Sister Prints

Enjoy a few FREE printables I made for you, to delight your Sister with.
Let me know what you think!

Whether dressed up in a frame; or prints you surprise her with in a package creation, she will enjoy them all. What fun to have an interchangeable piece of inspirational art hanging from her walls.

Click on the link underneath the printable to download the PDF or Print.

 

Forget Yourself. PDF Download

 

Keep Calm Serve On. PDF Download

 

 

Called to Serve. PDF Download

 

 

Prayer. PDF Download

 

 

If your interested in more FREE Printables, become a follower!

Or if you are interested in different colors of the print leave a comment and I will update this post with the new version!

 

 *If you have ideas to share, as always send us them in the Contact Tab at the top of the screen!



Red, White and Blue

It is Summer! At least here in the states. And for those of you who are thinking up extraordiary patriotic packages to send your missionary, I wanted to create a print for you to include. SO your missionaries can hang it proud! Enjoy!

FREE PRINTABLE

 

Pledge of Allegiance. PDF Download

Here are some ideas for packages that I found via pinterest, I am getting so excited to start putting our missionary's "Proud to Be an American" package together.

Prepacked Smores at The Old Hen

 

 Rocket Favors at Martha Stewart Living
  made from toilet paper rolls

 And check out this Patriotic Candy Cake at You Care Package
 for Red, White, and Blue candy ideas to include


We will be posting our Fourth of July, "Proud to Be an American", package that we create for our Oregon Elder, but until then I wanted to send a few ideas your way.


*If you have ideas to share, as always send us them in the Contact Tab at the top of the screen!

10 Gifts Gained from a Mission, Package

I just sent my brother a package.

My package theme was based on this New Era Article
The Message: Gifts to Bring Home from the Mission Field by President Gordon B. Hinkley.

I twisted it a little and called it the
10 Gifts You Gain From A Mission

 

I found something for each of the 10 gifts, albeit some are a little stretched. I wrote the gift on the front side of the envelope a little explananation on the back of the envelope and the excerpt from the talk on the gift in the envelope.

My penmanship is rushed and a little silly, so don't critique me on that :)

For the introducer I labeled the envelope and put this excerpt from the talk inside "These are 10 gifts that I would hope every missionary would bring home with him or her—not a lot of tinsel, not a lot of dolls, not a lot of rugs or furs or dresses or plates, but these great, enduring, wonderful things. God bless you to keep the faith, and while doing so, enjoy with great happiness that which you are called to do."
Back of the envelope said "We love you Honey!" -Thats how the Honey Buns come into play. Considering our missionary loves them I wanted to send them in the package and they were a great filler for all the left over spots.

 

1. Excerpt inside “This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent” (John 17:3). There is no greater gift that comes to anyone in this world than a certain, reassuring conviction that God, our Eternal Father, lives and that Jesus is the Christ. I believe that. I think it is so very, very important."
Back of the envelope "Let the Love of our Heavnely Father surrond you like these big hugs." The hugs were from my little ones. They were cut their arms length, like real hugs.

I found this Mail a Hug idea here. I put my own spin on it and decided to do put "I love you SO much!" kind of like the "I love you THIS much!" idea.

2. Excerpt inside "As a missionary, I read each evening before going to bed a few chapters of the Book of Mormon, and there came into my heart a conviction which has never left: that this is the word of God, restored to the earth by the power of the Almighty, translated by the gift and power of God to the convincing of the Jew and the Gentile that Jesus is the Christ. I thank the Lord for the testimony which I have of the truth of the word of God as found in these sacred revealed books. And I would hope that every missionary would leave his or her field of labor with a conviction in his or her heart that these things are true."
Back of the envelope "We know your working hard to be a scripture smarty."

