Christmas Ideas for your LDS Missionary – Elders
The Christmas season is full of joy, and we want our missionaries to be full of joy too! Having served an LDS mission, I know what it is like to be away from family for the holidays. While there is a lot of love that you can feel from those around you, it is nice to have reminders of those you love at home. Here are some ideas of gifts or packages you can send to your missionary to keep them in high spirits this holiday season!
Package Deliveries
One thing that is really important to keep in mind with sending mail is the delivery time. Often it is a 2-3 week process for packages to reach foreign missionaries. However, sometimes it can take up to 7-8 weeks. Because of this variability in time, it’s worthwhile to check on the postal delivery services wherever your Elder is serving. We know that the holiday season flies by and getting packages assembled and in the mail can be difficult. If possible, give yourself some wiggle room when it comes to time. You never know when there could be unexpected delays or complications, so plan ahead and ship early!
Depending on where your missionary is serving, it would be best to find out if packages need to go to their specific apartment or to the mission home.
What Kind of things to Send
Because Missionaries are moving apartments and areas so frequently, they generally try to limit how much additionally belongings they are toting around everywhere. Keep this in mind as you plan exciting, useful gifts to send their way. Some handy items to send their way include:
36 Classic Package/Stocking Stuffer Gifts
- Gum
- Lint Roller
- Pens or Colored Pencils for scripture marking
- Mints (ones that won’t melt)
- Sticky notes
- Scripture marking tabs
- Photos of people/things they love
- Mini notebooks or journals
- Their favorite food items (that can reasonable be sent in the mail)
- Mini Christmas tree
- Chapstick
- Deodorant
- A nice water bottle
- CTR Ring
- Bookmark
- Bicycle Repair Kit
- Sewing Kit
- Rolls of Quarters (for laundry mats)
- Bike Reflector lights
- Tie Pins/Tie Tacks
- Letters! (from family, friends, and anyone in between!)
- New tie (It’s like the only clothing they can switch up. They won’t be mad about a new one, trust me!)
- Personalized Christmas stocking
- Shoe Shining Polish
- Hair Cutting Kit
- Gift cards
- Money
- Set of Christmas Pj’s
- Picture of his Home temple
- Digital watch
- Socks
- Scripture case
- Nativity scene
- Cards
- Hacky Sack
- Kendama
Here are a few links to buy these items!
Mini Christmas Tree and Personalized Christmas Stocking
