Frequently Asked Questions

Dear family and friends of Spain Malaga missionaries:

I know you have questions, I just don't know what they are.  So feel free to ask by commenting on this entry, and I will answer them as quickly as I can. 


Should my missionary bring sheets to the mission?  I've seen conflicting information and am not sure whether to send them or not.  Twin size?

Update April 2015:  Your missionary should either bring a sheet set (1 fitted, 1 flat and 1 pillowcase) or be prepared to purchase sheets after arriving to the mission.  Many missionaries leave behind their sheets when they go home.  Some apartments have many sheets and some apartments may have no sheets.  Mission call packets are being updated now to clarify that sheets are the responsibility of the missionary to either buy them or bring them.  If you do choose to buy them at home and bring them, buy twin size. 

Should I bring my hair dryer and straightener from the US and use a converter, or would I be better off waiting and buying them in Spain?

We have found that electronic devices like camera chargers, ipod chargers, electric razors etc. will be fine as long as they are dual voltage.  With heat appliances (hair dryers, straighteners, curling irons) it is safer for your appliance and your hair to buy one here.  Recently a sister using a dual voltage curling iron from the states lost a chunk of hair when her device overheated!

If your appliance says INPUT AC 110-240V, it is a dual voltage device and will work with a small adaptor (an adaptor is small, inexpensive, easy to find and doesn't change voltage, just changes shape of plug).  If it says AC 110 or AC 120, it is a single voltage device and you would need to use a converter to change the voltage (heavy, hard to find, more expensive, cumbersome to use). Our electronic devices with dual voltage work very well and we haven't had any problems using a small adapter.  

 

What is the best way for missionaries to bring music to the mission?

We recommend bringing music on an ipod or MP3 player that does not have wifi capability or internet access, and small portable speakers.  If the device has video capability, do not bring any videos.  Follow this guideline from the Missionary Handbook: "Listen only to music that in consistent with the sacred spirit of your calling. Music should invite the Spirit, help you focus on the work, and direct your thoughts and feelings to the Savior. Do not listen to music that pulls your thoughts away from your work, merely entertains, has romantic lyrics or overtones, or dulls your spiritual sensitivity by its tempo, beat, loudness, lyrics, or intensity."

What is the best way to send a package to my missionary?

Receiving packages for our missionaries remains a very frustrating task.  Please be aware that we can't predict when your package will arrive without any problems, or when it will be stopped and returned by customs, or even disappear.  Sometimes boxes are delivered but assessed fines.  We've had huge, heavy boxes arrive without customs fines, and we've had small, light boxes arrive with fines.  There is no pattern to what is held and what comes through without a problem. 

Possibly the most frustrating situation is when a missionary's package is stopped by customs.  We receive the notices, and we used to spend many hours both for our own personal packages and for boxes sent to missionaries, only to be told after the paperwork is all done that the package can't be released and must be returned to sender.  Of the hundreds of packages held in customs, only ONE TIME did we get the package released from customs and delivered to the missionary.  That was a new custom-fitted prosthetic leg for one of our elders.  

You can try  My Missionary Shipping  which has the advantages of  1) the sender can track the box all the way to it's destination, and 2) faster delivery at a lower cost.  We have problems with these packages getting stopped in customs too. 

This doesn't mean you can never send anything to your missionary!  Here are a few tips that may help it reach us without trouble:

• Small boxes or envelopes are better than big boxes.  Consider sending several small packages rather than one large one.
• You can mail packages to your missionary's apartment address, but ONLY AT THE BEGINNING OF A TRANSFER.  Ask your missionary for the address and timing. 
• Complete the customs form required by the sender, and underestimate the value of the contents.
• Don't use the title "Elder" when you ship--just address it to your missionary's name. Please include first names as we have several duplicate last names. 
• Never label your shipment as "medical supplies" or "medication".   Spanish law prohibits individuals from receiving medication by mail. If you must send some type of meds, label it as  "missionary supplies".  Again, this is unpredictable.  One elder received a 3-month supply of medication with no problem, and another mother sent a box labeled "medical supplies", which had simple first-aid supplies like bandaids and ointment, and it was returned to the sender.
• Avoid identifying contents as food.  We had about 20 calls last Christmas from customs saying "tiene comida", meaning "it has food", and they refused to deliver it.  (At the same time, many packages were delivered saying "candy" or "treats", again showing there's no predicting what comes through and what doesn't.)
• If you are sending a pair of something, like shoes, consider sending them one at a time.  Then you can honestly state a very low value.
• Please send letters to the mission office address below.  You can mail a package to the mission office also.  Usually packages and mail are delivered to individual areas within two weeks of the time they arrive in the office. When mailing packages to the mission office, always include the name of the mission, so that if it does get delivered with a fine, someone from the mission can retrieve it without having to get written permission from the missionary.   This is not so important for letters, as they never are assessed fines.  The mission office address:

Spain Malaga Mission

(missionary's name)

Edificio Ofisol

Avda Jesus Santos Rein, 2, 3 D-E

29640 Fuengirola

(Malaga) Spain
 

(I have changed the numbers after Santos Rein a few times, but this one is the real one.  Our letterhead is printed incorrectly.) Updated April 2015

How do missionaries get their living money each month? If we wanted to put money into their account for Christmas instead of sending a package, how is the best way to do that?

The missionaries have a debit card issued to them by the mission, and they receive 140 Euros on that card each month.  That pays for food, haircuts, personal toiletries, etc.  They also use that money for bus and train tickets, but they are reimbursed for travel expenses.

