Cards and letters are known internationally as gifts to give encouragement to someone. Whether that be for birthdays, holidays, or just given as a little token of appreciation. They can also be good for invitations, advertisements, and memorable reminders. From a postcard to help fundraise money for a mission trip, to a letter sent to update a person across the world, cards and letters are used universally.
Families and friends of missionaries love to support their commissioned loved ones. In this article, I am going to provide you types of postcards and letters, how to send them, and even give you ideas on what you can create to support your loving missionary.
Types of Cards
Cards are used universally, around the world. Whether you are a missionary, or friends and family of one, the best way for prayers and support is through receiving and sending out cards. Missionaries who want to get the word out that they are setting foot into a different culture is by handing out a card. These greeting cards can also be used for a loved one to send to their commissioner.
Postcards
Postcards can be given out from a missionary to remind their loved ones for prayers. When they go on the mission field, they can have a reminder left back at home for their supports to think of them. Postcards are also used universally with missionaries to help raise funds for the mission trips.
Reply Cards
There are also cards that a missionary can send out but on the bottom is has blank fields that their supports can fill out. They can give donations, write prayer requests, and then they can easily send it back to the missionary to respond to what they sent to them.
Prayer Cards
Prayer cards are also another way for missionaries to be thought about in the time period when they are away. They’re also great for using as an invitation for their supporters to say their farewells.
These specific cards are also great for fundraising and handing out to a missionary’s church or partner. After a traveler goes, with a gracious heart, on their trip, the prayer card that they sent out is also used as a reminder. These little tokens are easy to put on a fridge, in a Bible, or anywhere convenient to remind their support to pray for them.
The Best Letter
Sending a letter to your missionary can be tricky. What exactly should you tell them when they are so far away? How can you encourage them? Here is the best type of letter that your missionary would love to receive.
Encouraging your traveler will bring a smile to his/her face, no matter the situation they are in on the mission field. Another note would be to add a Bible scripture to the letter. Ask the Lord to see which verse you should add to the envelope.
Provided below this article are different types of companies and their websites you can navigate to. These sites are helpful for others who want to raise funds for a trip. These different printing companies’ services can print these types of cards that are custom-made to fundraise for your mission trip.
Card and Letter Ideas
Sending a card or letter is so personable. Creating one yourself or purchasing one, displays to someone how much you miss, love, or support them. Cards show that you care. Mailing a card or letter expresses emotions, joy, thankfulness, sympathy, humor, love, and admiration. If your missionary one is missing you or feeling homesick, send them a card or letter and add a photo of their house in it. You could also attach stickers, and don’t forget to decorate inside the envelope, the more colorful and enticing, the better the letter!
Here are some examples and ideas of what you can do to create the perfect card or letter for your missionary.
Open When Letters
The main recommendation to make for your missionary is open when letters. These series of letters cover every type of situation that your loved one could be experiencing on the mission field. Whether that be missing their home country and culture, to feeling discouraged. Writing a letter for your commissioned traveler shows them how much you love and support them.
Seasonal Letters
When your missionary is in a different culture, most holidays are not celebrated where they are serving. Sending your loved one a Christmas, Easter, or Birthday card displays the affection and love that you have for your loved one. Being the field away from home during these times is terribly hard for a missionary. They miss their family, friends, pets, etc. Attach a photo of your family or pet to help cure their homesickness. Depending on the location they are serving in, see if you can also add an individually wrapped piece of candy like a candy cane as well.
The Catch-Up Letter
The first type of letter is the catch-up letter. This letter particularly focuses on updating your traveler about your daily life. Did someone just have a baby? Did one of their siblings win a sports game? Tell your missionary about the exciting events that they have missed and maybe even attach a photo to your message of the family.
Sending your loved one a catch-up letter not only updates them on what is going on back home, but it also reminds them they have not been forgotten about. It brings a sense of excitement into their life waiting for a handwritten letter that was from you, a supporter and an important person in their life.
The Encouraging Letter
Second, this type of letter brings positivity and light to your missionary. When they open the letter, they will receive a sense of home and understanding of how proud you are of them. You know exactly what your missionary would love to hear, so write those words on paper and maybe add fun stickers or a small craft to the envelope for your missionary to have where they are serving.
Sizes and Dimensions For Shipping
Postcards
Postcards must be rectangular to qualify for First-Class Mail prices. Oversized postcards will be charged as letters or large envelopes.
Size Requirements:
- Height: 3 1/2″ min. / 4 1/4″ max.
- Length: 5 1/2″ min. / 6″ max.
- Thickness: 0.007″ min. / 0.016″ max.
Envelopes
Envelopes must be rectangular to qualify as a letter.
Size Requirements:
- Height: 3 1/2″ min. / 6 1/8″ max.
- Length: 5″ min. / 11 1/2″ max.
- Thickness: 0.007″ min. / 1/4″ max.
- Max. Weight: 3.5 oz.
Large Envelopes
Envelopes must be rectangular, flexible, and uniformly thick to qualify for flat pricing.
Large envelopes that exceed size requirements will be charged the applicable First-Class Package International Service (small packet) price.
Size Requirements:
- Height: 12″ max.
- Length: 15″ max.
- Thickness: 3/4″ max.
- Max. Weight: 15.994 oz
For more information on different types of letters and cards that can be sent international, read our blog Missionary Gift Ideas & How To Navigate Int’l Shipping
Card Printer Companies
There are known printing companies just for missionaries. These sites below will print out custom-made cards that a missionary can hand out before they leave to proclaim the gospel to a different nation.
Online Card Printing Services
Provided below, are a list of suggested printing companies. These websites will direct you to custom-making services that can create all of the different types of cards and letters that were written about above.
commissioncreative.com
missionarycards.com
print4missions.com