OCC Shoe Box Impact Stories: Columbia & Ukraine

By Ginny (MAD21)

Colombia: Karina, age four: "Karina belongs to a violent family with low resources. In December, she saw a doll she really liked and asked her mom for it. Her mom said she should ask the Holy Spirit for it. The girl prayed for it and, when she was invited to a distribution, she opened her shoe box and the first thing she saw was the doll she had asked God for. Her joy was enormous and her faith to God got stronger because she knew that her Father always listen to her."

Ukraine: "My name is Lisa, I am 13 years old. I live in Kyiv. One winter, I looked out the window and saw some people making a stage in the yard. They have brought big boxes, switched on the music. I liked this music and I went to see what will happen next. So, first I saw there was a man. He came out to the stage and prayed, but not like in the church. I understood everything and it seemed to me that he spoke with God. Then was a puppet theater, songs and poems about God. And then people from the church gave gifts and booklet for everybody who came. Having opened my gift, I saw the bright hat and gloves! It was so beautiful! We do not have such in Ukraine!  In general, gift is not so important as the heart of people who did it for me. Then we were invited to come to church for a children's Sunday School and I went along with my friend!  We are going to this church for more than two years and now we know a lot about God! Thanks to the people who brought these gifts and those who distributed them to us and talked about God!"

This post is part of our Not Just a Shoe Box series. Come back over the next few weeks to see more letters and videos from kids who have been impacted by OCC Shoe Boxes.

 These are letters from some of the kids who received shoe boxes from Operation Christmas Child. My friend Stacey Wilson from OCC was kind enough to send them to me. Many groups around the country are collecting boxes now (official collection week is November 14th-18th). However, OCC collects and delivers them all year long. I  encourage you to keep Samaritan's Purse, as well as all the children who receive these boxes in your prayers. That children all around the world will be led to the feet of Christ, one shoe box at a time.

OCC Shoe Box Impact Stories: Moldova (Luba Travis)

By Ginny (MAD21)

This post is part of our Not Just a Shoe Box series. Come back over the next few weeks to see more letters and videos from kids who have been impacted by OCC Shoe Boxes.

Many groups around the country are collecting boxes now (official collection week is November 14th-18th). However, OCC collects and delivers them all year long. I  encourage you to keep Samaritan's Purse, as well as all the children who receive these boxes in your prayers. That children all around the world will be led to the feet of Christ, one shoe box at a time.

OCC Shoe Box Impact Stories: Lithuania & Uganda

By Ginny (MAD21)

Lithuania: Domas, age 12: "I was dreaming of going to the swimming pool with my class, but I didn't have rubber slippers. I didn't dare to ask my parents to buy the ones because we haven't got enough money even for food. In my shoe-box found what exactly I needed - rubber slippers! On Sunday I run to church with my friends to thank Jesus for such a nice present."

Uganda: Betty, age 10: "Betty was visiting a family member for a week and then she was invited to the distribution. When she received a gift box that day, she was touched and we could see tears flow from her eyes which was a sign how this gift was special to her. When our volunteers asked her why she was crying she said she could not believe all the items in the box belong to her. She shared a story of how she missed school for a week because she did not have a pencil to use."

This post is part of our Not Just a Shoe Box series. Come back over the next few weeks to see more letters and videos from kids who have been impacted by OCC Shoe Boxes.

 These are letters from some of the kids who received shoe boxes from Operation Christmas Child. My friend Stacey Wilson from OCC was kind enough to send them to me. Many groups around the country are collecting boxes now (official collection week is November 14th-18th). However, OCC collects and delivers them all year long. I  encourage you to keep Samaritan's Purse, as well as all the children who receive these boxes in your prayers. That children all around the world will be led to the feet of Christ, one shoe box at a time.

Not Just A Shoe Box Full of Cool Stuff

By Ginny (MAD21)

I love this time of year. Fall is my favorite for many reasons: Beautiful colors; sweaters and sweatshirts; playtime outside without getting eaten alive by mosquitoes; and soccer season are among the things I enjoy. But one of the things I really look forward to is talking to people about one of my most favorite ministries, Samaritan's Purse and Operation Christmas Child.

Operation Christmas Child began in 1990 after a Welch couple viewed a television program depicting the horrors that children faced while living in Romanian orphanages. Heartbroken at the sight of malnourished children suffering in overcrowded orphanages, Dave and Jill Cooke began a local campaign to collect Christmas gifts for the children of war-torn Romania.  In less than three months, the Cooke’s had rallied support and launched a convoy of nine trucks, carrying £500,000 in aid supplies and thousands of gifts packed inside conveniently sized shoe boxes to bring hope and share the love of Jesus with children in Romania. Three years after its onset, the Wales-based Operation Christmas Child merged in a partnership with Samaritan’s Purse, the international Christian relief organization headed by Franklin Graham. The 1993 merger allowed Samaritan’s Purse to share its 20 years of expertise in relief and aid work with Operation Christmas Child, and expanded the reach of the shoe box gifts to over 28,000 children in the first year. (Source: Stacey Wilson, OCC)

Operation Christmas Child has delivered more than 85 million gift-filled shoe boxes to needy boys and girls in 138 countries worldwide since 1993. The ministry is such a blessing. They don’t just walk into communities and give out the boxes, it’s not just charity, and it’s not random. The OCC Shoe Box ministry is part of a larger program that reaches out to families in countries all over the world where Samaritan’s Purse is established (Latin America, Africa, Haiti, Mexico, Columbia, and many more). They work with churches, hospitals, and other organizations to minister to communities. The Leadership Teams personally invite children in the area to come to a party where they play games, sing and listen to a message… and receive an OCC Shoe Box lovingly packed and prayed over by families all around the world.

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Obstacles

By Pat

In Matthew 16:21-29, we read about how Jesus rebuked Peter for trying to prevent Him from the harm Jesus had been predicting would befall Him. Even though Jesus had a great love for Peter, He rebuked him. "Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but of men." (Matthew 16:23). He would not allow Peter to prevent Him from the job God had for Him.

Do we rebuke our obstacles? As Christians, we are to push forth with the tasks God has for us regardless of what stumbling blocks are pushed into our path. Whether it's the stumbling block of a loved one, friend, or co-worker, or the stumbling blocks of busy-ness, laziness or complacency, we are to push aside the hindrances and push ahead in our work for Jesus, just as Jesus plowed forth, allowing no one to come between Him and God. It's not always easy, but it's definitely worth it! It would have made the Lord's life much easier if He had permitted Peter to save Him from what He knew was to come, but He also knew He could not be obedient to God if he followed the path of least resistance (often my favorite route, I'm sad to say).

So when you're facing trials and tribulations, remember that God is in it, and that God won't bring you to it if he can't bring you through it. Don't be tempted to take the easy road and find a way around whatever difficulty God has brought you to. If you remain steadfast in the journey regardless of the obstacles, it will all be worth it!

"I  have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."
(2 Timothy 4:7)

Pat is a good friend who is passionate about her faith and her family. She works from home supporting a family business, and loves to read, write and garden when she can, and spends every spare moment with her grandkids.