Merry Christmas....

Merry Christmas
(In September)

You must think I’ve lost my mind, but I wanted you to start thinking about Christmas a little bit earlier this year.
For the past 3yrs I have been involved with an amazing project called Operation Christmas Child, which sends gifts to children suffering form the effect of poverty, war and other unimaginable situations; things that no child should ever have to encounter. What makes this program so special is that a child’s life is forever changed by a simple shoebox. Many have never received a single gift in their young lives, and yet through a shoebox filled with treasures they realize they are loved and important.
In working with this project I have heard countless stories of children whose lives were forever changed by OCC. Last year I heard a testimony of a girl (who is now an adult and married with her own kids) who received a shoebox and its contents were EXACTLY the things she desperately needed. You can Lejla’s testimony on OCC’s website right now (www.samaritanspurse.org). Believe me, her story is common, which only confirms within me the fact that these boxes are destine to reach specific children – God has them already pick out.
My challenge to you is simple – fill a shoebox and change a child’s life. Now is the best time to pick up school supplies, which is by far the best thing to pack. Many families are too poor to buy supplies, and strangely enough its most poor countries where education is not free. So by packing school supplies, you are blessing the entire family.
The holiday months are usually a crazy time for all of us, so I figure let’s start filling boxes now – that way when December rolls around, you’ve already finished your box (or boxes ☺).
My first year, I set out to fill 5 boxes (representing one for each family member) and last year I got so addicted I filled close to 20. This year it is my personal goal to fill 30 boxes (as I’m turning the big 3-0 this year). Granted I started shopping in January, but its so easy not to ☺
Once you decide if you want to make a box for a boy or girl and their age group, you’ll be addicted too! For ideas on what to pack, take a look at the attached brochure. (I always stop by the dollar bins at Target and pick a few things up, not to mention the Dollar Tree is AMAZING!!!).

Let’s bless some kids this holiday season – and be reminded of the true meaning!