9 Things Your Missionary Wants in a Care Package

Katie Back Salmon • Aug 09, 2016

Missionaries pack their bags eager to forsake familiar comforts for the sake of the gospel. Even so, when weariness sets in, a well-timed care package can be the encouragement your missionary needs.

Read through these tips and tricks to curate a care package for a missionary you know.

Before You Send Your Care Package

International shipping is nuanced. So, before you spend time and money, ask your missionary to answer these questions:

What is your shipping address?

Find out from your missionary exactly how to fill out the shipping label. Be sure to note if the address should be in English or a local language. Failure to do this might result in your gift never reaching your missionary.

How long does it typically take a package to reach you?

If you are trying to send a timely gift, like a birthday greeting or Christmas card, ask your missionary about average shipping times a few months in advance. Then, give yourself generous lead time.

Are there any items off-limits to mail?

Some countries have quotas on what you can send and how much. For instance, supporters shipping to their caffeine-loving missionary in Ukraine might be disappointed when some of their coffee is confiscated.

Will you be charged a duty to receive this package?

This is huge. In some cases, your missionary will incur a cost to receive their care package. Meaning, what starts as a kind gesture can end as a financial burden.

Avoid this by asking your missionary the ins-and-outs of their host country’s duty system. In some countries, if your package is marked as a “gift” on the customs form and is valued under a specific monetary ceiling, your missionary will not be charged. But if there is no gift allowance, you might find that your missionary politely declines the offer for a care package altogether.

What to Include in Your Care Package

For most missionaries, a care package is more about the “care” than the contents of the package. A tangible reminder of your support will energize your missionary long after the last Oreo is eaten.

The best way to fill your care package is to ask your missionary what he or she would like. Sure, it minimizes the surprise, but asking guarantees you only send items your missionary cannot easily or cheaply obtain themselves. You might be surprised at what they request (like unscented dryer sheets).

To quick-start your shopping list, we asked TEAM missionaries to list their favorite items to receive in the mail. Here’s what they said:

1. Cooking Spices

Seasoning packages top the list of missionary-requested gifts. Cheap, lightweight and non-perishable, these seasoning packets allow your missionary to whip up something comforting and familiar. Popular requests include chili, taco and ranch dip packets.

2. Cozy Scents

A worker in Mexico says, “When our house smells like home, it feels like home.” Help your missionary feel cozy with small votive candles or envelopes of potpourri. If you send air freshener, it should be in a non-aerosol can.

3. Holiday-themed Decor


missionary care package holiday

A worker in Zimbabwe loved working on her language study while munching on Valentine’s Day-themed candies.


Holidays can be a sore reminder of distant relationships and traditions. This is amplified if your missionary is living in a context where a cherished holiday is not celebrated at all. A holiday-themed care package can help spread festive cheer. Include small items like decorative kitchen towels, placemats or cocktail napkins.

4. Beauty and Personal Products

Your missionary will be able to purchase most personal products, but he or she might not have access to a favorite brand or scent. Pamper your missionary with a simple pleasure like sweet-smelling soap or a moisturizing lip balm. Nail polish and perfume, however, cannot be shipped internationally.

Packing tip: Always double-bag liquid items. If you are sending food items in the same package, avoid flavor transfer by bagging and sealing scented items or shipping them separately.

5. Favorite Snacks


missionary care package coffee

In a country with abundant tea, a worker in Japan enjoyed sipping her favorite coffee blend for her birthday.


A worker in Ukraine suggests, “Ask your missionary [his/her] favorite candy and buy more than you think is normal … because some days are just Reese’s Cup days.” Your missionary likely has beloved salty or sweet snacks that they cannot purchase on the field. Consider including a favorite snack for your missionary to enjoy. Durable goods like protein bars, hard candies and coffee travel best.

6. Books

Depending on their context, your missionary might not have easy access to books written in their language. Ask your missionary if there are any titles on their wish list you can send. If you’re sending a package to a family with kids, ask if there are children’s books you can include. Either ship the books yourself or research if you can send your gift through AmazonGlobal .

7. Small Toys or Games

Card games like Uno or Dutch Blitz fit nicely in a padded envelope and can provide hours of entertainment. For missionary kids , ask their parents what small toys, like action figures or plush toys, they might enjoy receiving.

8. Mementos from Home

Help your missionary honor their home culture with simple mementos. If your missionary has a favorite sports team, send him or her a team pennant to tack on the wall. Or consider mailing something like a local postcard or family photo your missionary can display.

