Samaritan's Purse (http://www.samaritanspurse.org/) is a Christian organization ran by Franklin Graham that provides international relief for those around the world who are suffering secondary to natural disasters, corrupt governments, and other situations. One of the most well known relief efforts of Samaritans Purse is Operation Christmas Child. Each Christmas millions of shoe boxes are shipped to countries all over the world. The shoe boxes contain items such as soap, combs, toys, hard candy, and hair clips. Typically a family will fill a shoe box and drop it off at a collection location.
This year Steve and I hosted our First Annual Operation Christmas Child party. Each family brought 12 of the same item and worked together to fill 12 boxes. We chose to provide for 6 girls and 6 boys ages 5-9. We had the boxes placed on the table and one at a time families came in and the children distributed the items they bought.
We had more kids in the house than we could count...somewhere around 27, which by the way is just the way I like it! We talked with the children to make sure they understood why we were putting the boxes together. Our children know absolutely nothing of poverty and can not even conceive of not having a single toy...comb...or crayon. In our age of wealth and excess we as parents must be intentional in teaching our kids to practice generosity and to develop a compassion and concern for those less wealthy (about 99% of the world right now).
Most importantly, each box contains literature about the Greatest Christmas gift of all, Christ, in the child's native language. Many children hear about and experience this love for the first time when they open their box.
Our good friends, Matt and Sarah with their son Isaac and daughter Gracie, placing items in the boxes.
No comments:
Post a Comment