Care Package Instructions

Many of you have asked us how we can best receive care packages and what are the items we need/want the most.  We are SO blessed to have friends that even consider this possibility of a gift!  We can't tell you how much it means to us to receive an item that has just been in your hands there in the states.  We are so appreciative of the time, effort and resources that go into making something like this happen!

In order to make this process easier on you, we've decided to go ahead and post detailed instructions for how to send a package or letter.  For starters, you will need our address.  We would prefer to give this out individually as opposed to on a general blog, so please contact us at christy@mailzone.com for that info.

We have found that using the United States Post Office is the BEST and most CONVENIENT way for you to send and us to receive items.  They offer a range of pre-paid boxes that only have a weight limit.  You pay the set price, pack it full and send it on - no customs fees required!!  It takes about 2 weeks for us to receive packages from the USPS and many times they will deliver it right to our door if it's not too big.  Check them out at www.usps.com/international/sendpackages.htm Most boxes would use "priority mail international" service.

You CAN use Fed-Ex or UPS, but these services require much more detail for customs.  Almost every package we have had delivered via Fed-Ex has been stopped in customs for at least 2 weeks and required us to pay anywhere from $21-$167 in customs fees JUST to receive the package, only after filling out detailed forms in the local language describing the contents, the material they are made of, quantities and country of origin.  This is a little bit of trouble, to say the least.  We even had one package that had to be sent BACK to the US and repackaged just so we could receive it!  SO, if you choose to use Fed-Ex please be as detailed as possible on the contents list, keep the value under $149 US dollars, and be sure to check the box that says you (the sender) will be responsible for all customs fees.

Okay, now for the fun part!  Here is a list of items we cannot get or would LOVE to have:
- poppy seeds
- Lysol or Clorox disinfecting wipes!
- Nestle Tollhouse semi-sweet chocolate chips
- Hidden Valley Ranch dressing packets (make your own)
- Olay Mascara and Make-up Remover (purple bottle - maybe only online)
- Bare Minerals make-up
- Velveeta cheese blocks
- Kool Aid packs (Grape, Strawberry, Lemonade and Cherry are our favorites!)
- Foil baking cups (for cupcakes and muffins)
- Quaker oatmeal packets (esp Maple and Brown Sugar, and Dates and Raisins, and Cinnamon and Spice)
- Lucky Charms, Golden Grahams, Quaker Granola (no raisins), Cocoa Pebbles
- Nature Valley Bars: Sweet and Salty (almond, peanut) and Trail Mix (fruit and nut)
- Fiber One bars: chocolate oats (CHRISTY esp needs these for mid night feedings!!!)
- Lipton Pasta Packs: butter, chicken
- vanilla extract
- Andes mints (in the green pack)
- deodorant: Secret solid (no scent) for Christy
- probably some baby items...just not sure what yet
- size 9 or 9.5 shoes for Christy: CANNOT get these here
- legos
- Crayola crayons and markers