Operation Christmas Child

November 15th found us packing our shoe boxes with gifts that will land in the hands of children we will probably never meet. On the surface, we were just a bunch of moms putting trinkets, candy, and art supplies in boxes. Underneath though, ran the current of hope. We were packing hope for families desperately in need of it.

Samaritan's Purse runs Operation Christmas Child, which deliver shoeboxes filled with Christmas gifts to children around the globe. More importantly, each child receives twelve gospel centered lessons, introducing them to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Hope.

The moms brought enough stuff to pack 27 boxes. We had teams wrapping the box tops and bottoms; each group packed their boxes, then brought them to the stage. When the last box was filled, we gathered in a circle and prayed over them. We prayed for the children who will receive them, for the parents who will see joy in their kid's eyes, that the seed of Truth will take root in these lives. We prayed for all the volunteers worldwide who will process and deliver the boxes, some riding camels or donkeys, some driving gift-laden tractors, some paddling canoes to remote villages.

In our small groups of moms, we were able to hold hands with people around the world and make a difference. We gave a little, but received so much more.