I love writing my newsletters every month. It is a time to praise the Lord for what he is doing in my life and the lives I get to be a part of through my ministry partners generosity and prayers. The following is a list I gathered from others who have received my newsletter and told me what they do with it.
1. Toss it in the trash/Never open the email: Not everyone likes to read, or needs to know what is going on in my ministry to pray or give. I usually jut feel a little disconnected from them.
2. Only look at the pictures: More often than not, this is the usual. I put pictures in all my newsletter just so people can get a visual of what it is I am doing just in case they do not want to read it. I am working on incorporating more videos in my updates.
3. Read the whole newsletter, then throw it in the trash: This is also a usual go to for most people. I mean, at least it gets read and has served it's purpose.
4. Read the letter, pray, set it on the counter where all the other mail is: The women I talked to about this called it the "life is busy, pray now, deal with it later" model.
5. Homeschooling English reading: I have someone who had taught her child reading comprehension and other skills with all the missionaries letters her and her husband received. I thought it was a cool way not just to teach children to read, but to introduce them to ministry and teach them to pray.
6. Dinner Updates: There is a family that is always crazy busy but they like to read my newsletters and other missionary letters during dinner as a family. I thought it was a neat idea to be intentional and engaged with one another. It also makes me feel like I am a part of the family too!
7. Take it to the bathroom: OK, this one I got from a different missionary friend. Apparently, there was a single man who was always too busy or tired to read anything outside of work. So he would have his quiet time in the morning in the bathroom during his "toilet time" and when he got missionary letters he would take them in the bathroom for the next morning to read. Hey, whatever works!
8. Post them on your refrigerator/ hang them on a string: I always feel special when I am a part of someones kitchen or bedroom. It is also a good reminder to pray during that month, and a great conversation piece.
9. Read, File, Reflect: One of my partners, keeps all her missionaries letters in a file folder system. I think it is brilliant because if you ever want reflect or introduce someone to that missionary you are praying for or supporting, it is easy to be like, "hey, wanna see what they wrote about what God is doing in there ministry?" and wa-bam!
10. Share it with a friend: A few of my ministry partners will share it with their boss to ask if they would like to be a part of my ministry team, I have had people share it with friends who have children the same age as who I reach out to. Sometimes I will send out a special prayer card and they will make copies and share it with their small group. I always enjoy when others pray for my ministry.
