Operation Christmas Child

It is the time of year for one of my favorite charities! I have always had a passion for Operation Christmas Child by Samaritan's Purse.  They have such a far-reaching ministry that takes the love of Christ into needy areas, wrapped up in the personalized bundle of a shoebox full of gifts for a deserving child.  I get so excited and emotional being able to put together something so special knowing OCC will deliver and place it in the hands of a very special child, along with the presentation of the Gospel message.

I used to love doing it even before I had children, but now it takes on an even more special meaning as they are able to be a part of the process.  Last year we had the idea to do a lesson along with our boxes.  I gathered a group of our friends' 4 and 5 year olds.  We all contributed various items to use to fill the boxes.  We gather items all year long.  When stores clear out there school items for pennies, we buy crayons, markers, paper, etc.  I also keep a bag hanging in our laundry room for items we bring in to the house.  Kids have an amazing attachment to small things- balls, cars, kids meal toys, etc.  Many times they just want to look at it and then it is forgotten.  We started dropping them into a bag and then filling a box in the closet.  By the time November rolls around the box is usually overflowing.

Our lesson started in a circle reading a book about Christmas and the true meaning of the season.  Then we watched of the videos on the Samaritan's Purse website (They can also be found on you tube.  Note: These were 2008 videos and resources)- Operation Christmas Child.  (Be warned, you will cry.)  Then we read a few pages from Children Just Like Me and Wonderful Houses looking at the differences between those children's lives and our own.  The I read The Mission and we talked about our responsiblity as Christians and how OCC fulfills that calling.  Then we watched two of the video clips- Fulfilling the Great Commission and Kids Make a Difference.  Then I read Whoever You Are.

Then we moved to the tables and had the kids make Christmas cards for the boxes and fill out About Me forms from the OCC website.  Then each child took a box to fill.  We had set out all the items in categories so the kids could choose what they wanted in their box.  It was so sweet to see the thought and care they put into it.  At the end we all prayed over the boxes for the kids that would receive them.  This year they have a neat online program called EZ Give where you can actually track your box to the children who receive it! They will email you the information when it's delivered!

This year we had to scale down a bit and we did it as a family instead.  The kids had a great time gathering the items and laying them all out for filling time.  Julia was so sweet brushing all the dolls' hair before they went into the boxes...      

Carter and Daddy filling the candy bags...

 

After we had them all filled the kids wanted to 'deliver' them.  They loaded them in batches and drove around in his truck to visit Cambodia, Uganda, and the Philipines.  Then they loaded them into Daddy's truck.  It was so cute to see their excitement.