Operation Christmas Child is GO!!

When we were living in Papua, Indonesia, I had the opportunity to hand out Christmas Child boxes to a group of children who were living in a make-shift home for street kids. Watching those boys open these shoeboxes, for most of them the very first gifts they had ever received, was one of the most memorable experiences of my life. So many of the boys sat quietly, very carefully handling every little pencil and pair of socks, turning them over and over in their hands, just so amazed that someone in America cared enough about them to give them such treasures.

     For my boys, this event was made more powerful because, our last year in America, we had participated in a Christmas Child drive through our friend's church. It was so cool to see the light dawn in my son's eyes as they realized just how much these little shoeboxes--of what to us are everyday items--mean to the children who receive them.

     If you have kids, or if you don’t, or if you want to share the love of Jesus in an important way this Christmas, won’t you get a shoebox and fill it this year?  You won’t regret it.  Collection ends Nov. 21.  The closest drop-off point to BelPres is Pilgrim Lutheran, on 104th & 11th, but there are churches in Woodinville, Ballard, Greenwood, and Tukwilla that are still collecting, as well.  Find out more locations, and how to fill a box, at Operation Christmas Child.