 

3. Excerpt inside "I have attended hundreds of missionary meetings over the years. I love to hear missionaries speak of their love for the Lord, but I also love to hear them speak with great appreciation and love concerning their parents. Boys who had been careless and indifferent stand on their feet and with tears in their eyes thank the Lord for their fathers and their mothers. In these days, what a salutary and wonderful thing it is to hear a strong young man stand up and speak with great feeling concerning his father and his mother, saying things he would never have said before in all of his life. Every boy and girl ought to come home with an increased love for parents."
Back of the envelope "We all know your itching to give Mom and Dad some Hugs and Kisses!"

 

4. Excerpt inside "I love the English people. No one can sell the English short in my mind because I labored with them, I lived with them, I was in their homes at their firesides, I learned to know their hearts, and I learned to love them.

I have learned to love the people of Asia. I spent 11 years among them, and I love them. To me, I love them as much as I love anybody because of the experience I have had as a missionary, as it were, among them.

There’s something wrong if a missionary doesn’t come back with a great love for the people among whom he labored."

Back of the envelope "A fisher of men = Missionary"

 

5. Excerpt inside "Every missionary ought to come to realize that work, work, work is the key to getting things done, the key to success in life. There is no substitute for work, for getting up in the morning and getting at it and staying with it to get the job done. I don’t know of a greater asset for whatever lies ahead in life than the capacity to discipline oneself to work."
Back of the envelope "For all that hard work, your reward will be much greater than money."

 This youtube video teaches you how to make a dollar bill into this ... shirt and tie. I am no secret oragami master and it really was fairly easy with a little adjusting here and there I was more than happy with the results. And bragged about my skills, but to be honest the video is pretty easy to follow. I just paused it at each step and it worked great.

 

6. Excerpt inside "The availability of inspiration—each of us, if we live for it, if we cultivate it, can have it. I love these great words of revelation, these words of promise: “God shall give unto you knowledge by his Holy Spirit, yea, by the unspeakable gift of the Holy Ghost” (D&C 121:26). What a precious gift to bring home—the assurance, the certainty that if we live for it, we have available to us that which comes by the power of the Holy Spirit."
Back of the envelope "Listen to the Holy Spirit (o-mint) he will guide you, comfort you, and strengthen you."

 

7. Excerpt inside "No one can do this work alone. We work in pairs. “In the mouth of two or more witnesses shall [all things] be established” (2 Corinthians 13:1). We work together. There is no place for prima donnas in the mission field. Our efforts are largely team efforts, and what a marvelous thing it is to learn to work with other people."
Back of the envelope "Is there any better team then a sweet and salty pair?"

 

8. Excerpt inside "I think there is no greater thing concerning future integrity that a missionary can learn than the value of personal virtue. I think there are fewer words greater than the promise given under the inspiration of the Lord as set forth by the Prophet Joseph Smith: “Let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly.” That’s the commandment. And then the promise: “Thy confidence [shall] wax strong in the presence of God” (D&C 121:45). That’s the promise to those who walk in virtue."
Back of the envelope "For a personal boost remember your biggest fans, looking up to you."

I found these Missionary Tag Printables Here and instead of writing their names I wrote Elder _____ Biggest Fan. I just saved the image and wrote my own text in on publisher.

 

9. Excerpt inside "'I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way … that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth' (1 Nephi 3:7).

We ask tremendous things of missionaries. It is so hard for shy and diffident young people to do the things we sometimes ask them to do. But what a marvelous thing that they try. They have the faith to do, the faith to act, the faith to go forward and make the effort. And what a marvelous gift that is to bring home."

Back of the envelope "Faith dip, to remind you to dip into your faith when spirits are low."

 

10. Excerpt inside "Recognize that there is a power greater than ours, that no matter how good a man is, he is not good enough, that no matter how wise he is, he is not wise enough, that no matter how strong he is, he is not strong enough for all of the things which he will face in life, and that there is a source of power to which he can go with the assurance that he will be listened to and that there will be a response."
Back of the envelope "Especially for the days where your tired and sore and seem to be stuck in a rut, just remember that prayer can help you get back up."

