape players. However, a
note we got from the mission president said, "Music in the mission field
is very strict. Only church produced music or classical music is
permitted." I haven't heard from my son since he arrived in Australia but
I am hoping to get this clarified. At the airport, he asked me to send his
CD player but I don't know if I should. Personally, I think there is a lot
of uplifting music out there. I would suggest any of Lex deAzevedo's
orchestral arrangements of hymns played by the London Symphony (I think),
Almost anything by the Mormon Youth Symphony & Chorus would be good and
these are church produced. Two of my favorite CD's are suitable for
missionaries, IMO, - they are "From Cumorah's Hill" and "The House of the
Lord" by Stephen Kapp Perry. These are very spiritual and not at all "pop"
sounding, but classical sounding with beautiful harmonies. Some of Kenneth
Cope's music might be appropriate such as "Greater Than Us All" and "My
Servant Joseph."
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Note 2: Brazil Package Must Know
| This is copied from the welcome letter from the Brazil MTC that we
received today. (He arrived safely!) Thought it might be of interest.
DO not send packages to the Brazil Missionary Training Center. All
packages must be sent directly to the mission where your missionary will
be serving not the MTC. If you have already mailed a package to the
Brazil MTC and it arrives after your missionary has left for the field,
please understand that the package can not be forwarded to his or her
mission and will be returned to you. The only other option is for us to
open the package and forward the letters and photographs, giving the
rest of the content of the package to the missionaries that are here.
WE Strongly encourage SENDING HAND-WRITTEN LETTERS. Please write your
missionary´s first and last name. Your missionary will provide you with
his district and box number. Also, please DO NOT SEND ANYTHING BY
FEDEX, DHL, UPS, or other private carriers. The cost [for us] to [receive] this type
of correspondence is [prohibitive].
[Forwarded to us by MM Kay S. of Idaho]
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Note 3: Camera Information
| Do not send anything but very inexpensive cameras. Our two older boys both had
cameras stolen and one other camera was broken. They both had to replace
cameras at least once. This was actually before digital cameras came out.
The second boy brought home a nice digital camera. Back then the state of
the art was 3.2mp in Japan! Now that son is a professional photographer and
only uses digital cameras. You can see his work from our advertising page.
NOTE: See the help topics page named Digital Do's and Dont's.
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Note 4: Cookbooks and Recipes
| I've wondered about sending him a few recipes but also wondered if he would be
able to even get the ingredients there so I think I may hold off until he's
been there for a while and see if it's something he would even be able to use.
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Note 5: Cookbooks and Recipes 2
| I sent recipes with Neil to Romania, and then discovered that he couldn't
even use many of them because the kinds of ingredients used versus what's
available or affordable there. But the mission printed a cookbook based
on recipes that missionaries could use and then gave each apartment a
copy. I sent a cake mix to Ty for his birthday with a can of frosting,
candles, etc. All he had to do was add water and bake it, but it turns
out they don't even have an oven. One of the sisters in the ward made
him a birthday cake instead. So I guess I've decided that I need to
teach my boys how to cook the very basic foods, like beans, rice, simple
breads, that can be made from locally available foods instead of things
like canned soups.
When I saw how missionaries have to shop for groceries in Romania (and
I'm sure it's very similar in other countries), it's no wonder they don't
do much cooking. They can't just go to a grocery store and pick up
everything. You go to one place for your meat, one for your bread, one
for your produce, etc. Bread was the most interesting. No wrappers.
It's like French bread. Neil said he always had the attendant get one
from the back of the bread counter (shoppers don't pick out their own
food) because he'd seen more than once a loaf dropped on the floor and
then immediately sold to someone. We saw a woman drop a loaf, and in
anger she kicked the loaf and stomped out. The attendant picked up the
loaf and put it back on the pile. Good thing the missionaries bless
their food!!!
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Note 6: Cookbooks and Recipes 3
| Shortly after my son arrived in France, he wrote in a panic, requesting
cookbooks. I went to Deseret Book and bought him a couple of recipe books for
missionaries/young marrieds. I don't know if he uses them, but I did my part!
>From time to time, he has written to me, requesting certain recipes of things
we make here at home---cookie recipes, german pancakes...easy stuff. He has
used the cookie recipes to further his missionary work (made jillions of sugar
cookies for a Halloween Party for his branch there....)
