Florida Tampa Mission-Emails & Letters- 08/27/14

Dear Brother and Sister,

Thank you for all that you do to support your missionaries.  We know that hearing from family is very important to all the missionaries. 

We do need your help.

While hearing from family each week is important, we need you to only e-mail your missionary once a week.  If possible, send your e-mail on Sunday evening each week and it will be there for your missionary to read on Monday.  It is very hard for the missionaries to receive messages from family and friends during the week.  This can cause them to suffer from homesickness and makes it hard to concentrate on the work that they are here to complete.  Our missionaries carry iPads so they are constantly reminded of personal e-mails coming in through the week.  In some cases we are required to have missionaries give up the iPads due to being a significant distraction.  Taking their iPad has worked well to eliminate the ability to become distracted daily but hinders the missionary work.  It is also hard on them to be singled out.

It is also wise to limit e-mail to immediate family members.  As noted below from the Missionary handbook, e-mail is authorized for family.  Missionaries still love getting regular mail.  If you truly want your missionary to be able to focus on the work and reduce homesickness, ask friends to stick to once a week and regular mail is probably best.  I understand this is hard for some but if you want to completely distract a missionary from missionary work, just have their boyfriend or girlfriend send daily e-mails.

Please understand we are doing our best to take care of your missionaries.  We love them.  We want them to be happy here.  The best way we have found to do that is to allow them to become fully engaged in the work.

Thank you for all your support.

………………….

From the Missionary Handbook - COMMUNICATING WITH FAMILY

Write to your family each week on preparation day. Limit correspondence with others. Share your spiritual experiences. Never include anything confidential, sensitive, or negative about the areas where you serve.