A number of years our family has participated in Operation
Christmas Child by preparing one or several shoeboxes and praying for those
kids who would be receiving them somewhere in the world. It was such a fun thing to go to the store and
pick out gifts that we thought a boy or girl would like within a certain age
range. Watching the promotional
presentations of what kinds of kids receive them always brought joy to our
hearts and a tear or two to at least one person’s eyes. There’s nothing like giving to someone
who receives so very little, all in the name of Jesus.
Then we were accepted to be a part of the Post-Residency
Program, through Samaritan’s Purse, and at orientation, got to walk through the
HUGE storehouse/packing center for over a million shoeboxes. That was a thrill to say the least. We were so proud to be serving under the
organization which runs this powerful ministry.
It became a dream to get to see OCC at work wherever we ended up
serving.
Finally, this year, we were able to get 100 shoeboxes (after
a year of working with the OCC team here in Zimbabwe, and hitting wall after
wall with shoeboxes being held at the port, and customs, etc.) out to
Karanda! Today we were so fortunate
to be on the other side of the shoebox, handing them out to the kids in the
PEDS Ward at the hospital!
Our whole family trooped down to the hospital to gather
the shoeboxes and stuffed animals for the babies.
Christopher called all the patients together
to share the true reason for Christmas.
He talked of Christ coming as a baby. He continued that Jesus ultimately gave us the
greatest gift of his life so we can be forgiven of our sins and be with Him in
Heaven one day if we accept this gift and ask Him to be our Savior.
We prayed and then
shared that people in the
United States
had prepared and given these shoeboxes because they wanted to share God’s love
with each one of these kids in the hospital. It is a way to say, "Happy Birthday," to
Jesus.
Then we handed out the
boxes.
Most kids had no idea what this
shoebox was all about, but as they opened them with their mothers or
caregivers, huge smiles broke out and a wave of excitment went through the ward.
Thank you to all those who participate in OCC. We wish that you could be the ones to hand
out your boxes and see the joy your love brings. We feel very honored to be your hands. May you receive some blessing by looking at
the faces of these kids who’s hearts were touched this day in Jesus name.
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