OCC Shoe Box Impact Stories: Mexico

By Ginny (MAD21)

"Mexico: "Gaby was a girl that lived by the church but would never assist our events because her family was part of the sect "Death Worshipers." When we started TGJ, she was allowed to come. At the beginning, she would stand up for her beliefs and say that the "holiest was taking care of her" and that "even though she didn't have meat and bones, she was good." During the classes she learned that Jesus was the one that love and cares for us. She told us that, during the nights, she was afraid to sleep because a dark person would appear at her and wanted to take her away. She would cry and ask her mother to turn on the light. Her teacher told her to remember what she had learned in the TGJ lessons: that God is powerful to care for us and protect us from all danger because her precious blood covers us. She started to pray and trust in Jesus that now is in her heart. The fear and the dark person disappeared from her life."

This post completes our Not Just a Shoe Box series. If you haven't already packed some shoe boxes for OCC, it's never too late. OCC accepts them all year long. Please take the time to bless a child.

 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.

OCC Shoe Box Impact Stories: Equador

By Ginny (MAD21)

Ecuador: "My name is Luisa and I am nine years old. I am happy to be part of the children club The Greatest Journey where I learned about the creation, Jesus' birth and that He is the only one that can give me salvation. I decided to accept Him in my heart. My parents aren't Christians but I know that someday God will touch their hearts like He did with me. My favorite verse is 2 Corinthians 5:17-19. Now that we are with God, we are a new creation. God doesn't remember our old life style but He gave us a new life."

This post is part of our Not Just a Shoe Box series. Come back again tomorrow to see one more 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.

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.