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Note 7: Cookbooks and Recipes 4
| My sons took some "favorite recipes" with them, but then found out
that missionaries really don't have time to cook, so they weren't able to
use them. My son in Mexico City, didn't even have a stove to cook on most
of the time, so they couldn't cook anyway. I made up a little "cookbook"
with the recipes in it. Just some 3x5 cards with a ring through them. Like
I said, they didn't use them, but now my son that is married loves having
the recipes, because they're the things that "mom" made. Ramen Noodles, and
Koolaid, seem to be missionary "staples".
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Note 8: Drop-off Routine at the Provo MTC
| I was thinking about all the families that come to the MTC and are not
informed on what I think is important info. I am a Church Service
Missionary at the MTC, and I host new Missionaries coming in on
Wednesday's with their families. There is so much confusion that I am
trying to find a way for the families to have more info on the "routine"
of the drop-off.
- You will enter the MTC on the East drive, and drop your Missionary
off with their luggage. Yes someone can and should stay with them. They
will take their luggage to the ramp with an attendant who places/watches.
- The person who stays with the car will then be directed as to where
to park the car.
- The family meets up again at the front of the Wilford Woodruff Bldg
which is the entrance to the MTC. Take pictures now.
- The Missionary then enters the Missionaries-only door and receives a
"Badge of Honor" and address card to give to family.
- The Family enters the Family and Friends door; the next door down.
There is no separation yet, just a door. Don't cry yet!
- Pictures are allowed in the main lobby until you go down the stairs
to the Chapels. Once down the stairs - No pictures.
I hope this helps. I know for me it was a stressful day. Plus it was
kind of confusing. I would love for every parent to know the routine
before it happens to them. I have been standing out front trying to
patrol the masses, and there are lots of separations and confusion.
I think the families and Missionaries should know more.
MM with an Elder in Mexico, Tijuana Sept 2004-2006
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Note 9: Durable Suitcases
| Missionaries will be carrying everything they own in their luggage
for two years, and they'll moving every few months. My husband's nephew
bought inexpensive luggage for his mission, and by time he came home, it had
to be taped shut with duct tape because it was coming apart at the seams..
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Note 10: Escort Pass
| Our son entered the MTC last week, and a friend of mine let me know that if
you ask at the airline counter (while your missionary is checking in his/her
luggage) many airlines will issue an "escort pass" for 1 person for military
personal or missionaries. This allowed me to go through security with my son
and down to the gate to wait for his plane to board. There was another
missionary on his flight, and the look on the other mom's face as my husband
explained where I was going broke my heart! I don't know why this information
isn't shared in the information sent from SLC. This is when the missionary
goes to the MTC, not from the MTC to the mission.
Janet,
Mom of elder going to Manila, Philippines
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Note 11: Family Ideas
| One thing that we did for our missionary last week that was really fun was our
"wall of fame." In our entryway, we have dedicated a wall to him. For
Family Home Evening we put up a map of his mission, a flag, a picture of
President Hinckley, pictures of Jason, some of his favorite scriptures,
some humorous cartoons about missionaries and a calendar that has a
different Spanish phrase every day. We plan to add to it throughout his
mission with things like pictures that he sends home and a mark for each
area that he serves in, and maybe a clock that can be set to the time
where he is. It was a fun project for our family, especially for his
younger brothers and sister who I know will miss him terribly when he
leaves. Hopefully this will be something to help us all feel a bit
closer to him when he leaves.
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Note 12: Farewell Sacrament Meeting
| We used an idea for my first son's farewell that we heard another family do
for their son. We took a conference talk and broke it up into parts for each
family members talk (4 siblings, 2 parents) It worked out great. We were
prepared to do that at our second son's farwell and I had chosen President
Tingey's conference talk from May 1998 Conference entitled "Missionary
Service". It breaks up perfectly into some wonderful topics. Alas with the
talks 1/2 written and just a week before the farewell the Bishop assigned a
subject. Those who are getting ready to write talks and don't have a subject
assigned might want to look through the conference issues and see if there are
talks that naturally fall into parts.
Another idea I won't even recommend which our sweet Bishop hasn't yet
recovered from was at our first son's farewell we adopted a custom we had seen
while he was attending church as a student at BYU Hawaii.We had some
polynesian members come and sing Aloha Oi (sp?) and had invited special
friends to bring a lei and come up and hug him good bye and present a lei.
