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Send care packages (some items, especially food items, are hard to find in other countries—everyday stuff like Jell-O, Kool-Aid, corn chips, etc...used to be a big deal to us and a special treat), communicate with us to find out who we are and what we do, maybe ask for volunteers to be pen pals with specific MKs so that MKs would know someone in each supporting church

Andrew Visser

31

France

1.  Remember special days in our lives (birthdays, anniversaries)

2.  Send a box with something we cannot get on the field (peanut butter, cereal, candy)

3.  Pray, pray, pray

Jill (Peters) Watkins

30

São Paulo, Brazil

I receive birthday cards from most of our supporting churches. That is very encouraging.

I have received support for two missions trips from churches that are already supporting us. This means a lot to me because they are going above and beyond what they are already doing for our family.

Rachel Kerr

20

Bibles International

Being consistent in whatever support (letters, prayers, care-packages) they can do.  

Karin Rukala Sicoli

32

Finland

   Send care packages

Rebecca Smith

15

Londrina, Parana - Brazil

  1. Continue sending birthday cards, even to the teens. WE like b-day cards too!

  2. A pen pal program. It would be nice to know someone when i go to a new church.

  3. Care packages

Rachel Smith

16

Londrina, Brazil

I don’t really know!

Abigail M. Jewell

16

Sorocaba, Sao Paulo, Brazil

1. I think it would be great for a missionary kid to have a pen pal from the States that would keep them informed about the States which would help the MK when he comes to the States.

2. Send care packages

3. When they come home, include them in activities

Mark Seymour

53

Chad, Africa

Looking into the past....we always enjoyed receiving packages. It was

a special moment, because we knew someone in America was thinking about us. When mk’s visit your church do not make them talk in the kids’ Sunday school class! Just because their parents are missionaries, does not mean that they enjoy talking in front of a bunch of people they don’t know.

Joshua Whitman

27

Italy

1.  Sending care packages (as a kid, this was one of the most fun things)

2.  Kids really enjoy pen pals from different churches throughout the USA.

Jon Price

31

USA (Indiana) ?

Don’t forget the missionaries on the field: pray, write, visit, send care packages.

Daniel Ruhkala

31

Finland

Stay in contact (email, phone, letters etc.)

Clinton Ellis

17

Germany

Care packages of “typically American stuff” - especially stuff you can’t get on the field (Nutter Butter cookies).

Care packages to College kids.

Don’t expect teen MK’s to be public speakers. But if one of them is/can/wants to, use them!

Ask missionary families to arrive to your church on Thursday, put them up in a motel/hotel for two overnights. Give them a free pass to a local amusement park. Then have them “arrive” at a church members house some time on Saturday. This could be shortened, and done on Saturday (without the motel) if the MK’s have to go to school. Similar for churches near the sea shore, water theme park (Wisconsin) or lakes (Eerie, Michigan, all of Minnesota).

Furloughs are expensive and sometimes there isn’t the possibility to do this. We took summer furloughs, which were extrememly hectic. But we always made sure that we stayed at motels with pools and visited at least one amusement park, spent a day at the beach and visited an Air Force Museum (okay, we have three sons!). Despite the busy schedule, we made sure there were fun things to look forward to and look back on. I think all three of our boys will tell you they enjoyed our furloughs. Anyway, churches can help by creating a time frame for the Missionaries to do this, PLUS churches know what “fun things” can be done in their area.

David Boyd

49

The Netherlands

For MKs on furlough, or even for adult MKs coming to the states for college, introduce them right away to young people their age who will make them feel welcome.  The MK will feel insecure, probably homesick, scared and lonely in a strange place.  An understanding friend, even if the MK is only in the area for a short time, can make all the difference.  Sometimes these friendships will continue even after the MK goes back to the field; I had several pen-pal friendships with “furlough friends” that lasted for years.

Be patient and understanding with the MK as he adjusts to life in the States.  I was pretty homesick my first year or so of college, and I so appreciated my friends who patiently let me talk to them about home, and were willing to be my friend despite all my cultural mistakes.  Even though most of them had never gone through culture shock as I was, they could be understanding and sort of love me through it.  Letting me know they were praying for me was especially helpful.