9. Hand-Written Notes


missionary care package letters

Workers in Mexico were encouraged to receive these notes from their sending church.


A warm note is often the most treasured item in the care package. Include a heartfelt note of encouragement and love that reminds your missionary of your support. Consider gathering a church small group to write letters that you can bundle and ship together.

What did we leave off the list? In the comments below, let us know your favorite missionary care package tips and tricks.

And if you want more ideas for engaging your church in missions, check out our Church Resources page. You’ll find resources for supporting missionaries at every stage. Plus, you can get a free consultation with one of our church engagement managers.


By Suzanne Pearson 08 Mar, 2024
Through God-ordained partnerships and creative connections, TEAM worker Keith Moore sees the global Church advancing in amazing ways. In the global missions landscape, a phrase that comes up often is “from everywhere, to everywhere.” God is calling His global Church in literal new directions, as He raises up cross-cultural workers to be sent from places that were once on the receiving end of missions work. We call this movement “polycentric sending.” TEAM workers Dawn and Keith Moore have seen first-hand this transition taking place. Their story involves the unlikely but beautiful intersection of Charlotte, North Carolina; Tegucigalpa, Honduras; and Memphis, Tennessee...and beyond. The Path to Honduras Keith and Dawn joined TEAM in 1991 and served as church planters for nine years in Bogota, Colombia. After safety concerns precipitated their return to the States in 1999, they knew they wanted to continue serving in Latin America. The Moores felt called to Honduras but wanted to connect with a strong missional church to help send them. The Lord orchestrated a collaboration with Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis, Tennessee. “Some people asked, ‘Why Honduras? Missionaries have been there for 100 years. It’s already reached,’” Keith says. “But there’s a whole section of Latin America that had not been reached - the upper crust.” Keith goes on to explain that he and Dawn felt called to reach college-educated professionals in Honduras – a ministry vision that resonated with the missional goals of Bellevue Baptist. Impact and Growth With the support of this new church partnership as well as another sending church in Birmingham, Alabama, the Moores embarked on their next adventure. Keith and Dawn started Impacto Honduras Church from scratch, and in less than 20 years, the church grew into four locations with 1600 total members. The Moores and other TEAM workers also created a “Bible school” type training program to help professionals who feel a call to ministry to make that transition. Throughout this period of explosive growth, church partnerships played an integral role. “It’s such a different vision when you have a church that says, ‘OK, this is our deal, we want to make this happen,’” Keith explains. “They helped us with everything. They took away every single obstacle to growth. Every time we needed something, they were there.” In 2017, the Moores once again found themselves on the verge of another decision. Was it time to leave Honduras? “I had no desire to leave,” Keith recalls. “People were coming to Christ every week! It was just so amazing.” However, back in the U.S., Keith and Dawn’s parents were in their 80s and would soon be in need of more care. “We realized that either we would leave in a crisis, or we would leave strategically,” says Keith. The couple began to implement a careful succession plan. By the time they left, the four churches were established with strong, Honduran leadership ready to carry on the work of the Gospel.
By Suzanne Pearson 23 Feb, 2024
Justin Burkholder, pictured here with his wife Jenny and their daughters Isabella, Olivia, and Zoey, has recently been named as TEAM’s next International Director. On February 19, 2024, with much excitement and gratitude to the Lord, TEAM announced that Justin Burkholder will become our organization’s new International Director, effective July 1, 2024. Justin, who is currently TEAM’s Executive Director of Global Ministry, will assume his new role upon the retirement of the current International Director, Dave Hall. ( Read the full press release here. ) We sat down recently with Justin to learn a little more about his background, his family, and the journey that has led him to TEAM. Q: Tell us a little bit about your “origin story” - Where did you grow up? What was your family like? A: I grew up in Mexico City as a missionary kid. My parents were focused on church planting. We were very close as a family. Both of my parents are still alive, and my dad serves as a pastor in southern Florida. I have one brother who is a pastor in Wisconsin, and the most special individual in my family is my sister, Amber. She was born with a very severe case of cerebral palsy and is entirely dependent on my mother...who is extraordinary! The three most impactful forces that have shaped who I am (outside of God’s grace) are growing up in Mexico, having parents who loved and planted churches, and sharing life with someone with a severe disability. My parents belonged at the time to a church and denomination that came with quite a bit of legalism and performance-oriented Christianity. Grace was a challenging concept to grasp. While I had an awareness of my sin and need for redemption, it wasn’t until I attended Moody Bible Institute that I began to grasp the fullness of God’s grace and His delight in His children. I