Mailing

From a current volunteer:

Some tips if you do choose to use the mail:

Never list the value as more than a few dollars. If it higher than that, the workers’ imaginations start to invent wonderful possibilities of what could be inside that box with your name on it. You might get the box eventually, but sans that new iPod or nice pair of jeans.

It sounds crazy, but a few religious stickers seem to work wonders. Paraguay is very Catholic, and putting some tape on the package with Jesus or a Christian cross might make the package handler feel bad about opening it if they think you are a missionary. An ethically-questionable tactic, so it’s up to you. The one time someone back home tried this, I got my package without it being opened.