My son kind of hijacked the prayer rock and scribbled all over it, so I decided to just go with that and wrote Pray and Prayer all over it. The poem and other cute (more sophisticated) prayer rock ideas are found here.  My favorite is the modge podged heart for Sisters.

 

Getting Along

Serving two by two isn't always as easy as it sounds. Sometimes you find your best friend for life, or you seem like you just got added to their hit list. Either way getting along is an essential part of the mission. I enjoyed reading this post from Hipster RM, that shared advice for getting along. 

I will be sending a few of these tips along in my emails to my brother, his current companion seems to be one of these "sweet spirits" as mentioned below ;)

Getting Along with Companions: 

Tips and tricks for future missionaries

BY HIPSTER RM

Let’s be honest. If your papers are in or your call has been assigned, the following has crossed your mind at least once: “I really hope I don't have a crazy companion.”

Well, you probably will have at least one. #reality

But every RM has been there and I’ve yet to hear of a a missionary being released for murdering his companion. And by released I mean incarcerated. #youvegotthis

Whether you like it or not, you’ll be spreading the good Word two by two.

But here are a few tips and tricks from some classy RMs on how to deal with those sweet spirits.

“I did have a rough 3 transfers with the same person, and I love the guy but we didn’t mesh very well at all. We taught well, but our alone time was full of tension. I think a lot of it had to deal with me being a bit of a punk, which I’m sorry for. I would think it was me not knowing how to climatize to another’s upbringing.” -Jordan Welch, Montana Billings Mission

“Try to empathize with them, I had a comp with severe depression and anxiety and I probably learned more from him than any other companion because I had to try to put myself in his shoes. Try to see things from their point of view.” -Cameron Dunn, Oklahoma Tulsa Mission

“Service service service.” -Jordan Mills, Mexico Merida Mission

“The end of a transfer(s) will always come. I look back now and realize that my hard transfers weren’t really all that bad but lacked the perspective at the time to realize it.” -Justin Wilcox, Taichung Taiwan Mission

“I’d just say the main thing is is to quit complaining get over yourself and realize you guys are there for one goal and one purpose. And as you focus on the Lord everything else magically falls into place and you will be so busy with work you won’t have time to bicker back and forth!” -Jordan Unga, Montana Billings Mission

“Service was NOT the solution for me. Service just made him hate me all the more. I just did my best to ensure that I wasn’t harboring any negative feelings or thoughts. The few times we had peace were when we found a common interest. He knew I liked to draw and he wanted to learn to paint so on P Days we would paint together. Find common ground (something besides the church)” -Tanner Gilliland, Brazil Joao Pessoa Misson

“When you get into an argument, slowly but carefully switch your position to the side your companion was taking. If they’re still disagreeing with you, point it out. Best experiment I ever tried.” -Michael Lanham, Montana Billings Mission

I agree that service is good, but I had a comp who HATED when I tried to serve her. Once we found something we both liked we bonded. She was the worst, but that was the transfer that I most learned about the atonement.” -Jessica Black, Brazil Fortaleza Mission

“I had on really hard comp we didn’t get along at all but what I wish I did was focus on his strengths one he was a convert so he related well with people. I would say to pray for a way to get along with him and repent for the hard feelings. Trying to see where they are coming from is helpful. Even if you do not like them love them and compliment them on what they do well. Having comp inventory was helpful. When someone talks bad about them stand up for them don’t agree or if someone is giving them a hard time again stand up for them.” -Brock Seymore, Montana Billings Mission

“Serve your companion, make them breakfast, make their bed, etc. You cannot truly love someone if you do not sacrifice for them. Sacrifice your time by doing something for them even if that means to listen.” -John Bottema, Washington Seattle Mission

“My stake president gave me some good advice when he set me apart. He said that I should always try to make my companion a successful missionary. If you’re doing what’s best for them, you’re forgetting what you want and working toward a common goal. And heck, if your companion is successful, chances are you probably will be too.” -Kinsey Bowman, California San Diego Mission

