Adopting a Missionary 

              Goal
        
          To develop a close tie with your adopted missionary

      Purpose

      Missionaries are all too soon forgotten by friends. After a few months pass, lives are re-adjusted and the missionary’s absence is no longer a painful feeling of loss. Letters and contact with the missionary becomes sporadic, dwindles and often comes to a halt.

The Missionary, then already dealing with the loss of everything familiar in   their life; re-adjustment, culture shock, and stress, all of a sudden feels alienated and forgotten. The loneliness becomes a bitter, powerful tool for the enemy to attack with.

Once they do adjust to their new home, life is fast paced and spare time is a real treasure. Exhaustion becomes a constant companion along with the continual struggles and challenges that life presents.

The most important thing is for a missionary to know (experientially) someone is standing behind them in all their endeavors; and to know they are not forgotten, and they are being prayed for. 

           Ideas

     Here are some simple, practical ideas you can do for your ‘extended family members’ so they will know you are there. 

1.        Pray Daily - to help keep this commitment . . .

a.      obtain picture prayer card of your adopted missionary

b.      post the prayer card on . . .

                 bathroom mirror                                kitchen window

                 breakfast table                                  car dash board

                 refrigerator                                        alarm clock

                 television                                           laundry room

                 a conspicuous place

     c.      what to pray . . .

                 if you don’t know what any specific needs

                 use the “P.S. System” - whatever you pray for yourself or another, add  a  P.S. and pray the same for your adopted missionary.

                 keep in mind, what you face, they face. They have the same joys and struggles as you. 

2.      Write Monthly - nothing encourages a missionary more than a letter!

     a.      it does not need to be laborious or involve a lot of time

                 obtain aerogrammes from the Post Office  . . .

                you can not enclose anything inside an aerogramme.

                 they require no stamp or envelope

                 they go airmail to all parts of the world

                 send postcards of the USA, or local areas etc.

                 it is always good to see home!

                 a quick note is sufficient. Tell about . . .

                 what you are doing 
             the weather
             family
             church news
             struggles
             victories
             events
             news: local & national           
             current events - enclose newspaper 

                 the most important part of the letter is . . .

 "I’m praying for you daily"

ask for prayer request and praise    reports share prayer requests and praise reports to involve them in your life (this deepens the relationship)

                           remember, you can always make a simple phone call maybe on a birthday or just to say ‘hi’! 

3.      Send ‘Care’ Packages Quarterly

     a small package or manila envelope filled with simple items 
            cassette tapes 
            magazines  
            newspaper comics
            paperback books  
            match box cars
            stuffed animals  
            coloring books
            gum, chocolates  
            toothpaste
            soap, shampoo  
            pens, pad of paper  
            bookmark  
            brownies, etc.

especially useful items not available in their location

                                         cloth diapers
                                         dry yeast  
                                         shoe laces  
                                         ask, they will tell you!

                            ask the missionary for special mailing instructions to avoid any excessive  duty in customs for them. Usually a green sticker from the Post Office on the package and it will not receive duty charge.           

4.      Finances

a.      you may want to bless your missionary with extra money money is always in short supply for the missionary, especially for 
    “special things”

b.      if you want a tax deductible receipt, write a check to the church or organization supporting them (generally) specifying which missionary and they will get it to them. 

5.      Remember Birthdays and Anniversaries

a.      this demonstrates a loving concern for the missionary

                 sign the card in light pencil or enclose a note so the card can be used again as cards in English may be hard to find

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

THE BEST RULE OF THUMB IS . . .

DO THE SAME FOR THEM AS YOU WOULD A SPECIAL PERSON IN YOUR LIFE 

(adapted from Evangelical Missions Quarterly, April 1988; “The Five-Way Plan: A Cure for Money Centered Support”, and found in a booklet by Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa 
concerning their missionaries.)   

~~~~~~~~~~~~

© 2008 Christian Missionary Pilots
Contact bkayter@sbcglobal.net