For years missionaries have been cramming all of their belongings in barrels and sealing them up until they reached some far away land. I know for me personally, it is like Christmas every time we travel back to the field and begin opening all of the boxes and barrels that we packed up to be sent back, especially when we purchase supplies a little at a time. Sometimes things are boxed, sealed, weighed and left sitting in boxes until the “great journey.” So what are the pros and cons of using barrels verses using boxes? I have used both and can say without a doubt that it depends on the situation. I bet you didn’t see that one coming.

When packing a container remember that you have a lot of space. I mean a lot of it. For example, on a 20 foot container you have approximately 20 feet of floor space, but remember it is all the way from the floor to the ceiling, and just under 8 feet from wall to wall. I will cover containers in another post, but for now let’s just say you have a lot of room to pack stuff. One mistake I made was not boxing everything up and that caused irregular sizes which means wasted space. That is a con to barrels; they are round and you have a lot of wasted space between each barrel. On the other hand boxes can fit side by side and corner to corner.

It is important to note that barrels come in many different sizes and types. There are airtight and breathable barrels. I made a mistake of shipping an airtight barrel on a plane. The air pressure caused it to collapse, and I had to drill a hole in the lid in order to equalize the pressure in order to get the lid off. So figure out what your needs are before you purchase. Some companies give away barrels but you have to clean them out. CAUTION is needed with barrels which contained toxic chemicals. Spend a few extra dollars to purchase other barrels. There are metal barrels, plastic barrels, and paper barrels. If using metal or paper barrels, put some type of moisture barrier inside to protect your belongings.

Boxes have more variables than barrels. It is interesting to note that what we call cardboard boxes are actually referred to as corrugated paper by those in the box manufacturing business. Most likely there is a box manufacturing company nearby, and if you buy in bulk direct you can get a great deal. We are fortunate to have a friend that works in a manufacturing company, and we are able to get misprints free! I don’t care if the print is crooked, it will ship just the same for me. Try to use the same size boxes to pack in your container. Avoid the temptation to get free boxes from stores because they are all different sizes and sometimes messy. Also they can be dirty and have bugs in them. The boxes will pack better is they are all the same size. You should be looking at trying to obtain 200 small boxes, 100 medium size boxes, and 50 large boxes. If these numbers threw you, then you have no idea how much you can pack in a 40 foot container. Why more small boxes than large ones? Try lifting a 3x2x2 ft. box filled with books. Not fun! Also, spend a little extra money to buy the good tape! Cheap tape comes off, and you will regret it. Learn to use a tape gun; it will make your life so much easier.

So which is better for you, boxes or barrels? Here are some questions to ask yourself:

Will you be packing your stuff yourself?
If you are financially able you can pay a company to come in and pack everything up and put it in a container. Most of us are not like that, and we either do it ourselves or have church people helping out. So if you are packing things up you can take advantage of every little nook and cranny of each box or barrel. Barrels have a definite advantage when packing clothes, and books fit better in Boxes.

How will your stuff be shipped?
Containerized or by the box? If everything will go by the pound on a cargo airplane, then boxes can save you twenty or so pounds apiece.

How will your stuff be transported once it arrives on the field?
Once you arrive on the field will your stuff be transported in the back of several pick-up trucks in rainy weather – then barrels are the way to go. If your container will be dropped off at your front door – boxes are the way to go.

To pack all this in for you, I ask you this question, “Can you drive a car without a windshield?” Of course, but isn’t it much better to drive with a windshield? So whatever you decide, just remember what worked for the other missionary might work for you, but maybe there are other options for you as well. Do your homework, ask questions, and do what is best for you and your family.

Serving Jesus,
HGP3