Operation Christmas Child

This is National Collection Week for Operation Christmas Child.
 

There is still time to get involved!  We purchased our gifts and packed and wrapped up our boxes in one afternoon.

Kids unloading and organizing gifts

A gal who was speaking at my homeschool group meeting mentioned that her family had been involved with this organization for years.  The stories she told of how a simple shoe box... filled with simple little gifts... could make a difference in a child’s life, were very inspiring.  When I read up on the organization and how the project works, I was very motivated to get involved this year.

The Samaritan’s Purse is the non-profit ministry behind this project.  Their website has fabulous video clips about how these shoe boxes make it from your house to the far reaches of the world...and to the children who are so thrilled to receive them.  

Kapena (5) filling shoe boxes

Two aspects that are really great and very important are:

1) along with their gift shoe box, each child will get a booklet with the gospel message in their own language

2) each child has the opportunity to participate in a 12 week discipleship program.  When they finish, they are acknowledged in a graduation ceremony, and presented with a New Testament.

Kainoa (10) and Kaleo (16) wrapped the boxes

Our family watched almost all of the videos they have posted. This helped all of us gain a better understanding of what we were doing. Our kids were very enthusiastic about this project.  The hardest part was trying to explain to them why they didn’t actually get to take the boxes and present them to the children....that was something they desperately wanted to do!

Maybe one day!  In the meantime we will pray for the children.... 

Drop off center - the map on the right shows the areas that our shoe boxes will be going

4,033 shoe boxes already collected at this location!

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.

Matthew 18: 1-5