Operation Christmas Child

 The church where we currently attend does not participate in Operation Christmas Child. Last year I did the Build-a-Box online. It wasn't very satisfying. This year I decided to at least help fill boxes with other Grace Village residents. They had already collected items through the year. We gathered in the chapel Monday afternoon.

We folded and assembled 150 boxes. Then we went down the tables (those on one side of the room designated boys, the other side girls) putting in the accumulated items. For me it was interesting to see the type of things they had collected as in the past I had filled a box for the oldest age bracket of girls. Their chosen bracket was younger children.

The "wow" toy was a Beanie Baby; other items included a coloring book, crayons, washcloth, soap, toothbrush, pencil sharpener, tablet of paper or index cards, pens and pencils, a small doll, socks, hair accessories (brush, comb, headband, clip), and from a miscellaneous box things like harmonicas, yo-yos, smaller stuffed animals, calculators. There were some items left over which were packed up to use next year. This is an annual endeavor by the residents.

Grace Village does not track the boxes, but we know God will use our efforts where He sees best.

Hope you have found a way to be a part of Operation Christmas Child or some other charitable efforts this holiday season.

2019 Operation Christmas Child

I didn't have success in finding some of the kinds of things I usually put in my Operation Christmas Child box for a 10-14 years old girl.
For example, Walmart had inexpensive bandanas in pretty prints and bright colors in the past. This year all I could find were camo prints, black traditional print, and Mickey Mouse designs. I think Hobby Lobby in Fort Wayne has a variety of bandanas, but I didn't get to that store, and there is no Hobby Lobby in Warsaw.

I ended up kind of heavy on purses/bags. The burgundy velvet one I bought at KMart which was going out of business in our area. I didn't see much that impressed me at the craft shows last weekend and today, but I did buy a little blue and yellow purse. I like to include something the recipient can share with others. In previous years that would be individually-wrapped candy. Candy is no longer allowed. This year I included a package of combs. The little bright "wedges" are clips with magnets on the back. I have never sent that sort of thing before. Maybe they can be shared with a friend or sibling.

It would be nice to know in what kind of climate the box will end up. Mittens and scarves work better for cold places.

 The lady in our church who heads up Operation Christmas Child has shared some stories, like the boy in an orphanage who loved his bar of Irish Spring soap in his Christmas box. The whole orphanage went to public baths once a month and shared one bar of soap. The older boys were last to take baths, and the sliver of soap wasn't much help. But rather than use his bar, he had a bigger boy store it for him and protect it. He would come and smell it when he wanted a bit of joy. Finally, the orphanage added showers to its facility. The boy and his friend who stored the soap asked the janitor to let them into the locked showers. At last, the gift was used as intended. But he only did it a few times before he was adopted and went to reside in the United States where he could have lots of soap. The soap was his symbol of hope. As long as he had the bar of soap, he could envision a brighter future. God answered his prayer. 

I will take my finished box to church tomorrow. God will get it to the right child. Have you finished your box?

Operation Christmas Child Box Destination

Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas Child in the past sent an email telling the destination of one's box if one paid for the shipping online and thus had a tracking barcode.

This year I had to go to the website and find the tracking tool and input my email address. I was surprised to see it showed the destinations of several years' boxes, not just this year's box. Last year the box went to Mexico. I knew that already.

This year my box went to a "Hard-to-Reach" country; I will not know the specific country because the people sharing the Gospel might be tracked down and persecuted. The governments of such countries do not condone evangelization and the spread of Christianity. It did share some stories of the effectiveness of the boxes in these types of countries which warmed my heart. I sent a box for an older girl in the hopes that as she is married and starts her family in a few years, she will have become a Christian through this ministry and thus have influence on future generations.

My first year putting together a box I was sort of begrudging the time and money spent, but now I embrace this ministry as a way to have a part in the growth of the Body of Christ. 

Time For Operation Christmas Child 2018

Operation Christmas Child has a new box option this year: a green and red plastic box. They also offer the cardboard box, and of course one can provide their own box.

The big gift for the 10-14 years-old girl recipient in my box is a tote bag.

