OCC Shoe Box Impact Stories: Equador

By Ginny (MAD21)

Ecuador: "My name is Luis Miguel, and I have been great studying material from the Great Adventure. I am the oldest of four brothers, and my father left us four years ago. Since then my life changed completely: I felt very sad, didn't talk to anyone and I had to start working to help my mom and help my brothers study. One day while I worked, I was invited to be part of the kids club, so I decided to attend every Friday afternoon. I listened during Lesson 4 about how Jesus died on the cross because He loves me. I made the decision to accept Him into my heart and I knew that God cares for me as a father. And although my father abandoned me God will never leave me. My teacher became my best friend and I'm always listening to his teachings. Lesson 12 motivated me to talk to my mom and my brothers about what God was doing in my life, because that is what a true disciple does. So I went home and told my mom and invited her to attend the church. That day we all went together, and are learning more and more and more as my mother accepted Jesus into her heart. I'm still working to help my family, but I do not feel alone because I know God is my father and never left me. And although I know nothing of my earthly father, I am praying for someone to talk to him about Jesus."

This post is part of our Not Just a Shoe Box series. Come back again tomorrow to see another letter from a child who was impacted by OCC Shoe Boxes, and The Greatest Journey discipleship program.

 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. This is the official shoe box collection week, 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.

After the Shoe Box - The Greatest Journey Begins

By Ginny (MAD21)

The The Greatest Journey is the exciting follow-up discipleship program used by Operation Christmas Child to help children become faithful followers of Jesus Christ. It is taught by teachers who speak the native languages who also live in the countries where the children are receiving shoe boxes. The program teaches them about who Christ is and His love for them. It's one of the many ways Samaritan's Purse is making a difference in the lives of families all over the world.

Here is the interview with the International Field Support Team I posted last year. They are the group who prepares the discipleship materials and trains the teachers who will be working directly with the kids.

Don't just take my word for it. Take the time to watch this awesome video with Pamela Aramburu. Go with her on a journey to find out what happens... After the Box:

This post is part of our Not Just a Shoe Box series. Come back next week to see some letters from kids who have been impacted by OCC Shoe Boxes, and The Greatest Journey discipleship program.

 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: Philippines

By Ginny (MAD21)

Philippines: John, age 12: "Before the gift distribution, we were asked to pray to God for things that we wanted to receive. I prayed hard that God will give me a watch. When I opened my gift I was so happy to find a watch inside, I cannot afford to buy a watch, and God gave me one. Jesus loves me so much, Jesus loves our barangay, we are very far from the city, but Jesus loves me, he gave me a special box in spite of the many children who received a shoebox, Jesus gave the watch to me. He is so good. I am also very happy to have received four pairs of socks because my sock is old. When I received my gift I remembered my attitude towards my parents, I have not always been a good boy, but now I will respect my parents and ask for forgiveness to Jesus and be good boy."

Philippines: "Michael, receiving a well packed shoebox, was very happy.  His mother is a laundry woman and his father is janitor and is partially paralyzed.  He supported his grade III schooling by driving a wooden trolley along a railroad track.  He lived in a house two meters away from the railroad track and an active member of a pioneering Presbyterian Church along a railroad track. He was very happy unpacking the gift. As with other gifts making it personalized from the giver to the receiver:  letters, cut-outs and posters were with it. His was amazing!  It came from a retired Union Pacific railroad track worker named Mr. Dale S. Allen received by a boy who supports himself by transporting people using handmade trolley in a Philippine National railroad track.  Amazing!!! God connects people by a railroad track. "He's got the whole world in His hand" I told them."

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: 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.