%5B4%5D.jpg "110710 (3)")
After church today, we went to the store to buy stuff for our Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes. We let Maddie help us pick stuff for our little girls’ boxes. She had a lot of fun and I think she had even more fun helping me pack them up in each shoe box. We are going to put a picture of her in the boxes and include a little letter from Maddie in hopes that she may hear where her boxes end up. (NOTE: I just discovered tonight that you can pay for your shoe boxes online with EZ Give. EZ Give is a simple, convenient way to make your shoe box donation online by using a credit or debit card, eliminating the need to place a check inside the box. After completing your donation, you will be able to print out special EZ Give shoe box labels included in your e-mail receipt that indicate you have made your donation online rather than placing it inside your shoe box gift. The provided labels have a special tracking number on them and will enable you to FOLLOW YOUR SHOE BOX! I love that!!)
I am always overwhelmed at how such minor things to us can seem like so much to the child that receives a shoe box. These shoe boxes represent “hope” for a child who feels hopeless. I have been reminded this week of the goodness of God and how He blesses us. I’m also reminded of the message that MercyMe is trying to spread about “The Generous Mr. Lovewell” … and take every opportunity to love one another. When I look into Maddie’s smiling eyes, my heart’s desire is that each boy and girl who receives a Christmas box would know the joy and happiness that Maddie has and to be loved as she is loved.
As we enter into the holiday season, so often we think about our family traditions and decorating and the gifts we are going to buy for those that we love. We put a lot of time and thought into gift giving… most of the time for people who have just about everything they could every need or WANT. Watch this video… can you make a difference for a little boy or girl who just needs a little hope??
If you have any questions about how to get in on this… see www.samaritanspurse.org or send me an email.
5 comments:
The children in our churches here receive those boxes. Samaritan's Purse uses local churches here to distribute them to children. They usually don't receive them until June or July. It's a crazy, happy day when they get them. They can't announce ahead of time that the kids will get them or they will be mobbed so they are totally surprised. They wait until the day of and during the church service they tell all the kids to stay after then they pass them out. They LOVE them.
Hi again, Jacquie. The things I've seen that kids really like are small dolls/action figures (like Spider Man, Super Man for boys, Polly Pockets), small stuffed animals, pencils, erasers, pencil sharpeners, socks, markers, crayons, mini coloring books, balls (even like a raquet ball or golf ball or mini soccer ball), paddle balls, toothbrushes, combs, mirrors, small brush, barrettes, pony tail holders, stickers. All of those things except for combs/brushes) are expensive here (even pencils, which I don't understand). The most excited kid I saw one year was a little guy who got a Spider Man little action figure. He was beyond thrilled. It's funny how Spiderman is universal. :-)
That Maddie is a doll!
I love that ministry and participate every year. There is even a Samaritans Purse distribution center in Charlotte so lots of times we volunteer there. I agree that it is so nice to focus on others during the Christmas season!
We LOVE participating in the Operation Christmas Child every year. Our Children in Action at church help our WMU put together the boxes from items donated from our church members. It is a great experience for them. Our girls have put boxes together at home almost every year since they've been born!
I would love to go with the Samaritan's Purse teams that deliver those boxes. That is what CHRISTmas is truly about!
What a wonderful thing to do and what a great way to teach Maddie to help others at such a young age. I posted on Tyler's blog that you are so much alike. He writes from the heart like you do!
Post a Comment