Lately I have been wondering how I can do more. More to help those less fortunate, those who don't know the love of Jesus. With the Compassion bloggers in Kenya last week, it's really been on my heart.
Sponsoring a child is not something we are able to commit to, so what can we do? I though about it for days and days. Then decided I should pray about it. Yes, I realize I should have done that first. I'm working on that.
The next day in the mail, I received a magazine from Samaritans Purse regarding Operation Christmas Child. Inside were stories from Kenya, Macedonia, Panama, and India. Stories regarding children who received the shoeboxes and experienced and accepted the love of Christ through the gifts sent, along with colorful storybooks that present God's plan of salvation in their own language (which are inserted by Samaritan's Purse.)
I was so thankful to get the magazine. I even spotted a New Balance box (just like ours from last year) in one of the pictures. I showed it to Erin and she wanted to know when we could do another shoebox. She and I have packed shoeboxes for the last two years. It's an awesome opportunity to talk with your child about giving to those less fortunate.
We always wait to purchase our gifts and scrounge up shoeboxes when our church begins the Operation Christmas Child drive some time around October. But this year, we are beginning early. Yes, it is March, and we have begun our Christmas shoeboxes.
It usually takes less than $10 to fill a shoebox with goodies for a boy or girl. The specifics on packing them are {here} I think shipping cost per box is around $7, so for less than $20, you can send a gift and the Love of Christ to a child who otherwise may not receive it. They have also implemented a new tracking system, that we have not yet tried, so you can actually see where your box is shipped to.
The goal this year is to double our giving, so we hope to do 4 boxes. Two from each Erin & Luke.
How many can you fill?
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Good for you for promoting Operation Christmas Child and for teaching your children to give. Packing year-round helps to maximize your involvement and you'll be surprised as you pray how God will lead you to items that are free or very cheap but will give a child hope for eternity. I am a volunteer Area Coordinator for OCC in northwestern PA and was able to travel to the Dominican Republic last year to help distribute boxes. You just cannot imagine all that God does with what seem like such simple gifts. Please teach your children to pray for their boxes, also. God will use your family in amazing ways, I know.
ReplyDeleteThis is one of our favorite things to do to share the love of Christ with others. The children take it so seriously and have such fun at the same time. What a great goal to get four done this year!
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