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 19 Mar, 2024
Previously on the TEAM blog, we sat down with Justin Burkholder (pictured above at left, with TEAM's Executive Director of Communications, Aaron Catlin). Justin will become TEAM’s next International Director on July 1, 2024. Justin shared about his background, family, and the journey that led him to TEAM. Check out that interview here . Today, we pick up the conversation as Justin shares how God called him to the role of International Director, and what he sees for the next chapter in TEAM’s work in the global Church. Q: How and when did you first consider applying for the position of International Director? How did the Lord reveal Himself to you as this opportunity presented itself? A: For some time, I have been evaluating how God wants me to use the gifts He has given me. Jenny and I have had a fruitful ministry in church planting in Guatemala and would happily continue doing so as God leads. However, as God blessed my efforts in TEAM leadership, there were friends and family who expressed that I should consider using my gifts in the International Director role. I don’t believe that everything necessarily rises and falls on leadership, but I do believe that it is a core component in the body of Christ. Using the gifts God has given me is a way that I want to bless the body of Christ in TEAM, making my contribution to the global purposes of God’s mission. Jenny and I spent a lot of time praying about this and decided that I should put my name in for consideration, trusting God’s guidance. We had a tremendous amount of peace throughout the entire process and were blessed by the prayer-filled process that the board undertook. Q: This is a key role in a large and complex organization, and I’m sure this was a big decision for you and your family. What were your fears or concerns? Why did you ultimately decide to accept the position? A: You say “were” like the fears have passed! I still am quite aware of my youth and inexperience - of the responsibility and weight of this role. Mostly, I’m afraid of leading an organization like TEAM in the flesh. Many of the fears that I have faced have been fears rooted in fleshly desires and concerns. I have no desire to succeed in the world’s eyes and fail in the Kingdom of Jesus. Why did I ultimately decide to accept the position? I’m convinced that the Good News about Jesus is true. The tomb is empty, Jesus is King, and the world needs to know, because Jesus is coming back. He will put things in order. He will establish righteousness, peace, and justice for all mankind, and He has commissioned His Church to proclaim and demonstrate His rule and reign. I want to use my gifts to do whatever I can to amplify the proclamation of this message and the multiplication of His Church around the world. Q: What are your goals and vision for the future of TEAM? A: This is something that I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about. I’m certainly not ready to present a fully-shaped vision and goals for TEAM’s future without the input of other people in different contexts in TEAM. But, I will share a few things that I think are important: First, we need to model God-Dependence . I am hopeful that as leaders in TEAM, we can continue to model God-Dependence. As Hudson Taylor said years ago “…God’s work, done in God’s way, will never lack God’s supplies.” I am hopeful that we can increase our sense of faith in God, prayer, and seeking direction from the Spirit. Secondly, we must strengthen our relational fabric . Due to the changes that we have experienced by decentralizing our home office functions, and the challenges from the pandemic, we have experienced a loss of relationships. It is imperative that we intentionally prioritize the building of relationships with one another. I plan to visit our workers and staff, and I am expectant that other key leaders and staff will be doing the same. Third, we must pursue the greater presence of the global Church. The Kingdom of Jesus Christ doesn’t look like any single geopolitical, ethnic, or racial culture. If we want to truly see the Kingdom of Jesus come on earth as it is in heaven, then we as citizens of this Kingdom must learn from one another, submit to one another, and grow with one another. The missional potential of the global Church has been unleashed by God’s Spirit since Acts 1, and we have an opportunity to learn from many brothers and sisters in Christ who can help us to better model and proclaim the Kingdom of Jesus to those who have yet to believe. Lastly, we must increase our Gospel boldness . There are still many places of great spiritual blindness and spiritual brokenness around the world. The apostolic impulse of cross-cultural organizations should call us to the to the edges of where the Kingdom of Jesus is not penetrating. Whether spiritual blindness and brokenness exists because of lack of access, idolatry, injustice, or any other myriad of reasons, I prayerfully hope to see more and more TEAM workers continue to move into spaces of great Gospel need.
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.
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