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 not write you missionaries about“ I started to think, what type of letters did I love to get? So, I also would love to share the positive side of the missionary writing experience. Below are 5 types of letters missionaries love getting!
1. 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 basically said.
“You 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 simple miracle, but people want to know, God really does care! Real stories that we can share with others are some of the most nourishing emails we get.
2. Gospel Studies
“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 short 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 totally changes how I will share the Gospel”.
If nothing else you will be following the Apostles, studying the Gospel, and doing what’s right.
