Welcome to the club. Grandmothers don't know if grandsons get packages that are sent either. Grandma Pat

I forwarded your column to my son serving in British Columbia. He writes letters that are Wonderful, Intersting, Enthusiastic and Regular! But he doesn't answer my questions! I'm still waiting to hear if he got his Christmas package, let alone Valentine's Day or Easter! My only hope is that he is so wrapped up in the work, it's all he can think about. HA!

My son is serving in the Dominican Republic Santo Domingo West mission. I sent is last package in early February- with plenty of times to arrive for his "Hump Day" celebration. Every week I have asked him that question "did you receive your package yet?" He finally responded last week and said "No, not yet. It was on the customs list with all the other packages, but mine wasn't there when the AP's picked them up." - So, if you see a short Dominican wearing size 13 Nike's...Mike wants his shoes back. haha.

And I thought mine was the only one.

I sent my last package to Belgium 1st class. I write every week and ask if he received it. I am very happy that he is having so much success, but I would love to know if my expensive postage was worth it.

OMgosh! Your article got posted on our Canada Winnipeg Missionary Mom email group! It is so very true for all of us!!!
Thank you for helping us know we are not alone!

Great description. I sent my package 4wks ago & I believe he was just recently able to pick it up from the mission home. He is in Koushing, Taiwan. The thing that gets me is that he answers his Dad's email and not mine?*?!!

can i just tell you how many times i have had that SAME conversation with my missionary in brazil??????

along with packages i always sent my missionaries questionnaires and addressed envelopes. not stamped because they were mostly in foriegn countries. all they had to do was fill in the blank with one or two words, (did you get my package?...yes)something they were obviously capable of doing as i did get 90% of the questionnaries returned! an astounding victory! Try it! don't make them too long or they no longer are fun. if that doesn't work try ones that ask - did you get my package? Yes/No (circle one!) missionary mom to 4 RM's (3 to go!)

I also would have them cut and paste my questions into their email and respond... lol, it helped but I did get a yes/no answer and nothing more (on that topic)!!!

You can write your missionaries via email? Hmmm that would've been nice.

I laughed so hard at this. What a great article! Of course, like all missionary moms, I have that same problem. We get so excited about what we send that we are amazed that they aren't drooling over the package. ;-) Grant has been pretty good about saying Thank You Mom, but I do have to prompt him. And sending stuff to Japan costs a fortune. Don't you just love missionaries?

This is my fourth missionary, Paris, Taiwan, Fr. Lauderdale and now B.C.Canada. The first two missionaries did not have access to email and the last two did and do. It makes no difference at all. But I have resolved the problem; I just don't care anymore!

We all laughed so hard we cried ! It's nice to know
we are not alone. I am now convinced this must be
part of the training in the MTC's. (jk) With my son
serving in the jungles of Peru right now FedEx is now my new best friend. I know my packages make it to the mission home at least, but up to the Andes ? we'll see ! Since he has added a few pounds with all the good food he is feasting on, I am now sending only reduced fat peanut butter ! I have now
mastered the question dilema this week - I call it
Mom's Questions for the Week. I leave a few lines
in between each question and he has responded with
answers - wahoo ! With having the typical Book of Mormon family, Laman, Lemuel & Nephi - what a blessing our Nephi's our to our families! Love to all missionary Mom's and prayers to their missionaries !

Ann, Thanks so much for making me laugh again. I will soon be sending out my first missionary son, and I now feel forewarned. At least now I will be able to laugh knowing this is usual behavior when my son doesn't answer the, "Did you get the....?" question.

What a delight to know I too am not alone. I have sent out 2 missionaries, and now my 3rd is out in the mission field. (It doesn't matter whether it's a son or a daughter that is serving!) I even highlight the question(s) I want answered, and still don't get the answer I'm looking for! I do have to say I am grateful for email - there are things I can find out much faster than if I had to wait for an answer through the mail. I'm going to try the Mom's Questions for the Week, and also include the fill-in-the-blank or circle the answer in the weekly letter I send. Thanks for this article!!

Been there, done that,
BUT DID HE GET THE T-SHIRT??

I think this column should be posted in all mission homes and referred to often by the authorities. What a lot a stress such a practice might avoid! (Who am I kidding.) They live in their world; we live in ours.

That is so funny and so true.. They never respond! I thought this was funny we got it yesterday "hello cannon family. This is elder mickle and your son wanted me to email you because he couldnt. we had special changes but its nothing to be alarmed about because we just changed places. I came to cuernavaca, and he went to Chilpancingo. He wanted me to email you and tell you and wish sally a happy Birthday. Happy birthday! haha. love you guys
eldermickle"

Sheesh, what kind of kids are y'all raising that won't answer questions?