This is done in the islands everytime someone you love leaves. I actually
bought inexpensive plastic leis from a party shop and had given them to people
that had helped him in his life but in the islands everyone just knows to
bring them. They bring leis made of ties, candy, cash and flowers. It is so
beautiful. Well, in the islands they do it right at the end of sacrament
meeting but we had planned to close sacrament meeting with prayer and do it
then once the meeting was closed. Poor Bishop was still very miserable over
it. He would have cancelled the whole thing if the Polynesian members hadn't
travelled so far. If we had known he would be so unhappy we would have done it
at the open house. We teased the Bishop when son number 2 got ready to leave
(he had been at school in Provo so no polynesian ties) that since he was going
to Mexico we had arranged for a Mexican member to ride in from the rear of the
chapel at the end of sacrament meeting on a burro playing the guitar and then
come up and do the Mexican hat dance. Just kidding of course-- but poor Bishop
got a new gray hair that day.
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Note 13: Homemade Pillow Case
| I took all of my sons old boxer shorts and cut them up and made him a pillow
case out of them. I just made a patchwork of them and he loved them. It is
still his favorite and he loves telling people what they just slept on!
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Note 14: Immunizations
| Our Dr. was able to do most of the shots for $15.00 a visit. Unfortunately, I
have to get the Typhoid at the Health Clinic. They want $60.00. $20.00 of it
is a consultation fee to be sure he is getting the shots he needs to go
international. I told them we have a sheet that tells us what he needs. They
said they were sorry, but it was policy. Anyway, on the immunization sheet
they sent, it tells us that, "If you are going to any place in Africa,
Madagascar, Bolivia, some missions in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, Peru,
Venezuela, or West Indies, you will be immunized at the MTC against yellow
fever." I am taking that to mean that Brazil is the only one that is
questionable depending on the misson. It does not give a cost for the shot.
But does mention that the Hepatitis B (second shot) will cost $50.00. The
yellow fever must be free.
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Note 15: Legal Advice
| It has been a stressfull past few hours, about the same as it was a month
ago and two months before that. For some unknown reason a mistake was made
on our taxes, and on one of our m-son's taxes. We (me) have been going
thru some stressful calls with the IRS. Now one of the problems I have
kept running up against with the IRS is that there is no paper "Power of
attorney" signed. I dont want to burden him down with this while he is out
in the mission field. It would be useless to forward the letters to him,
so I have been persint in getting things straighten out here at home. I
did finally get a person that is working with me. I don't know if anything
goes wrong, or whatever, but I should have had the boys sign a "power of
attorney" to me before they left. I would suggest it to those of you who
are about to have your missionary leave...
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Note 16: Medical Needs
| Included in the packet of instructions that comes with the mission call:
MEETING MISSIONARY MEDICAL NEEDS
If you become sick or injured during your mission, the Church
Will coordinate your medical care and payment of medical
expenses.
If you or your family is able to maintain health insurance at a
reasonable cost, you are encouraged to do so. when the
medical bills are received, the Church will promptly pay them.
Then if you have insurance coverage, we will forward bills to
your family or insurance company and request direct
REimbusement. If you don't have insurance, the Church will
pay your necessary medical expenses during your mission.
PRE-MISSION MEDICAL CONDITIONS
A premission condition is any injury or sickness with signs
or symptoms, a diagnosis, or treatment within two years of
entering the mission field, regardless of whether the sym
toms were present when you started your mission. Expenses
for pre-mission conditions will not be paid by the Church
You and your parents will be notified by your stake president
of medical conditions for which the Church will not be
responsible.
HOW TO OBTAIN MEDICAL SERVICES
If you become sick or injured during your mission, please
follow these guidelines:
Non-Emergency Care
- Notify your mission president about your need for medical
care; he will direct you to a medical provider if needed.
- If you have insurance coverage, follow the rules of your
insurance plan, including any pre-authorization
requirements.
Emergency Care (Life-threatening Situations)
- Seek medical care immediately.
- Then contact your mission president as soon as possible.
- If you have insurance coverage, follow the rules of your
insurance plan, including any notification requirements.
DOCTORS AND HOSPITALS
Each mission keeps a list of doctors and hospitals. You
should receive care from these medical providers whenever
possible.
DENTAL INJURIES
Dental expenses during your mission will be paid only if they
arise from an injury occurring in the mission field. To be
eligible for payment, treatment must begin within six months
of the accident and be completed no later than ninety days
from the time you return home from your mission.
FOR YOUR FINANCIAL PROTECTION
Your responsibility. Before you receive any medical or
are, always call your mission president. This will help you
void unexpected medical costs.
