5 WAYS TO BLESS YOUR MISSIONARY

Missionaries today live a very marginal lifestyle. They are called to sacrifice almost everything in order to do the work God has called them to do. But this doesn’t mean we can’t bless them once in a while with gifts of love. Below are five suggestions on how you can bless missionaries you support this year.
 
1.  Get Connected
Getting a call from church members is an emotional boost.  This doesn’t have to be the missions chairperson.   It could be anybody.  When a missionary has been away for more than 12 months, those contacts slow down and leave the missionary feeling somewhat disconnected. It is important that the missionary knows that the church back home hasn’t forgotten about them.
So, whether this is by telephone, skype or letters, a conversation can go a long way. Find ways to pray for them as a family and show them your love and support.
 
2.  Ask the missionary about personal family needs that you can fix
What is something that would take a “rough edge” off their life for which they simply don’t have available funds?
•              Perhaps they have a broken piece of furniture, but no available or budgeted funds to fix it.
•              Perhaps they need a dishwasher.
•              Perhaps they need funds to fix a window, paint a room, or replace a toilet.
You might send them funds to fix it, or if practical, send a team to fix some of these things.
I know one missionary who wept in gratitude when a church sent them a new pair of sandals, a box of fancy perfumes, and a particular napkin holder for their table.
What is something they need that would reduce a constant stressor in their life?
 
3.  Donate frequent flyer miles
A missionary family should be able to visit with their home churches and family members on a regular basis.  But getting flights for a family of four can run anywhere from $2000-$4000 or more.
Frequent flyer miles can go a long way to enabling this kind of member care.  Work with your missionary to find out how to make that happen.
Help them see their family or make their trip home for their partner development. This will also give you an opportunity to meet with them in person as well.
 
 4.  Ask if there is a technology product or service they need
Many missionaries live off of donated and terribly outdated equipment.
Perhaps they could use an updated / upgraded mobile phone.  Perhaps an Ipad or Amazon Kindle.  Maybe your missionaries are functioning with a 7-year-old laptop with outdated software. Maybe the humidity in some climates has destroyed their old computers from rust.  Maybe they need that video projector for their training events, or even a video camera and wireless microphone for some of their work.
You get the idea.  Find out what they need and work with them to acquire it.  Remember, it might be easiest to acquire locally rather than shipping it.
Find out what your church can raise funds to upgrade or provide.
 
5.  Ask if you can provide a “mental health” weekend
Living cross culturally can be extremely stressful and a weekend away at a nice place can bring a sense of restoration back to your missionary.
Most missionaries I know live on such a shoe string budget that spending a weekend at a resort or in a mountain vacation home is hardly ever on a calendar.
Perhaps there is a nice place within a 2-3-hour drive from where your missionary lives.  Ask about the cost of a full weekend at a nice place, and include the cost of transportation, gas, and food.
I’m not talking about $20,000 family vacations, but maybe $500-$1000 for a weekend somewhere.
What can you provide to give your missionary a respite break?
 
Final Words
Encourage your missionaries this year. They are giving themselves away on behalf of the gospel, often at the high price of living on the margins. These don’t have to be overly expensive projects.  Living on the margins is stressful.  Take one of these suggestions or think of another way to bless your missionary today. You may not see it, but it will make a huge difference in their lives.