Time for me to start talking about Operation Christmas Child!!!!I can't tell you how much this ministry means to me. I wish I could do more than I have. Two years ago I listened to a presentation about it. That year L and I took in 275 boxes and last year it was 402! --NO, it is NOT about me. God told me this was something I was supposed to do and supposed to speak about and I obeyed Him. I got three churches involved and a girl scout troop. Maybe none of those boxes would have gotten packed without me first telling people about it. L's mom P got her church to do 202 of those boxes last year, because just like I got excited about it, so did she. It's not about what "I" did or what P did, it IS about what we shared with others and about that many needy children.
I feel bad because I may not get anyone here in TX to do it this year. Our church hasn't shown interest yet, but I WILL ask again. And I am reminding all of YOU who are reading this to get involved too. Just get involved, tell a few people about it, just pack one box. Even one matters--that is one child someplace far away who receives a gift he would not have gotten without you, one child who will hear about Jesus, because of you.
I know there are ALOT of charities out there. You may even know people, kids who live right down the road from you who are pretty poor too. If God shows you that, then help them too. But don't forget this is not just a charity, it is an amazing way to spread the Gospel to countries that sometimes don't even allow missionaries into their countries. Please read the stories below. And if you are interested, please click on the link to learn more. You can find the closest dropoff point to you and a contact number of someone in charge there if you want to do more. Please do something, even if it is just praying for this ministry.
One more thing, Samaritan's Purse does alot of other things too. Last year we got one of the gift catalogs from them and my kids spent their own money to send gifts to kids in these countries. K spent 4$ to send them a week's worth of milk because she loves her milk. E sent blankets for 6$ and B sent gospel storybooks for 5$ so they could learn about Jesus. My kids have too much stuff, what better things could they spend their own money on?? What a great thing to have your child do to show them what Christmas really is!!
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(from the OCC website:)
Kazakstan From a child: “Greetings! My name is Aigul. I am 13. I am Kazakh. All the members of my family (grandmother and grandfather, brother, sister and parents) are Muslims. One day my classmate Zhanna asked me to the Zion church. She said that there would be a great Christmas holiday. I decided to go, and I liked it very much. There were a lot of children. We read the Bible, prayed, played games, and sang songs about God. My brother, sister, and I began to go there every Sunday. But our family was against that—they said that we are Muslims and forbade me to go to the church.
One day when they all went to the marketplace, I ran to the church where there was a holiday celebration. I received a gift from America. At first I had been very happy, but then I got upset that members of my family might find out about my church visit. We and our teachers from Sunday school prayed for my relatives and then I went home. My parents were at home. When they saw me they were angry. I boldly went to the living room and set my box there. Everyone began to look carefully at the gifts. My father took the cross and hung it on a ring of keys. My mother took a postcard. Then they asked about a meeting for adults in the church, and all my relatives except my grandfather went to the church next Sunday. In the church my mother cried very much, maybe because God touched her heart. Now we have a Bible in the house, and every evening from 8:00 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. we read it in turns. Our life was changed due to God and the gift. Thanks to Him and Jane from America.”
Russia From the parents of Nina: Dear friends, We are thankful to the Lord for your kind hearts. God made a miracle and showed His love and care for our daughter through you. She had been dreaming about a teddy bear! She asked us many times to buy her one, but we couldn't afford it. All we could do was to pray and believe that God would answer her prayers. She prayed every night before going to bed about a teddy bear, and she dreamed about having one and singing lullabies to him. She got so excited when she received a gift and opened the box. There was a teddy bear inside the box! Just like the one she had been dreaming about. There were also many other toys, crayons, and candies. God fulfilled the need tremendously. It was a great example of God’s love to our daughter. Now she understands that it is very important to open up your heart and bless someone—to serve someone. Tonight before she went to bed she prayed and asked God to bless those who sent her such a wonderful gift. Then she embraced her teddy bear and fell asleep.
Liberia From an Operation Christmas Child ministry partner volunteer: "The children took their gift boxes home to their parents with large smiles on their faces. Their parents were very happy because this was the first time their children had received such items. Upon hearing the Christmas message, the children received Christ immediately, hence turning their backs on idol worship. Through faith in Christ, their parents became saved, and today a local church has been planted in the town. The families that felt hatred for one another are now Christian families loving one another and worshipping God together. Glory be to God and many thanks to Operation Christmas Child."
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There are tons of these stories. God is amazing and he is using OCC to reach so many people. Jesus said "you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to all the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:8) I have no plans to go to the "ends of the earth" anytime soon, do you? But I know my shoebox will!!! How about yours????
http://www.samaritanspurse.org/OCC.asp?MPGID=1
Thanks for reading....Love Stef
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