Communication & Shipping Information
Elder Robinson's Email Address - hunter.robinson@myldsmail.net
Email
Email is the least expensive and the quickest means of communicating. Facebook, blogs, and other similar sites are not permitted. Missionaries are allowed one hour each week to access their missionary email account at internet centers. Physical mail is collected from the various mail centers and mission areas and forwarded to the intended recipient once each week.
There are various options for sending letters and packages. You may send them directly to the mission office using the US postal systems or a private carrier such as Federal Express or DHL, all three of which deliver correspondence in the D.R. Alternatively, the Santiago Mission has contracted with a private company, Mail Boxes Etc, to receive letters and packages in Florida and then deliver them directly to the mission office.
Letters
Our recommendation for letters is to use dearelder.com or mail letters to the Florida address. For both options, you pay regular U.S. postage, but there is no additional charge for the international forwarding of the letter to the D.R. Consequently there is no additional charge for your missionary to receive the letter. This is the most reliable and cheapest means of delivery for a letter.
Packages
Missionaries are very grateful for letters and packages they receive from family and friends during their mission. However, you should be mindful that in most cases there are additional charges (international shipping, customs, or taxes) to receive packages and if your missionary does not have sufficient personal money to cover the cost, this creates problems. The following information is therefore provided for your guidance.
Keep in mind that all packages may be opened for inspection (most generally are) and some are roughed up by the time they arrive. Pack well and accurately declare the contents and value. There is a customs tax on packages with a value greater than $200 US, so if you are shipping new items in this price range, it is better to leave the price tag on the items or include a copy of the receipt so customs does not evaluate it to be greater than you paid.
It is less expensive for your missionary if you send packages directly to the mission office in the Dominican Republic. Packages sent to the mission office using DHL or Federal Express (4 to 8 days) are delivered by courier to the office. These services are more reliable and faster than the postal system (12 to 18 days). Be sure to ask for a tracking number in case a package is misplaced. Missionary may still have to pay a customs fee.
Packages - To Florida via Mail Box Etc.
We have found that the total overall shipping cost (US postage plus International postage plus taxes) is usually less if you send packages to the mission’s Florida address for delivery to the D.R. by Mail Boxes Etc. (However you should do your own price comparison.) This is a reliable service which takes about 12 to 15 days from your house to the mission office. Your missionary will be responsible for the international shipping costs plus any customs fees so add money to their personal account. They are not supposed to use the money allotted to them for their missionary work for personal expenses.
For any of these methods, the delivery time will be increased if the package is delayed for payment of a customs tax (any package with a value greater than $200 US). It may take up to one additional week after arrival in the mission office to deliver the mail the rest of the distance to your missionary since we only distribute mail once each week.
Delivery Charges, Taxes, and Fees for mail received in the D.R. have to be paid by the missionary receiving the package.
Packages sent through the US and Dominican Postal Services will be taxed (D.R. transaction tax) upon arrival as follows: US $2.85 for up to 5kg or 11 lbs, US $7.14 for up to 10kg or 22 lbs, and US $14.25 for anything above 10kg or 22 lbs in gross weight. There is no additional shipping tax for FedEx or DHL deliveries.
Packages sent through the Miami address will incur an additional charge for the international delivery from Florida to Santiago as follows: US $3.30/pound (US $7.30/Kg) plus customs fees of US $1.40 for packages under 4 Kg or US $2.80 for packages over 4 Kg.
For all packages, if the declared or assessed value exceeds US $200, there will be additional custom taxes and fees dependent upon the type of item being shipped (generally 16 to 25% of the value of the goods shipped.)
All letters and packages should be addressed with the proper title (Elder or Sister) to help ensure delivery to the mission office. For items sent directly to the mission office, use the following address: Be sure to include the phone number since the Dominican postal service does not deliver to offices and homes. They call us and we pick it up.
To the Mission Office
Elder Hunter Allen Robinson
Plaza Alejo 2-B
Avenida Estrella Sadhalá
Santiago, Dominican Republic
(809) 241-1145
For Letters Via Mail Boxes Etc. in Florida
Elder Hunter Allen Robinson
SDQ 8013
PO Box 025725
Miami FL 33102-5725
For Packages via Mail Box Etc. in Florida
Elder Hunter Allen Robinson
SDQ 8013
2250 NW 114th Ave., Unit 1A
Miami, FL 33172-3652
(Information Source: Dominican Republic Santiago Mission)