I appreciate churches that make an effort to really get to know their missionary families.  I remember one church that posted in their Sunday School classrooms photos of the MKs that the church supported, along with descriptions of the MKs’ ages, likes and dislikes, hobbies, pets, and the like.  Many churches have their Sunday School kids write letters to the MKs.  One family we had lunch with took the effort to do some reading about Australia before we came.  I think this get-to-know-your-MK attitude can be so helpful to the MK as well as to the American kids.  Believe me, it really does make an obvious difference when people make the effort to get to know you!

Anna Beth Wivell

25

Australia

Send birthday cards, it shows that there is someone in the states who cares about you. If the MK stayed at your church during furlough, keep in contact, it’ll make it easier for the MK to come back since she has friends there.

Hannah Stilwell

16

Peru

Not try and become best friends with me instantly.

Holly Syroteuk

20

Canada

I am not really sure because I was not really expecting the churches to do anything for me.

Daniel Darling

26

Venezuela

-assist with car and housing needs during college and young adult years

-make sure MKs have place to go for holidays

-provide emotional support/advice for MKs separated from their parents

Lisa (Brammer) Bolton

27

Taiwan/New Zealand

Write letters or e-mails, send a care package once in a while with things that the missionaries cannot get in their field, or go and visit that missionary for even a week and just help out.

Leah Ronk

20

Brazil

1. Boxes of new popular items for the family (twistable crayons, gel pens, pencils with fun patterns on them...) ( toys that have just come out that they may not be able to get there) (purses and belts that are the latest fashion) for Christmas and while we are in the states maybe provide the family with a day at an amusement park.

2. Keep up with their birthdays.

3. We love having company from the states who don’t come and treat it like their having a vacation on us.

Michelle (Stinedurf) Williams

36

Puerto Rico

1.  Remember who you are.

2.  Write to your missionary.

3.  Demonstrate ability to continue spiritual growth at home, reaching their Jerusalem.

Philip Harris

37

C.A.R.

Pay special attention with gifts to the children making them feel as important and a part of their folk’s work.

Joy Spieth

62

Brazil

Send letters

Christopher Armstrong

14

Russia/Siberia

Include Mks in special youth activities/events; send care packages/birthday cards, etc.  Youth need to welcome Mks into their classes & groups.

Lisa (Richter) Armstrong

35

Alaska (as MK)

1.    Treat me normal. It's not like I'm from outer space.

2.    Understand that I'm not being a snob, I probably just don't "get it."

3.    Please forgive me if I say, "When I was in Brazil..." too many times. I really DO love the USA a lot. It's just that I thought you needed to know that the context of my story is different.

Mark Swedberg

43

Brazil

   I think the most critical time is in the pre-teen and teen time.  At those times, it's important that children in the churches of those ages really include them, befriend them, take them shopping to get the "right clothes" etc.

Darlene (Reiner) Smith

54

Brazil

a.    Write us... not necessarily with the expectation of having us write back right away (we're still kids... writing perfect strangers is not always our idea of fun)

b.    Send us gifts... let us know that we are being prayed for as well... excuse my frankness, but every kid loves to get money... even if it is only five dollars. If you send us dollars we will likely save it for a furlough... if you send us Euros we'll go out and spend it right away. Our moms will make us send a thank you card... and we won't have trouble writing it.

c.    I heard of an mk that was taken on for support by an individual that supported their parents too... he received a small monthly amount, and was assured that he was being prayed for... that is cool for a little kid!

d.    Start a pen-pal relationship (through e-mail) between one of your kids and an mk... I had two pen-pals and enjoyed getting to know them over the years.

Daniel Boyd

26

The Netherlands

Check with the children to make sure that they really want to "perform" publicly before obligating them. 

Team them up with kids their age for the time they are at the church to have a good time and make new friends.

Encourage the missionaries to have a college education fund for their children and donate to that fund.

Bill Griffin Jr.

58

Brazil

Reach out to MKs to help them feel like they fit in.

Encourage the children in their teenage groups to go out of their way 

to befriend MKs and welcome them in to their group.

Tim Lankford

38

Manaus, Brazil

Let us go to school free.  Open gym.

James Giegerich

13

No. America

Have activities for the youth group when we go to the churches (outside the service).  Open gym.

Karis Giegerich

15

No. America

Have activities for children

David Giegerich

8

No. America

Plan fun outings and activities.

Ask MK’s for insights.

Give a special gift for the M