Generally, medical expense payment by the Church stops -
as soon as you return home. If you travel with your pawns
completing your mission, your eligibility ends as of the last
day of your mission duties. If your have an ongoing medical
condition that begins while you are serving, coverage may
continue for up to ninety days after you return home, but this
coverage must be approved by the Missionary Department
FOR MISSIONARIES SERVING IN THE UNITED STATES
NON-EMERGENCY CARE
Make sure the medical provider gets pre-authorization from
Missionary Medical before services are provided.
PAYMENTS
EVERY time you receive medical care, you must pay $10 for
each office visit. There is a $5 payment for prescrition-
drugs. This payment should come from your own funds.
PAID PHARMACY NETWORK
To take care of your prescription needs while you are serving the
national pharmacy network is available through PAID
PRESCRIPTION. When you need a prescription filled, present
your identification card at a participating PAID pharmacy, and pay $5 per
prescription. The Church will pay the balance for
each prescription. Remember, you or your family is responsible for
prescription costs related to pre-mission conditions.
However, the PAID card will allow you to obtain the pre-
ions at reduced cost.
HOW TO OBTAIN PAYMENT
Make sure your medical providers obtain the necessary infor--
nation from your identification card so they can get pre-
authorization and send payment requests directly to Missionary-
try Medical. In most cases, medical professionals will bill
Medical directly. If you do receive a bill, however,
send it to Missionary Medical. The address is:
Missionary Medical
P.O. Box 45730
60 East South Temple
Salt Lake City, Utah 84145-0730
if you have any questions about the information on this, please call
Missionary Medical. The telephone numbers are:
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Toll Free | -- | 800-777-1647
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Salt Lake City | -- | 578-5650
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Note 17: Mission Web Page
| Check our your son/daughter's mission web page for information. Go to
http://www.mission.net/.
Many of the Mission web sites list e-mail addresses of missionaries that have
returned from that mission. If you e-mail any questions to the most recent
addresses you may get an answer. When our son was preparing to leave I
e-mailed about 12 addresses. (Beware we only got on answer-- I think this
is because many of the young men have e-mail at home when they first return,
but then go on to school or marriage and no longer have computer access.)
But that one answer was very helpful. We were able to cross unneeded items
off the mission list and to add something helpful-- a blanket. The Elder
that wrote to us mentioned that the apartments in the mission often get
down in the 30's inside (no heat). He had a blanket supplied for his bed
but it was so filthy he tried to wash it. Had to wash it 3 times to get
the wash water so he could see through it. Even once it was clean it was
several feet too short for him. So we added a blanket to our list at his
suggestion. Now at least we know our 6 foot 4 inch son started off with a
clean blanket that was long enough.
We've also used these mission alumni lists for school reports. We e-mailed
several returned missionaries from Russia for our 13 year old son's report and
found a wealth of information as so many wrote back. What a great experience.
I think when they designate "polishable" boots they just mean with a surface
that is of that quality. In other words they want the boot kind of dressy
looking not suede in appearance. It is true you can't actually polish the
water proof boots-- that's still what we purchased because they look like they
can be polished. (Confusing huh?)
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Note 18: Music and Tape Players
| When we sent our first missionary out, we did as the missionary papers
requested: we did not send a tape player or music. We found out that they
could buy them from the missionary store, but that it was more expensive
than watching the sales here. When we sent our second son out, we
purchased him a new Walkman and some of the tapes he knew he would like to
listen to. We did this with the understanding that they would stay packed
away until such a time as permission was given to use them, which ended up
being right away in the MTC. One thing we made sure of when we bought the
Walkman was that it had no radio in it--just the tape player. It proved to
be a wise move for us because it has been difficult to get those packages
to Mexico in one piece.
In our oldest son's mission the mission pres. let the missionaries choose
whatever kind of music they wanted to listen to so long as the missionary
felt it didn't diminish the spirit. Some of them listened to rock. My son
is a music major and loves classical music. He found he couldn't even
listen to classical because it was too distracting--he wanted to spend his
time composing. So he put it all away except the church music.
