Care Packages

For those wondering about sending us care packages, we finally have some suggestions for you!

Thus far, we have received a card in the mail and 2 packages in large padded envelopes and all of these have taken just 3 weeks to get here.  So, although we hear that a package (box) can take several months to get here, you just can't predict.

Here is where we check our mail once a week:

All those red and white boxes are post office boxes.  We visit "downtown" Blantyre once a week for a shopping trip and make this our last stop before heading home.

As far as suggestions of what to send us in care packages, here are a few:

Tips:

1. If you're sending a book, video or magazine, please preview it to make sure it is age appropriate, etc. for our kids.  Feel free to email us about anything to make sure we don't already have it, etc.
2. Always consider packing things in zip lock freezer bags -- we use and reuse them and they are very expensive here.
3. Notes and padded envelopes tend to move a lot faster than boxes, but both are welcome.

For Micah

• Copies of kid magazines (he's 3.5 years old) your family doesn't want anymore (National Geographic Little Kids, LadyBug, Thomas & Friends, Clubhouse Jr., etc.)
• Children's bulletins/activity pages
• He loves tractors, trains and airplanes, so pictures, books, videos with these themes are a hit! John Deere and Thomas the Tank Engine are favorites.
• Preschool activity books (matching, games, shapes, colors, letter tracing, dot to dot, stickers)
• Paint, washable markers and other craft supplies
• Books (please read them for content before sending them across the ocean!)
• Pretzels, goldfish (whole wheat), animal crackers
• His favorite color is orange! 
• Bob the Builder, Super Why (from PBS), Thomas the tank engine DVDs (check to make sure we don't already have it if it's Thomas)
• Things for playing dress up

For Rachel

• Finger puppets
• Cheerios 
• Board books
• Balls or things that roll
• Little People or animals (Fisher Price) 
• Dolls and 12 inch doll clothes
• Things for playing dress up

For Jonathan & Becky 

• Fruit/nut/M&M trail mix 
• M&Ms (dark, peanut butter, peanut, mini...)
• Chocolate chips (semi-sweet or dark)
• Ovaltine
• Apple cider packets 
• Hot chocolate packets
• Bigelow I Love Lemon or Sweet Dreams tea
• Cranberry Craisins or dried blueberries
• Hand cream (cucumber melon is a favorite scent, or generally mild scents)
• Silicone muffin cups (can you tell Becky is writing this post?)
• A CD or DVD of Ubuntu 12.04 desktop - 2 copies (that's for Jonathan) 
• CDs of music (a capella, instrumental, worship)
  

 That's a start, anyway.  We'll try to update this post or re-post it from time to time.  Feel free to email anytime for other suggestions.  We're still new here and exploring what's here and what's not.  But it sure is a highlight of the week when there's mail in our box! :)

Here's our address:
P.O. Box 592
Blantyre, MALAWI