Operation Christmas Child

November is time for one of my favorite projects- Operation Christmas Child.  We have been participating in this program for many years (even before we had kids of our own).  For the past few years we have enjoyed letting the kids get more involved.  We get together with a group of fellow homeschoolers.  We start by talking about the great commission and how God uses people as part of His great plan, no matter how young they may be. 

Then we learn more about children living in different parts of the world and their cultures through books and OCC videos.  Then we pray for the children who will receive the boxes we make.  It is mind blowing to think that God already knows exactly which child will receive each box.  This year at our church's kickoff event, a teacher from Durham shared her story.  She grew up in eastern Europe under great oppression.  She and her siblings found a hidden Bible and began reading.  She went on to accept Christ and was taught to pray by a Christian in her community.  She prayed often in those early days asking God for snow to show that He answered her prayers.  After many weeks without snow, she was the recipient of an OCC shoebox.  When she opened it inside was a snow globe.  She received her answer.  You can watch a brief clip of her story here.  

Several years ago another family at our church was on a missions trip abroad.  One evening they found themselves in the home of a family they had been serving.  While they were there they noticed OCC shoeboxes.  It turns out they had received one of the boxes packed by that very NC family!!! Of the millions of boxes sent these two exact families were meeting face to face.

Then we took time for the kids to write letters to the children receiving their boxes.

And it was time to pack!

I love watching all the thought and care the kids put into choosing the items to pack.

It was such a sweet time. I love watching the kids compassion and understanding grow a little more each year.  We are among the privileged elite in the world and our kids live such blessed and easy lives.  We pray that this project will be just a small part in broadening their views of the world and giving them God's eyes for those in need.  The resources in our world are sufficient for everyone.  Some of us are entrusted with more to distribute then others.  I pray they always know whom they serve and to whom everything belongs.