While they are there
Keep in touch
Anyone who has spent time away from home knows how good it feels to get a letter or hear a familiar voice on the phone. Imagine how it feels to have left everyone and everything and be a stranger in a foreign country where new relationships have to be forged in a foreign language.
For those back home keeping in touch is an encouragement, for those on the mission field it can be a lifeline.
Letters
Answering letters can be a major problem when time is limited and energy drained by heat and hard work. Most missionaries resort to some form of duplicated letter adding personal notes at the end. There is no such problem with receiving letters and the arrival of the mail bag is an eagerly awaited event.
Tell them about yourself, your family, your work, your church life, the nation, the weather, the economy, the football scores, anything you know that would be of interest. Send clippings from newspapers and magazines. Send cartoons, jokes and quotations. Of course the better you know them the easier it is but whatever the letter says it shows someone cares.
Cassettes
You can do more than just dictate a letter. You could include the voices of several people, a bark greeting from a pet (a dog might perform better than a rabbit), snippets from the radio or TV.
Telephone
Even if this is possible it may take a little organising. You might be able to record the conversation for your church or prayer group. Plan a few questions and keep an eye on the clock!
Ahh, the wonders of modern technology! If your missionary has access to a computer that can send and receive electronic mail it shouldn't be too hard for you to find someone with the facility. If you're familiar with the process perhaps you could help others use the medium who aren't.
Gifts
Financial gifts are normally best channelled through the Mission agency's home office, but how about sending on a good book or some of their favourite magazines?
Visiting
First hand experience of the work out in the field? It's not impossible. A holiday with a difference? An extension to a business trip? Perhaps a group of you could get together and encourage one person to make the trip on behalf of all.
Do check with your missionary first about numbers, accomodation and timing, You do want this to come when they have the time and energy to enjoy the visit.
Don’t forget the children
Overseas workers certainly appreciate it when you think of their children. Try providing educational materials not readily available where they are Write to the family and not just "the missionary." Write to the children directly. Send small gifts, or comics. Send news of their friends and their interests Remember their birthdays. Show you care. The children like it too!
Mailing overseas
Do find out about the quality and reliability of the postal service. In the best systems mail sometimes goes astray. In the worst systems mail always goes astray unless you know how to go about using the system.
In some of the more politically sensitive countries you might have to be careful what you write. Think about the time it will take and the relative value of surface or airmail (however fast mail gets to the capital it may take a lot longer to reach some of the more remote areas missionaries are working in).
With parcels there may be extra charges to pay, not only by you but also by the person you're sending it to! Be aware of the difficulties but don't be discouraged if there is a problem, there might just be another Wycliffe member flying out to that part of the world who could take the package by hand.
Look after home concerns
The distance separating you and your missionary prevents you from helping in many of the practical concerns they have. The distance separating them from other practical concerns may provide you with many opportunities to help. They have left behind property, possessions and people. Not everything can wait until they return. How can you help?
Help elderly parents
Individual situations will differ widely. Sensitivity is the key and offers of help may be only gradually accepted. Letters or phone calls may be more appropriate than visits in some cases.
Encourage children back home
Older children may be studying at college or university in this country. Being a substitute family for your friend's children may be an immense relief for the parents as well as a help to their children. Consistency is important so plan a realistic level of sustained involvement.
You could:
- Write, or send a card, from time to time.
- Send a food parcel.
- Have them stay for a weekend or a holiday if they do not go overseas.