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Note 19: Music and Tape Players 2
| I would have to agree with all the previous comments on this subject. I
think each mission is different. My Son didn't take his CD walkman with
him but requested we send it to him shortly after he left. I sent it to
South Africa and I am amazed it made it. He asked us for The Lion King CD
for his birthday. I also sent him a Mo. Tab. Choir CD. Speaking of
Cumorah's Hill. I love that collection of music!! We had the privilege of
being in Palmyra this summer when the Palmyra ward performed it. It was
truly amazing how such a little ward in upstate New York could put
together such an awesome ward choir. They perform this program twice each
Sunday the two weeks of the pageant. It sends chills just thinking about
it. It is one of my all time fav CD's. Kurt Bestor is my #1 favorite
artist though. It's all instrumental (with a few bits of childrens choir)
and is WAY better than Mannheim Steamroller (sp?).
My advice is to ask your missionary what he can listen to and if he can
have a tape player/CD player at all.
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Note 20: Postage Mail Pouch
| It does not help to send U.S. stamps to a foreign country. The missionaries
have to buy postage there when using the postal system. If they use the pouch
system they do not need postage. The letters go into a pouch and do not enter
the postal system until they arrive in Salt Lake City. I have heard that some
missionaries think that the mail is faster if they do not use pouch (ie.
Brazil) so they use regular mail and must pay for the postage. Only letters
are allowed in the pouch and they will return them if you put anything else in
with your letter (this is for customs)
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Note 21: Protecting and Preparing for Theft
| What a month my son has had. First he lost the first four months of his mission
pictures then, three weeks ago had his wallet stolen. He called us just as our
plane landed for our vacation wanting to know if we had his credit card numbers
and other information with us. Of course we didn't and neither did he. That
made the process of putting things back in order much more complicated.
For you mothers whose missionary hasn't yet left on their mission and moms
whose have send this to them. Having all this information readily available
can save many hours, days, months, and possibly years (if identity theft
occurs) of grief.
Photocopy all of the information in your son's wallet, both front and back.
Keep a copy in a safe place and send a copy with them to keep in a safe
place. Also add these numbers of the major credit bureaus and the Social
Security Administration fraud line to call and alert immediately if a wallet
is lost or stolen:
Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
Experian (formerly TRW): 1-888-397-3742
Trans Union: 1-800-680-7289
Social Security Administration (fraud line): 1-800-269-0271
I sent all this information to my son just a few weeks before this happened
and told him I felt he needed to do this...sad to say, he hadn't yet taken
the time to heed my advice. Some things are much more challenging to get
back in order over long distances. Hopefully, this might save other
missionaries and parents lots of grief. Live and learn.
MM in Utah
Elder - Canada Montreal Mission French spkg - Feb 2008
RM - Scotland Sept 2001
P.S. I suggest you also copy all of your information from your own wallet
and keep in a safe place...just in case.
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Note 22: Restaurants in Provo
| This is just a F.Y.I. for anyone that is planning on taking their
missionary to the MTC in Provo. The Chuck-A-Rama (all you can eat buffet
restaurant) in Provo gives the missionary a free meal the day they are
going to the MTC. We took our family there on the way to the MTC for one
last family meal together and it was a pleasant surprise to get his meal
free. They looked at his new black suit, white shirt and huge nervous grin
and just said "Oh, his meal is free".
Hopefully they haven't changed that nice policy!
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Note 23: Restaurants in Provo 2
| There is another place in Provo where they give the missionary a free meal
on Wednesdays too. It's the Sizzler Restaurant. They have great food but
do not advertize. We went to Sizzler and my daughter was going to pay for
Daniel's meal as a treat. They told him missionaries eat free but they
aren't allowed by their boss to advertize the fact. They have steaks,
shrimp and other such plates that Golden Corral doesn't have.
We hope they haven't changed their policy either.
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Note 24: Scrapbooking Ideas
| I started a scrapbook for my missionary and I am having SO much fun working on
it. I wasn't into scrapbooking much when I started and now I can't stop.
I went to a "missionary pages" workshop at a local Scrapbook store (hey there
are some advantages to living in Utah) There is an abundance of Missionary
themed papers here. You don't have to have these though to do a great
missionary book. My good friend did one for her Son with just plain colored
paper and it was a great book. I think anything is better than nothing. I
have cut all the stamps off his letters and am making a mosaic with them on
one page. Some pages are more detailed and some are just the pictures on cute
paper. My advice to anyone thinking about doing this is to save everything.
Some of the things I have in his book in addition to pictures are: shot
records, a copy of his call, the letter from his mission pres., his pink
missionary tag from the temple, our escort tags, his flight plans, the address
card from the MTC, farewell program, announcement in the paper(they do that
here). In the back I have kept all his letters in plastic sheet protectors.
