Some of you probably get our monthly Cru prayer letter. We get prayer letters from a great many missionaries. It is much different to read them than to write them. Since July of 2017 we have been doing these letters. From reading these every month, my first goal was to keep them to about 1 page or less. Frankly, most of us missionaries are not exactly Faulkners, or O'Connors, or Greshams. I know that you probably get several, and that you may not have huge enthusiasm for reading something I have written. Plus, I am a fast writer, so knocking out one page doesn't take much time or energy.
It has been interesting what has appealed to people. Probably the most popular thing we have published in these letters has been pictures of our garden plants, blossoms, pruning, etc. We usually include at least one photo, but my most recent one has not as of this time.
It is amazing how people ignore these too. three and a half years after starting, there are plenty of recipients who have never responded in any way. I don't mean donations, I mean just responding with a comment. the most folks who have even bothered to open the letter is 67%, with most letters only getting about 50% opens, with many months under that.
Fortunately, especially during COVID, our expenses have been very low. We conserve our donors funds very carefully. Consequently our funds situation is quite good, so we don't have much pressure. For those missionaries who must raise their monthly living expenses, this has got to be tough. Though, perhaps, others have a better opening rate than we do.
Because of these things, I try to read EVERY letter and send a few lines of encouragement to every missionary who sends us a letter. If you have the time and energy, perhaps you could do this on occasion also.
But of course, I am a bit biased in all this.
Blessings, friends.
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