have continued learning and trusting in the Gospel through formal education, like completing my M.Div., and through spiritual practices in community. Learning the Gospel and believing the Gospel has been a daily exercise. The Gospel is as beautiful and multi-faceted as a diamond! At an individual level, it is simple enough for us to live convinced that “Jesus loves me, this I know.” At a corporate level, it becomes the foundation that forms and informs our life as a spiritual family. At a cosmic level, it is redemption that reaches as far as the curse is found. It is hard to even grasp the multiplicity of goodness found in the Good News. Q: Share a little bit about your family life now. What does a typical day look like in the Burkholder household? A: My wife Jenny is my high-school sweetheart! She brings joy and kindness wherever she goes. She’s the best listener I’ve ever met, and we love spending time together. We have three daughters. Isabella is ten, Olivia is seven, and Zoey is four. Each of the girls is unique and has taught us a lot in our process of following Jesus together. We like to go out on walks and go to the park together. Once a month I try to get some alone time with each of my daughters which usually includes bowling or trampolines. A typical day in the Burkholder house starts around 5:00am. Because of traffic here in Guatemala City, we have to leave early for school. After school, the girls come home to different activities - sometimes swimming class, sometimes piano lessons. Four or five nights a week we have dinner together where we usually talk about our high and low moments of the day. On weekends, we enjoy time together, playing outside, or watching sports together. Go Cubs and Go Buckeyes! Q: What are your interests and hobbies? If you have the day off, what are you likely to be up to? A: I enjoy physical activity, running, strength-training and following sports. I also love music and, truth be told, am a bit snobby about my taste in music! I also am a very curious person and love reading just about anything that passes through my hands. A day off is usually an opportunity for time with family. Jenny and I like to cook something interesting together on our days off. Often there is time for some reading and watching some type of athletic event. Q: How did God lead you to TEAM? A: My wife and I were working in the Chicago suburbs. I was a youth pastor and she was a Spanish teacher. When we got married, we had already sensed God’s direction to serve cross-culturally, but it was a matter of discerning when and where. There was a driving desire in me to see a church deeply love the Scriptures and at the same time, be deeply engaged in loving and serving their city and the most vulnerable among them. As God directed our paths, we visited a variety of places and made some friends in Guatemala who opened up the path for us to serve here. While we were exploring, we knew that the International Director of an organization called TEAM happened to go to our church, so I decided I should probably invite him out for breakfast - his name was Charlie Davis. Charlie was extremely thoughtful, passionate about disciple-making, and very gracious in creating space for us as we stepped into this endeavor. Charlie connected me with Steve Dresselhaus, a fellow TEAM global worker who was at that time serving as the Senior Director for the Americas. I cannot express the debt that I owe Steve. He walked closely with me in the transition, encouraged courageous thinking about the church and her role in society, and blasted open the doors for us to serve in Guatemala. After meeting Steve, we spent some days praying about joining TEAM. One thing I will never forget – one night during the process, I found myself wide awake in the middle of the night. A peace like I have seldom experienced passed over me confirming that we should join TEAM. There is no doubt in my mind that God tied all of these pieces together to bring us into the TEAM family and community. Q: What roles have you held in TEAM? What have been the milestones in those roles? A: The most important role I have held in TEAM is that of a global worker. God in His grace has allowed us to help plant two churches here in Guatemala, serve in leadership development, counseling, and discipleship. Our greatest joy has been found walking with those who are learning to follow Christ more deeply. I served as the Ministry Area Leader in Guatemala from 2016 to 2019. We helped to establish and lead this ministry area as it grew from just four global workers to over 15. I then served as Senior Director for Mexico and Central America from 2019 to 2021, Regional Executive Director for the Americas in 2021 and 2022, and then transitioned to the role of Executive Director of Global Ministry which I’ll continue in until the end of June. Q: What do you love most about being a part of TEAM? Why TEAM rather than other organizations or job opportunities? A: The TEAM community is full of people who have faithfully served God’s mission and have given up a lot to do so. It is a privilege to know many of our global workers and be counted among them. I am also fascinated by the fact that TEAM has existed now for more than 130 years! There is something to be said about the resilience and faithfulness of an organization that has continued to impact the world for so long. The rest of our conversation with Justin will be coming soon on blog! We’ll hear more about how God called Justin to the role of International Director, and what Justin sees for the next chapter in TEAM’s work in the global Church.
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