“Just suck it up, work well together, and most importantly work hard while following the spirit. And of course, don’t make it obvious” -Mitch Adams, California Roseville Mission

“Something that helped me a ton was when there was something that bugged me or a concern that I saw in my companion I wouldn’t point it out straight away, I would wait a couple three days (if it wasn’t an obvious problem that hurt our teaching) and see if it was a pattern or if that was really the thing that was bugging me. It gave me time to gather my thoughts and when comp inventory came I had constructive things to say and it made me sound less like an idiot. Other times I knew that the behavior wasn’t anything wrong and I just needed time to adjust to it, if I’d “corrected” them in the moment it would’ve been unnecessary.” -Shane Wood, Montana Billings Mission

“I learned how to stand up for myself with my tough companions, I didn’t teach the way they wanted or wasn’t as cool as they thought I should have been but sometimes you have to stand up for yourself-respectfully! I’ve heard of Elders slamming eachother into walls and breaking doors and stuff and that’s not productive. Make sure that you’re doing what you feel is right and try to work it out as best as possible.” -Emily Ivie, Montana Billings Mission

Mailing Cookies How To

I had to share this awesome post on sending cookies in the mail. Whether they are peanut butter, sugar, chocolate chip, or a home recipe; this Mom gives all her secrets on her cookies sent from home. 

A Word About Mailing Cookies

from Missionary Mail 

I thought I'd include a few tips about mailing cookies to your missionary.  Lucky for me, Mason is serving in the United States and he receives his mail in just two days usually IF I play my cards right.  I've done a bit of research on the post office and how things 'move' around there.  I've also experimented with different kinds of packaging.  Here are my results:United States Post Office: Don't you just love those men and women who rain or shine, sleet, snow or hail do their darndest to deliver our mail?  What an amazing group of dedicated workers!  We tend to take things for granted here in the good old U. S. of A. and trust me, other countries do not have it as good as we do.  Our mail system is OUTSTANDING and I for one am totally fine with postage rates increasing by a few cents every year.      Did you know that the mail never stops once it's in the system?  Your local post office might be closed on the weekend and your mail carrier may have Sunday off, but once your package is in the system I have been assured that it is moving.  Always moving until it reaches it's final post office to await delivery.      Depending on how you mail your package (Overnight, Flat Rate, Air or Parcel Post or slow boat to China) your package can arrive very quickly or be delayed by sitting in the local post office waiting for the next day that the office is open.  For example:  If I get my cookies to the post office just prior to the post office closing, my package is going to sit in the office overnight until pickup the next morning.  If I get my cookies there just prior to closing AND towards the end of the week, my package is going to sit in a post office on Mason's end until they can deliver it on Monday.  Be very careful when you mail too close to Federal holidays.  Your package may sit at the other end of it's destination for as many as two to three days if the holiday is on a Monday.  So...play your cards right and your cookies will arrive ever so fresh and tasty.Packaging:  I've tried it all.  Seriously.  I bake, package, mail and then sit patiently (ok, I'm never really very patient but I'm known to occasionally give it a valiant effort) awaiting Mason's email on Monday to see how his package arrived and how they tasted.  I've tried Ziploc bags packed carefully in 'ghost poop' (styrofoam packing peanuts) or popcorn = crumbs and "not too fresh tasting either" (he cautiously mentions while trying not to hurt my feelings); plastic toss-away containers (Gladware, etc) = fresh but broken.; and wrapping each cookie separately in Saran wrap and placing them in a smaller box then inside a larger box for mailing = broken and again, not so fresh.      The best way to mail them that I have found thus far:  Pringle's potato chip containers.  Seriously.   Use the regular size cans not the jumbo "see how much I can eat and not get sick" size.     Just rinse them and dry them well.  If the chips were a rather pungent variety, say maybe Mesquite Barbecue or Sour Cream & Onion, you might want to leave the lid off for a day or so to let it air out.  Nothing worse than one of Mom's famous chocolate chip cookies with an onion aftertaste.     I use a small scoop to scoop out the dough onto the cookie sheets for baking which makes the cookies just the right size for the can.  Bake the cookies and let them cool completely (so they don't sweat inside the can) then stack inside and seal with the lid.  Viola!  You can tie a ribbon around the can so that the lid won't pop off in transit but I usually just mail it in a medium sized flat rate box.  The width of the box is the exact length of the Pringle's can.  No way that puppy is coming off.  Another perk about using the Pringle cans?  I can decorate and label them!  Cute!!    A final word about freshness.  It is absolutely essential that your cookies are the freshest they can possibly be.  Don't make them the day before and then run to the post office just before closing on the next day.  Try very, very hard to bake and send on the same day and as early as you can in the morning.  Some larger post offices have more than one pickup during the day.  A friend in Utah mailed gloves to her son in New Jersey on her way to work in the morning and he had them the next day.  Now that's incredible!