I have not told my son that I am doing this. I want it to be a surprise.
My only problem is finding African themed paper. I find it helps me feel like
I am keeping involved with his life. He is soooo far away yet when I look in
his book he seems so close. I guess I have an advantage, my son loves to take
pictures and he sends us plenty. Now if I could only get him to write on the
back of the pictures what they are!
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Note 25: Scrapbooking Photo Keeping
| When my son went to England, I kept 2 scrapbooks. One was just a binder with
page protectors containing all of his letters. He loves having this and I
will bet his future family will too. Oh Ya, at the front of it I have things
like a copy of his call and some of the cards he was sent before his mission
and other memorabelia. The other was a photo album. It was so expensive for
him to send developed pictures that he would send me the negatives and on a
sheet of paper make a list 1-24 of what the pictures were of. I would get
them developed and labeled and put in the book in order. This means he had a
set when he came home that he had developed over there and I had a set. He
liked my set much better as it was all organized and in order.
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Note 26: Sheets Pillowcases Suitcases
| The best kind of sheets to send to the third world countries are simply
white, two, single- bed polyester-cotton flat, not fitted sheets. Also
they will need at least two pillowcases. It is also important to take
zippered, waterproof mattress and pillow covers. These need not be
expensive. I got them at Kmart for a few dollars. This is to guard
against bedbugs, fleas and other parasites that are invariably in the
beds. I have had sons go to Mexico, Ecuador, and now Peru. All my boys
luggage were inexpensive plastic types, not fabric. They held up very
well on their missions and they are still in use. Rob's large suitcase
also went to Bulgaria and back, and Bonnie took it on her mission to
Pennsylvania. That is the third mission it has been on, and it needed a
slight repair before Bonnie left. I believe they were all "Travelers"
brand luggage.
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Note 27: Things to Pack
| For those missionaries going to poorer countries, something that has
been invaluable to both our missionaries is a Leatherman multi tool.
Neil wrote from Romania saying that thiings tend to fall apart there, and
it would be great not to have to take the time to track down a
screwdriver or pocketknife, especially when fixing their bikes. They
cost $35-40, but have been well used and worth it.
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Note 28: Weight Limits
| We bought Brandon Doc Marten shoes and true they are heavier than other
brands. To eliminate the problem of heavy shoes putting them over their
weight limit on the flight, we just had Brandon wear his heaviest shoes on the
plane. Therefore they were not weighing his bag down. He traveled wearing his
doc Marten boots which are very heavy but very necessary where he is serving
in Africa.
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Note 29: What to Pack Getting Help
| With our first son we went and bought him top of the line Dexters and
Rockports, so he would have the best we could find. He served in the Missouri
St Louis Mission and had access to a vehicle. Within 3 months he had sent the
Rockports back to be resoled. We ended up sending him a pair of Doc Martens
and they lasted the whole time. They cost the same as the Rockports did, but
they sure last. My advice, especially if you are going to a walking mission
or a foreign mission, send them with Doc Martens. Do not settle for less,
because it is very hard to get shoes to them after they have left the country.
As far as the list we received from Salt Lake, it didn't help us at all,
except to give us quantities. I went to the mission home page and emailed a
couple of returned missionaries from their alumni page. I was able to get
somebody who had just returned a couple of months before Dustin left. He was
able to help a lot.
My son only needed 1 suit for the MTC, white short sleeve shirts, and
Dockers for pants. They did request that those be a darker color. Right now,
it is so hot in Paraguay that your skin burns when the cloth rubs against
them. If they are going to South America, go for something with a cotton
blend. Also with garments, they told him to only bring the mesh ones. The
missionaries there have someone doing their laundry for them so if you can
mark their things it is helpful. Send a couple extra pair of garments with
them, because they disappear in the wash. He also needed cotton blend socks,
light but heavy enough to prevent blisters. He took a lightweight jacket
instead of an overcoat. His mission president also asked him to bring a set
of sheets. One thing he cannot get there is contact solution, or any cleaners
for them. He was told to take glasses instead of contacts. He wrote to us
after he got their asking us to send him more contacts with the stuff to take
care of them. That can get very expensive, send as much with them as you can.
Once they pack at the MTC, they do seem to have quite a bit of room for
everything they need. The nice part about the MTC is, they are usually there
long enough for them to write and say, "Would you send me..........?" Take
advantage of that time to finish getting their supplies.
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