Hey all of you mission moms! We've learned some very interesting things about mail service over the almost three years we have been here. One important lesson that has been reinforced recently is that DHL is NOT a great way to send things to your missionary. We've had a couple of families send things through their local, friendly DHL people in the US and when they arrive at the office in Torreon, there is an added expense to receive it because of taxes and customs fees. I'm talking like $150.00 worth of taxes and customs fees. Nothing you would normally send would be worth that amount. Several packages sent through DHL have been inspected and delayed because of their contents--any quantity of the same item looks like you are trying to sell them here and they are confiscated. At times food items are regulated by a government agency and not allowed in DHL packages. Any drugs sent must have a prescription accompanying them...etc. Below is a photo of a box sent through DHL that was held up at customs, sent to several addresses and finally delivered to our office for a huge charge.
We suggest that you use the US Postal Service for your packages. They sell those boxes that you can fill with whatever weight. Those work great. They are durable and usually are not delayed at customs. (don't ask me why) We have had a few things stolen from packages by postal workers but for the most part, they come through great. I have personally received packages in 13 days. Usually it takes a little longer and plan way ahead to send things for Christmas. We got a box that was mailed from the US on Dec. 13th on Valentine's Day. Nice gift, just two months late. Remember that once the package arrives in the office, we have to take the packages to the areas of the missionaries during our zone conferences or interviews, or, the zone leaders take them out when they return to their areas after zone leader council which is once a month.
You will notice the religious stickers on these boxes. Sometimes this helps the postal workers be honest and not want to defile something of a religious nature. We do whatever we can to get those packages to our missionaries.
Address to use: Missionary name (you would be surprised to know how many letters and boxes we receive with no name on them.Apartado Postal 792 (this goes to a post office box and our office elders pick mail up three times a week)
Torreon, Coahuila
Mexico 27000
Missionaries love mail so keep those cards and letters coming. We will do all that we can to get them to your missionaries in a timely fashion.
If you have questions, send me (Sr. Clark) an email at bclark6053@hotmail.com
Thank you so much for posting this. We were in the process of researching the best way to send packages. We have another son serving stateside and the flat-rate boxes are so nice to be able to ship things in. Thanks for the detailed pictures, too.
ReplyDelete