Decorating Your Cookie CanisterITEMS NEEDED:

decorative paperspray adhesive or gluepaper cutter or scissorsembellishments, if desired

     Decorating your cookie cans is a very simple project.  Cut your paper to size and then removing the lid, adhere the paper to the can using spray adhesive or glue.  Follow directions on the can of spray adhesive.  Follow the temperature guidelines completely.  If you spray your paper outside and the temperature is not warm enough, it doesn't matter what you do, it's not going to stick.  Allow to dry completely then label or embellish as desired.  Fill can with cookies and replace lid tightly.

Bike Survival Kit

I came across a fun BIKE SURVIVAL KIT package idea via pinterest. Which I am totally excited to make for my brother!

I especially loved this poem that went with it:

We know you're on a bike now

 And it’s hilly and it’s hot.

 You think you would be used to it

 But your body say’s you're not! 

Sometimes there is some puking

And sometimes there are some tears

Sometimes that single, mammoth hill

 Seems like it takes you years!

 So here’s a September Survival Kit

 We hope it gets you by

 And helps to survive those ruthless miles

 And makes you smile not cry!

 Dear  Elders:  Use these items to store 

in your backpacks for when you have miles to go!  

The package includes items for your missionary to store in their backpack for long bike rides. 
Including fruit snacks, granola bars, beef jerky, lip balm, bandaids, ibuprofen, vitamin c drops, gatorade drink mix, candy bars, antacids, and mints. 

Here is a link to the blog where I get this fun idea, she named it September Survival Kit :
http://eldercodyholmes.weebly.com/packagesideas.html

Prepping for Sisters

Article found at Tips for Sister Missionaries:

Especially for sisters-- prepping

Some of the best suggestions given while preparing to serve include: 

1)   Wear your mission clothes for at least 1 month to check out the fit, especially shoes. Some missionaries get into the field and then find out how uncomfortable they are walking in cute shoes all day. Be more practical and be comfortable. Tired, achy feet slow down the work.

2)   Start taking vitamins and probiotics a month or two prior to leaving home. There is a lot of strange and wonderful food in this world and just because it is edible does not mean you will feel great afterwards.

3)   Sisters have personal hygiene needs monthly. Try to determine what kinds of supplies you will need during your mission and the availability in the area you will serve. Stateside, you will have a Walmart around every corner. Foreign areas may have low quality, if any supplies. Be prepared to take 18 months worth of supplies like my friend did for Japan. 

4)   First aid kit and medications. Get some instruction if you have never dealt with allergies, a cold, flu or stomach upset by yourself. Buy a thermometer at the dollar store and put it in. A few bandaids and ointments go a long way towards comforting blisters, foot fungus, bug bites and heat rash. Familiarize yourself with these and test them to make sure you don’t have allergy to any.

http://missionarymedicine.com/shop/

This website will help you be familiar with the kinds of region- and illness-specific medical information so that missionaries and their families can find all the health information necessary at the click of a button.