Besides the tote bag I included a package of combs, toothbrushes, a washcloth and small hand towel, a black ballpark cap, a ribbon-covered headband, a wallet purse, two bandanas, and two bracelets. The bracelets and the headband were provided to our church by someone who does that kind of work and had left-overs from craft sales.

 I am still hoping to find a small item or two at the local Christmas craft shows tomorrow. Sunday I will take it to my church to join the boxes that have already been done. November 11th is the deadline. 

How is your box coming along? Better hurry.

Operation Christmas Child 2017

All done shopping for my Operation Christmas Child box. I will go online and pay the shipping amount so I can have the box tracked to the receiving country. Last year my box went to Columbia, South America. I went to several craft shows today hoping to find more to add, but didn't buy anything for the box. The little net bag has a beaded bracelet I bought last Saturday at a craft show.

I will take the box to church tomorrow so it can join the other boxes to be taken to the area distribution place on November 12th. No candy allowed this year. I used to pack Tootsie pops or something like that so the child would have something to share. Instead I am including a package of combs. This box is for a girl 10-14 years old.

If you don't have time or energy to shop, you can go to Samaritan's Purse web page and for $25 they will pack a box so you can participate that way or you can choose what to put in the box fom options given. You will still be contributing to the happiness of a child and giving that child the opportunity to hear the Gospel. Don't miss out on a chance to share love.

Slate Saturday

When we left the funeral at 11:18 this morning, it was misting slightly. By the time we arrived at the craft sales site in Winona Lake, it was sleeting. In typical Hoosier fashion, the sun came out a few minutes later, then disappeared. Now it is 40 degrees and overcast at 4:30 p.m., probably our warmest temperature for this cold slate gray Saturday.

We had our first hard frost this week; I may need to put my geranium and mum pots in the garage overnight again. I discarded my small wax begonia the morning after the frost. My husband said that as he placed it next to the garbage bag on the curb, he saw all kinds of potted plants on our block sitting next to neighbors' trash. The seasonal change has settled into our hearts and minds. If my geranium hadn't recently put out all kinds of blooms, I probably would have said good-bye to it, too. Its fecundity gave it a reprieve. All thoughts of summer are definitely gone.

I bought a few Christmas gifts at the craft fair, including a beaded bracelet for my Operation Christmas Child box (girl age 10-14). Are you working on a box? Just a few weeks left until collection date. The beader in her 20's had never heard of the Samaritan Purse ministry. I shared a little and told her that the bracelet would go far away to brighten a young girl's life. Previously, my tracked boxes went to Africa, last year to Columbia, South America. She was happy to know her handiwork was for a good cause.

Bought some peanut brittle from the Church of the Good Shepherd table. Somebody gave us some of this last holiday season. One bite and you are hooked. I have never made brittle; penuche and fudge a few times, but I don't even own a candy thermometer now. 

On the way home from working in the library Wednesday, I snipped a branchlet from a bush near the Health Care employee entrance. It has fine grain-like growths. I think it enhances my pottery jug of artificial autumn leaves, but my husband didn't even notice it until I pointed it out.

Tuesday is the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther posting his theses and challenging the Catholic church. I am going to place our two library books about Luther in the hall display along with changing the library bulletin board. I am hoping there might be some newspaper articles I can clip to post, too. I doubt our church will even mention this anniversary, but other churches and organizations have planned special services and events.

Next Saturday there are at least 4 craft fairs taking place in Warsaw. I pretty much finished up my Christmas craft shopping for local family today, but I will still browse these other opportunities. One is the community art association; those should be interesting though more costly items. This is the first time they have rented a building at the fair grounds.

Friday I went to the Friends of the Library book sale in North Webster. The past few sales have been disappointing, but this time I bought 12 books, including a few Christmas ones. Next Friday the Warsaw Community Public Library FOL has a book sale. After that, I will search Better World Books again to fill in series gaps. I have some money to spend after a generous donation. I'll have to do shelf weeding to make room though. My helper has returned, and Friday the return box was empty. Hooray! 

Operation Christmas Child 2016

I have my box packed for a girl 10-14 and turned in at my church. How about you? Just a few weeks until they go to the intake distribution point.