Most missionaries come with a personal card from home, and that would certainly be the best way to give them money for Christmas.  You can deposit money in their personal account, or if they don't have a card at all, work with your bank to get one and send it to your missionary in the mail.  Be sure the bank knows that that card will be used in Spain. 

What do U.S. missionaries wish they had brought with them once they get to Spain?

I will keep asking this question and update the blog with more answers, but here's what I heard from Elders Schoell, Bleazard and Wilson recently:

Deodorant.  Most missionaries (both Elders and Sisters) from the States don't like the deodorant here.  It's expensive, and it doesn't include an antiperspirant--it's only deodorant.  So bring a little extra, and put one in your next package to your missionary. We will all thank you!  ;)

Maple syrup extract.  We can buy maple syrup here, but it is hard to find and too expensive for a missionary's budget ($6-$8 for about 2 cups).  With one little bottle of this extract (costs about $2 in the States) they can make 48 cups of syrup.

Only bring one suit.  Nearly every Elder buys at least one Spanish suit.  The stores have big sales every July and January, and they can buy a good suit here (European cut) for less money.  If your missionary is 6"5' or taller, it can be difficult to find one here.  Smaller Elders or those who are heavy won't have any problem finding a suit.  Be sure to bring the pants, white shirts, etc. that the packet recommends.  Elders I've talked to say they wish they would have brought 2-3 long-sleeved shirts at most, and the rest short-sleeved.

Pictures of family.  I think this is mentioned in the call packet, but a few of our newer missionaries said they didn't bring any, and they really wished they had a few family photos.  Many missionaries tape one inside their scriptures.  Members, investigators, and the mission president's wife always like to see pictures of a missionary's family!

How has the mission changed since President Monson announced the age change in October 2012?

We were sitting around the computer in October 2012 when President Monson made the historic announcement lowering the age requirement for missionaries.  Our jaws dropped and we reacted exactly the same as the young man in the Conference Center shown in the clip on lds.org.  At the time we had about 100 missionaries.  In December we went down to 83.  Today (29 September 2013) we have 203.   So to show you what that means for a city, Seville, which is the largest city in our mission (1.2 million) had 8 missionaries last year.   Now there are 24 missionaries working there.    In Málaga last year there were 6 missionaries in the whole city, covering three wards.  Now there are 4 wards and 22 missionaries. 

We are an extremely young mission, like every other mission in the world right now.  One half of our missionaries have been serving 4 transfers or less. 

Our financial secretary, Elder Norton, has rented around 60 apartments since he came into the office in April.  Around 50 of those were for new areas that were opening. 

Do I really need a winter coat?

Yes, you do.  Here in the Malaga area it rarely gets below 10 Celsius (50F), but it is humid, and so it feels much colder than it would in a less humid area.  Also, the missionaries spend a lot of time outside, which makes it a little harder to tolerate cooler temperatures.  Malaga is probably the warmest area of the mission.  Some areas, like Ciudad Real and Granada, receive snow and temperatures below freezing. 

If you don't want to take the space in your suitcase for a winter coat, you can certainly purchase one here.  Same goes with a hat, gloves, etc. 

Please advise on what is the best thing for parents to do if they know their missionary is having a health problem that is not just the routine cold, flu etc.? Are the missionaries given guidance on when to contact the mission president about it? Does someone follow-up to be sure they are getting appropriate care? What happens with regard to medical bills? Should parents just assume they will be contacted if the situation requires or should they contact the mission first? Thanks in advance for the information.

I'm glad you asked.  Hermana Castillo is our mission nurse, and the missionaries all have her number and can (and do) call her anytime.  They can also call me.  If it's something beyond "Mom knowledge", I refer them back to Hermana Castillo.  Not all the missionaries call one of us when they are sick, but they are encouraged to call, particularly if it's something they haven't had before, if they have any questions, or they aren't getting better.  Sister Castillo does a great job of following up to ensure they get appropriate care, and when it is beyond her area of expertise, we have our Area Medical Advisor (AMA), who is a U.S.-trained physician who helps us manage care. When surgery is necessary, we always are in contact with our AMA, and often other specialists in England and the U.S.

Every full-time missionary who is a non-Spanish resident (meaning missionaries who do not have permanent residency in Spain) receives health insurance coverage through the church.  We have a network of doctors and facilities here in our mission where we typically refer missionaries.  All doctor and hospital expenses are covered by the insurance.  Dental care is not covered.  As is clearly outlined in the missionary application process, we strongly recommend that missionaries have their wisdom teeth removed and any other recommended work done before coming to the mission field. 

If you are concerned about an issue with your son or daughter, encourage them to call Hermana Castillo or me, Hermana Deere.  If that doesn't happen, please email me at Sister Deere .  With over 200 missionaries in our care, we can certainly miss something that needs to be attended to.   If there is a serious injury, a recommended surgery, hospitalization or anything like that, we will contact you. 

International Driving Permit

We encourage American elders to get one before they come, even though the chances of them using it are small (only 5 of 102 proselyting areas in the mission have cars).  If you are from an area where these are costly and difficult to get, you do not need to do this.   To learn more about how to get an international license, visit here.  Sisters, we have not had a car in a sister area at least since June 2012, so you will not likely need one.

If your missionary is already in Spain and needs an international license, he will need your help to acquire one in the U.S. for him.  Visit AAA and follow instructions explained there.  These only last for one year.  Note that there are many private businesses that offer to help you get a legitimate IDP at a higher price.  If you use the AAA link above you'll be fine.  It should cost around $20.

Mailing address to the MTC in Spain

(Missionary's name)
Spain MTC

4a. Planta

Calle del Templo Nº 2

Madrid 28030

 Spain