Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes

Each year we are privileged to participate in Samaritan's Purse "Operation Christmas Child" Project - where you pack a shoebox full of gifts to a boy or girl who would not otherwise get anything for Christmas or even own anything that is truly "theirs". This year we were doubly blessed to also pack more boxes with items that our MOPS moms had donated. This was a little more challenging than simply shopping for an entire box at once, but it was also more fun!

We started by laying out all the boxes on the couch and sorting through what was already donated and what we still needed to purchase. Every box have a writing tablet and markers or pencils or pens? Check. Every box have socks? Check. Every box have a toothbrush and soap and washcloth? Check. Every box have a brush and/or a comb? Check. Every box have underwear? Check. Then we began distributing the toys according to gender. Our children had so much fun with this! (And a special thank you to those of you who purchased more items to fill these boxes!!)


Son L, caught while putting the soap into little plastic baggies!


C deciding which ball would go in which box.



Once the boxes were packed, we sprinkled hard candy in all the cracks and crevices. As we packed we took turns praying for each of the children who would be receiving these boxes.


We printed off boy/girl labels from the Samaritan's Purse website, and G cut them out and taped them to the tops of the boxes. (Click on the words Samaritan's Purse to go to their website).



Voila! 9 boxes, ready to go who knows where! For a truly inspiring look at one family's Operation Christmas Child project, visit this blog. (In case you can't see the underlined hyperlink, click on the words "this blog").

To help reign in the greed monster, I held up a box after they were packed and asked the children if they could be happy if this was ALL they got for Christmas. No lego sets, no digital camera, no webkinz (all things that are desired by little people in this house). Suddenly, the room got very quiet. I was tempted to "preach" a little more, but my purpose was not to make them feel guilty, but to give the Holy Spirit an opportunity to convict them of greed if they were struggling with it. So I refrained from a long mom speech. How I pray our children will develop hearts of compassion and gratitude! And how we pray that these boxes will be a tangible demonstration of God's love to 9 special little children.