Sister missionary name tag ornament with red, white, and green beads hanging on a lit Christmas tree

Missionary Christmas Gift Ideas: What to Send an Elder or Sister Serving Away From Home

October 29, 2026

Christmas away from home is a big one for a missionary. A box from family, even a small one, says you're thinking of them. I make missionary gifts here at Gather Sunshine, and these are the ones I'd put in a Christmas package for an elder or sister serving away from home.

The short list

A missionary name tag ornament, engraved with their name and mission
A tie gift box for elders, with 2 or 3 ties, a small nativity, and a keepsake coin
From the Sisters or From the Elders sticky notes for the stocking
Printable Open When cards you can print at home this week
Letters and printed photos from home

Before you mail a missionary Christmas package

Check the address. Many missions ask families to send packages to the mission office instead of the apartment. Your missionary or the mission office can tell you where it should go.
Mail early. Packages going overseas can take several weeks, and customs can add more. December mail is slow everywhere, so check your carrier's holiday deadlines.
Keep it small. Missionaries move at transfers and carry what they own. Flat, light, useful things travel best.
Order personalized gifts first. Most orders ship the same day or the next business day, and everything ships within 1 to 3 business days. That leaves time for it to reach you so you can add a letter and mail the box.

A missionary name tag ornament

Spanish-language Elder missionary name tag ornament with red, white, and blue beads on a lit Christmas tree

Elder missionary name badge ornament engraved in Portuguese with green, yellow, and blue beads for Brazil

The ornament looks like a missionary name badge. It's engraved with your missionary's name, their mission, and the name of the Church in the language they serve in, and it comes in a silver gift box with a ribbon.

Most missionaries don't have a Christmas tree, and that's okay. Tie the ornament onto their package as a gift topper, or they can hang it on whatever makeshift tree the companionship puts together. When the mission ends, it comes home and goes on your tree every year after.

There are two versions:

Personalized Missionary Name Tag Ornament: pick one of the pictured Christmas bead combinations.
Mission Ornament with Flag Color Beads: pick the top, middle, and bottom bead from 28 colors to match where they serve. Green, yellow, and blue for Brazil. Red, white, and blue for Texas.

One more idea: order two. Send one, and hang the other on your tree at home while they serve or order one for their companion.

Shop the name tag ornament Shop the flag color ornament

For elders: a missionary tie gift box

Open black gift box with a silver paisley tie, a navy plaid tie, a tie hanger, From the Elders notepads, a Christus coin, and a small nativity

Elders wear a tie every day, and tie trading is popular on the mission. This box sends 2 or 3 new ties to wear, share, or trade. It also has a lightweight 3.75 inch nativity and a keepsake coin with the Christus on the front and the Salt Lake Temple on the back.

A tie hanger, two From the Elders sticky note pads, and a tie care card are tucked in too. Everything comes packed in a black magnetic gift box, so there's nothing to wrap. There are five styles, and I made a small number of each. When a style sells out, it's gone.

Shop the tie gift box

Stocking stuffers: missionary sticky notes

Two From the Sisters sticky note pads with a pink floral corner on a wood table

Three From the Elders sticky note pads with a temple illustration, each in a clear sleeve

Small, flat, and they actually get used. Missionaries knock on a lot of doors, and plenty of people aren't home. A quick note on the door lets the family know the missionaries stopped by. The pads are handy during personal study too, for marking a scripture or jotting down a thought.

The sisters' pads say From the Sisters with a pink and green floral corner. The elders' pads say From the Elders with a temple along the bottom. Each 4 x 3 inch pad has 25 sheets and comes in its own clear sleeve, in packs of 2, 3, or 5.

Shop From the Sisters Shop From the Elders

Running short on time? Printable Open When cards

Missionary Open When cards for when you miss home and when holidays feel different, with matching envelope labels

If your box needs to go out this week, the Open When cards are a digital download, so nothing has to ship to you. Print the 20 cards at home, write a note on each one, and tuck them into the package. There's a card for when holidays feel different, which fits a first Christmas away. You can also email a single card whenever your missionary is on your mind.

Shop the Open When cards

Easy additions from home

Printed family photos. Include the pets.
Short notes from siblings, grandparents, and ward members, gathered in one envelope.
Favorite treats that travel well. Skip anything that melts or crushes, and check customs rules if the box is going overseas.
Warm socks or gloves if they're serving somewhere cold.
A paper garland or a small string of battery lights for the apartment.

Missionary Christmas package questions

Can you send a Christmas package to a missionary?

Yes. Ask your missionary or the mission office where packages should go, since many missions have them sent to the mission office. If the box is going to another country, fill out the customs form carefully or use a package courier service.

When should I mail a missionary Christmas package?

As early as you can. Check your carrier's holiday shipping deadlines, especially for international mail, and allow extra time for customs and for the mission office to pass it along.

What do missionaries want for Christmas?

Things they'll use and things that remind them of home. Ties for elders, practical supplies like sticky notes, a keepsake like a name tag ornament, and letters from family are all good choices.