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Welcome to
LDS Missionary Care
Christmas For Missionaries

At the end of 2006, this service was discontinued at the request of the church.

We are concerned that the policies of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints are followed. To help in that effort, we want everyone to read and abide by the following statement:

 

"The established programs of the Church provide financial assistance for worthy members and missionaries through Church priesthood leaders, who are familiar with their circumstances and can prevent duplicate assistance or abuses. Therefore, members who desire to assist those in need, are encouraged to contribute to the the Fast Offering, General Missionary, Humanitarian, or Perpetual Education funds in their local ward or branch.

"Mission presidents are instructed that under no circumstances should they solicit nor accept contributions or donations from friends, family, Church members, or missionaries. Funds for charitable assistance to missionaries in need are readily available to the mission president.

"Occasionally someone may offer to contribute money, equipment, clothing or other items to be used at a mission president's discretion. They should be kindly directed to contribute to the General Missionary Fund or another approved donation category, either through his or her ward or directly to the Missionary Department.

"Missionaries are instructed to not ask family members or friends at home to donate to local causes where they are serving."

Provided by and printed with the permission of The Missionary Department, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

Here's the rest of the page before the policy clarification
Merry Christmas!

We started LDS Missionary Care; Christmas For Missionaries, in the fall of 1996 to help coordinate giving gifts to full-time LDS missionaries who usually fit into one or more of the following categories:

  • has been disowned by his family
  • from a third world country where branches and wards are very poor
  • from a very dysfunctional family
  • no idea where his parents or siblings are
  • the only member of the church in his or her family
  • has been a member of the church less than 2 years


    • Some elders from the mission office showing some Christmas gifts
    donated to spread some happiness and joy on Christmas morning.

    Every year, missionary mothers contacted their local mission president and/or the mission president where their missionary was serving and offer Christmas gifts for his missionaries. Some families cannot afford to send letters or Christmas gifts to their missionary. Some missionaries have no family support at all.

    We were not solicited by missions, mission presidents or their missionaries. Gift-giving is totally voluntary and is not solicited on or in behalf of anyone. We are a group of missionary mothers coordinating the giving of Christmas gifts.

    If you want to build a ship, don't herd people together to collect wood and don't assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea.
    --Antoine de Saint-Exupery

    A Letter of Gratitude

    Karl and I received a letter in the mail from Mecan, China (9/29/2005). This is an example of how much our Christmas packages/letters really do make a difference in the lives of these missionaries. Here are some excerpts from that letter:

    Dear Pearson Family,

    "...It has been six years since you wrote to me. I was the only member in my family by that time. They don't really celebrate Christmas. Receiving your presents and letters really gave me strength to carry on the work on my mission. Sorry for that time I was not good at reading English, so I didn't write back as much as I should."

    Okay, I only remember getting 2 very short communications from him. One was a letter, perhaps 6 or 7 sentences. The other was a postcard. He served in the New York, New York North or South Mission--can't remember which one. He goes on to say:

    "I had a great missionary experience in New York....Serving two years there strengthen my testimony a lot and develop the love toward my fellow beings."

    He then says that after his mission he went to LDS Business College in SLC, and then transferred to BYU Hawaii. He now lives in his hometown in Mecan, China.

    "Now I am no longer the only LDS in my family. Miracle happened after one year serving in New York. One of my sister joined the church after learning the gospel. And later on, my other sister got baptized when I was in LDSBC. There were many miracles happened in these years. Except one thing is I am still single, unfortunately. Now back to Macan is even more difficult to find my eternal companion due to the less number of people here.

    "The reason I am writing this letter is that after reading the First Presidency message in the Ensign about gratitude, I just want to make sure you know how much I am grateful for your kindness and support for missionary works. Your love really make a difference in my life especially in the difficult time during my mission. The love I felt from your family inpired me to share that same love with the people I met. Even now, I am still applying the same principle into service. Thank you for teaching me that eternal by your example. Because of your example, I will do the same things to others who are in need."

    Love,
    Benjamin Tam