Last Updated on Thursday, 20 November 2008 17:31

To Stuff or Not To Stuff…      the blessing and bane of our lives     

As missionaries, our lives are terribly      transient. We move and      move-- and move again. How      can we simplify our lives in order to make our moves easier?      How can we prepare for our furloughs early, in order to be good      stewards of our stuff and make the last weeks less stressful and more      bearable? What are some creative ways to deal with the stuff that God      has blessed us with; how might we bless others with it? We hope you find these ideas ( generated at our Learning that      Lasts seminar in Lima) helpful and that they will challenge you to      respond in some way. Blessings!

 

Ideas for what you can do 6 months before a      furlough:     

Start identifying possible storage places for      your belongings while you are away.     

Sort clothing, seasonal clothing you won’t need      prior to furlough, either give away or pack.      

Sort knick-knacks      for sentimentality; if you’re not attached to it, give it      away – you’ll always collect more!     

Books- -sort and gift others with those you don’t want to find storage space for--pack up those you won’t read in the next six months, but want to save.      Identify those you want to read before you leave- read them in those six months, so you won’t have to unnecessarily store them during your furlough.

      Start investigating ticket purchases for overseas      travel.     

      Check your documents to see that all are in order      and ready for travel.     

      Notify landlord of your intentions to travel.     

      Start scheduling speaking engagements for      furlough.     

      Organize your paper load.      You really don’t want to store unnecessary paper; you don’t      want anyone else to sort it…so DO IT!     

      Start planning for pets and other dependents      –people and plants—who will care for them?     

      Make a “For Sale” list if you plan to sell      items.      

      Start using up your goodies.      

Ideas for what you can do 3 months before a      furlough:

Catch up on home maintenance projects—those things you don’t want your house renter or replacement to have to deal with…

      Organize office—leave out the necessary items,      pack away what you won’t need til you leave.     

      Start boxing up your personal items that you      don’t intend to take with you.     

Consider the items you have in your home that might make good hostess gifts on PD –like little clay pots, Shipibo necklaces, etc.

      Sort your tools.      Make a list of what you are leaving behind, that you might be able to recognize what you might like to buy while on furlough.

      Quit bulk buying –continue to eat up your      freezer and canned goods.     

Weed down your clothes and kitchen items, giving away what you never use, and storing what you want to keep but can live without before you travel.      

Look at your clothing with a home country eye – will you really wear it on furlough or will it look faded, worn out or OLD? Pass it on….     

      Make plans for a garage sale or give away      channels.     

      Cancel rent agreement.     

Purchase tickets for travel.

Sort your kids toys and have them decide what is important to keep and who they would like to share their stuff with…

      Make bins for “storing”      “giving away”” packing” “sale” – so that as you see items in your house that you can do without, that you can make the decision then.

      Scan documents/data you want to save (or travel      with) – file on your      computer or CD     

( toss the original?)

What are some creative ideas for getting rid      of my stuff?

Contact (Donate to) charitable organization or church - ask them if they would like items for use or suggest they sell your items for their own fund raiser.

      Determine if maids, gardeners can use.     

Have a give away party – maybe each person gets a number and “play it” like a white elephant gift, only without anything wrapped. Your      trash might be their treasure!     

Have a Christmas party where you wrap all twenty or thirty white elephant gifts – the one condition for the others being that they can’t leave their gifts at your house after the party.

      Have a yard sale or “garage” sale.      

      Give to a trustworthy person to sell for you and      split the proceeds.     

      Have a give-away table for missionaries.     

Place items in a box with the word FREE written on it and leave it by the river, road or tree…then time how many seconds it takes for it to completely disappear.      If you have particularly strange items in box, write that it      can only be taken as a unit –all or nothing J     

      Take things to local jail – or the orphanage.     

Make a “gift” basket for each employee you have – they love the surprises you tuck away for them.

Set aside a basket of items that you continually choose from for the beggars that come to your door.

Keep a box of “surprises” (ie. Stuff you don’t want!) to hand out to whomever comes to your door…they almost always leave with a smile when they get to choose from your “surprise” box!

Set aside all your electronics –even broken items—that you don’t plan to save and give them to a friend who is interested in learning how such things work.

Give your books to other English- speaking friends (or German- speaking, etc.) or to friends who WANT to learn English…Check to see if any local schools would like to have your books.

      Keep bag of give-away items(clothes are always a      hit) in the car to give away as opportunities arise.      How about that guy selling roses on the street???     

      Plant your houseplants in the garden – or give      to friends.     

Have a fun bonfire with private papers – and invite friends over for a hotdog roast while you do it!

Ideas from our SWAP TABLE – for keeping your house free      of clutter…

      If you haven’t used in six months, give it      away!!!     

When your grown kids come home, tell them to take whatever they consider “important” – the keepsakes they want for their (future) homes.

      Keep a scale by the door….Kilo in, kilo out….     

      Give a donation to a church outreach every six      months.     

      Keep a “sediment box”—can’t remember      who’s idea this was or what the details were???     

      Take your extra stuffed animals to a hospital      once a year.     

      Have a “junk present” trade at a party.      (Cover “charge” is a wrapped gift- something each person      wants to get rid of…)     

Cancel some publications of magazines or newsletters that you never get around to reading anyway.

      Whenever you buy something new, make yourself      give away something …i.e. get a new blouse, give away a      blouse…     

      Practice giving away things you are attached      to!!!     

      Do NOT buy more than you can use.     

      Have a continual “SWAP” room at your      centers…     

      Give away all clothes you haven’t worn in a      year.     

      Always throw out ugly pictures – throw away all      ugly or poor quality photos      when you get them back from      the developersJ     

Have a missionary swap night – bring one thing you are tired of, and take something new home…this is especially fun for women using clothing as your swap item.

      If it’s NOT useful, NOT pretty, then it’s NOT      worth it – get rid of it!     

      Have Bingo parties –use unused stuff for your      prizes.     

      Donate nice junk to teachers to use for prizes.     

--submitted by Karen Keagy