Whenever we go to Madang town, we always make it a priority to stop by the post office. The arrival of a package is like the arrival of Christmas—and it is
often a group activity as all of the other staff gathers around,
delighting in the weary, battered box. Why
are packages such a momentous occasion? Inside their cardboard walls
contains a little taste of home, lovingly packed by friends and
family who thought and prayed and acted. We are always deeply blessed by
the kindness of our team back home when we receive a package.
In order to send a package successfully to Papua New Guinea, there are a
few tips that help make the process smoother. we’ve gathered some below,
but please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have other questions or to receive our package wish list.
Our PNG address is (we will be in America from July 26, 2012 through mid June 2013):
Chris & Amy Rice
SIL-POC
Box 872
Madang, Madang 511
Papua New Guinea
Tip: Make sure to spell out “Papua New Guinea” instead of the abbreviation “PNG” to increase the likelihood that it arrives quickly.
Letters
For small items that can just fit inside a letter-sized parcel, it
should be fairly straight forward to just go to the counter and pay the
correct postage to get it here. A letter usually takes 3-4 weeks to
arrive.
Packages
There are several different ways to ship packages to PNG; however the
flat rate boxes (through the USPS) tend to be the easiest (you can pack
up to a certain weight for a set price). You can, of course, send any
kind of box that you would like. FedEx can be significantly more
expensive but also much more reliable. If you are sending something
especially valuable, then please contact us for special instructions.
Packages tend to take 4-6 weeks to arrive, but we’ve had them take even
longer, so don’t get concerned if you haven’t heard about it in a while!
The time lag occurs once the package arrives on PNG shores, not on the
sending end, so don’t spend extra money to “rush” a package.
Customs Form
You will have to fill out a customs form with the package at the post
office (typically Form 2976-A). Some post offices may have different
regulations or preferences, but the following generally applies:
- Check the box for “Gift” on the customs form to describe the contents (rf. #5 on Form 2976-A)
- List out the items you are sending with generic descriptions (you may find it helpful to have a separate list of what you packed so you don’t have to guess at the post office)
- Group similar things under one heading (i.e., “clothes” instead of “2 pairs of socks, 1 tanktop” etc.)
- Think creatively when describing the contents; it makes your packages less likely to be “confiscated.” Thus, any kind of media (CDs, DVDs) should be listed as “entertainment"
- You may need to put individual weights next to each item; estimate the weights such that the total equals the weight of the box.
Packing Tips.
- We ask that you not send us food items. Not only do we not have a food import license, but food can attract mice and ants while the package slowly makes its way to us.
- Consider what smells might interact with each other when exposed to heat
- Remove external packaging so items take up less space/weight and look less “new” (less likely to be confiscated or charged duty fees)
- Expect the package to be handled roughly and probably opened once it goes through customs.
- Be creative in using the small spaces—lots can get squished between the cracks
- We treasure a personal note/card just as much as the other items. Consider including your photo as well!
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