5 Types of Letters That Missionaries Love Getting!
As a missionary, a good letter will boost your spirits, and encourage you to keep going when it is hard. As I was writing the article “5 things to avoid writing you missionaries about” I started to think, what type of letters did I love to get? I also would like to share the positive side of the missionary writing experience. Below are five types of letters that missionaries love getting!
1st. Miracles.
Nothing pumps up a missionary like a good miracle. Miracles allow us to reconfirm our faith, and it motivates us to keep trying. Miracle stories are often shared from missionary to missionary. We deal with enough hardship, and discouragement, when we hear an uplifting miracle, it reassures us that the Master is in control. So please share them, but remember, don’t embellish.
I know on my mission when I got an email from my mom that said.
“Your father got a new job this week, but he needed money for gas and lunches. We did not know how to pay for it, so we prayed, I felt that I should look in my drawer. And when I looked in my drawer, I found $100. It was just enough to pay for gas and food till his first paycheck.”
It did not seem like much, but I shared this with everyone. Proving to them that God loves us and cares. Even for the little things, He loves us enough to answer the smallest of prayers. It fired people up, it was a pure miracle, but people want to know, God does care! Real stories that we can share with others are some of the most nourishing emails we get.
2nd. Studies.
Ask them about their studies, ask them what they are learning. A mission is a chance for tremendous growth, ask them what they’re learning. Also, share what you’ve been studying with them. Share insights about the Gospel, talk with them about your thoughts and impressions. You never know, you might be answering a question that they or that one of their investigators has asked.
“There are practical ways for members to help and support our remarkable missionaries. For example, you can tell the missionaries that you are studying Preach My Gospel and ask them to show you what they are learning in their studies. As you share with each other, increased confidence between members and full-time missionaries will surely develop, just as the Lord commanded”
Elder M. Russell Ballard April 2014
When I heard this in Conference, I felt like I could do better. I now strive to include a summary of what I’ve studied the past week when I email the missionaries I know. Countless times, I’ve got replies back of “Thank you, I needed that” or “Wow that changes how I will share the Gospel.”
If nothing else you will be following the Apostles, studying the Gospel, and doing what’s right.
3rd. Conversion stories.
Sharing how you gained your testimony is an excellent thing to share with missionaries. It allows them to share it with others that can relate to it. Also, sharing how different members of your family joined is helpful. Having an arsenal of stories that build faith and hope are fantastic resources. Also, it is beneficial to share what religions your family converted from.
It is always impressive when someone feels they can relate. Stories allow this. Sharing how your family or a friend came in contact with the church enables your missionary to be personable when helping others. It is so helpful when a missionary can relate to someone they are teaching. Also, if you served a mission, share stories of the different people on your mission you taught, and how you helped them come unto Christ and join the church.
Also, if you’re a convert, maybe send a letter to the missionaries who taught you, and thank them. John hit it on the head when he said this to one of his converts.
3 John 1:4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.
I know personally when I hear the news that one of my converts is doing well. And, that they’re still active in the faith, it makes my day! So, take a minute and thank those who brought you into, or up in the Gospel.
4th. Life event updates.
5th Love and appreciation.
Convey your love for them. My first Christmas in the mission field was hard, but I remember the phone call vividly. It was the first time I can remember my dad saying he was proud of me. It was my first Christmas in New England. I decided on my call home, and I would talk to each person at the house for a minute or two personally, and then to everyone as a group at the end. When I was talking to my dad, I reported on how everything was going, I did not expect his reply when I heard “I am proud of you son” it was a shock to me, it was the first time I can remember him saying that. I did not want to do anything to make him take it back.
Tell your missionary you’re proud of them, tell them how you feel. Tell them that you love them, and you’re thankful for their service. These types of letters are best when they are written on paper. So when times get dark, they can find light in the letters again.
What are some letters that you loved when you were a missionary?
Cleophas WAFULA
Tuesday 12th of December 2023
Please help to write beautiful letter to my friend missionary to open their heart to support my ministry. We are talking but cannot support.
Johnny
Wednesday 2nd of December 2020
It was helpful.thank you...
Dottie
Tuesday 16th of April 2019
Tonight at Relief Society, we are writing letters to missionaries. I really appreciated everything that was said about what you should write and what you should avoid. This was a great article...thank you Dottie -- in Tucson, AZ
Ed Sarlls
Friday 26th of January 2018
See this at Leading LDS: How to Lift Your Missionary & Unify Your Family Through Letters | An Interview With Robert & Shauri Quinn
https://leadinglds.org/how-to-lift-your-missionary-unify-your-family-through-letters-an-interview-with-robert-shauri-quinn/
Serene
Wednesday 13th of April 2016
This is very great! Thank you so much! I do have a question, what do you think about handwritten letters every week? I know not many people do that but I've heard both that they are very distracting and that they are so nice. Thoughts?
Colleen Butler
Wednesday 4th of October 2017
I have a missionary grandson who has been back for 2 years. My husband and I hand wrote letters alternating weeks for the 2 years. He said he loved them and his companions came to think of us as their grandparents. They all wanted to hear the letters. He told his parents he heard more regular from us than anyone else. He has 2 brothers out now and we are had writing them letters again. It's harder with two out but it makes us think of them and what they may need to hear. Keep the hand written letters going.
Jeremy
Thursday 14th of April 2016
Any letters are awesome, but I am not a fan from my experience of "every week" as if you y miss a week the missionary goes crazy. One of my companions ALWAYS had a girl write him and the letter who show up on Tuesdays, and when it did not come one Tuesdays.... He was a wreck until the next Pday when he could email her.
But personally, I still have all the handwritten letters from my mission, and I will read them sometimes.