Operation Christmas Child 2015

Time to fill your Operation Christmas Child box. Haven’t started yet? There is still time as the National Collection Week is November 16-23.

 

I packed mine for a girl 10-14 years old. I will pay the $7 shipping online in order to track where the box ends up. I was pleased to see in the video my church played for us that there were older children featured this time, not just the small cute giggly ones. Make a joyful impact on a child.

 

 

Operation Christmas Child 2014

 

I have my Operation Christmas Child box for Samaritan’s Purse packed and ready to take to church next Sunday. How is yours coming along?

Time for Operation Christmas Child 2013

 

Time to get your Operation Christmas Child box packed for send-off. Once again, I have selected a girl age 10 to 14. I feel burdened for this age group as they approach young womanhood and having children in the not-too-distant future. If little children suit you better, go for it. My church is participating which makes it easy for me to drop off the box. If you don’t know a drop-off site near you, you can check on the web site. National collection week is November 18-25.

Operation Christmas Child

 

I have been participating in Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child for several years now. After my sister who worked at the North Carolina distribution/shipping point told me that the 10-14 years-old category had the least boxes, I shifted to buying for a girl age 10-14.

I do have some method to my shopping. I always include candy. I start out at Walmart to see what kind of purses/bags have been marked down. Usually I find a cloth bag in denim or other fabric. Last year it was a sunny yellow and white print hobo bag. This year I had to settle for a tote bag. I usually include a solar calculator and pencils and a tablet or booklet. The pencils this year have the sharpener included in the package. Besides the pencils, I try to include something that can be shared with family or friends; this year a package of combs. You would think children in poverty would want to keep items for themselves, but usually they generously share if given the opportunity. This year I added a bright bandana scarf and a pink hat. The box is full.

I have only “tracked” my package once, and I was disappointed that I was told the destination was Africa rather than a specific country in Africa. These are not the cute toys so many boxes have, but they should be enjoyed by a girl on the brink of womanhood. These girls are in the final years of the program, and any decision they make to accept Christ will impact their own children who are probably not too far in the future.

Why don’t you think about filling a box this year?

Dipping Into A Vast Array

We still have some of the “prettiness” of autumn here, but after much wind the past few days the leaves are quickly dropping. November tends to be the bare time in Northern Indiana. We do have two lovely spruce trees we can see from our bedroom window and the trees behind our condo are white pine so there is some foliage, but the overall impression will soon be stark naked tree limbs, empty brown soil in the fields, and few flowers except mums.

I had planned to include some photos of the retirement village library, but when I went over there this afternoon there were several people using the computers and I didn’t want to include them in my shots.

The library has over 2200 titles of fiction, not including maybe 150 mass market paperbacks that are not on the list. When we first took over the supervision, we had zero dollars to spend on acquiring books. We were pretty much dependent on donations. The Winona Literary Club gave us a gift of $100 last spring. We used almost half of that amount to buy some current books on Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Office. The residents who have their own computers wanted to become more skilled using that OS and software. No money doesn’t mean no incoming books, however.  Friday I stopped by for a few minutes to return a book, and I found 4 grocery bags full of books sitting on the floor next to the desk. I am still sorting through them, but so far we have 10 Christian fiction books new to us, and 2 non-fiction that we will definitely keep. Word is starting to get around that when a resident of the retirement community dies and the family needs to clean out the apartment, we will accept the books and dispose of those we don’t keep in a responsible manner.

We have some classics, some best-seller authors (Grisham, Cornwell, Steel, Sparks, Patterson), some fairly recently published books (Through My Eyes by Tebow; The Help by Stockett; Unbroken; No Easy Day), and lots of Christian fiction (Kingsbury, Phillips, Wick, Lewis, Brunstetter, Henderson, Blackstock, Thoene, Oke, Snelling, Gist to name a few). We have two residents who regularly donate their Love Inspired line of books mostly in larger and really large print, about 6-8 books a month.

Since I have little exposure to the Christian fiction genre, I am now starting to read a few of these each week if possible, plucking out different authors. With the holidays approaching, I am not sure I can keep up that pace, but I do have my Operation Christmas Child shoebox packed, though I haven’t started any other Christmas gift shopping.

I feel that my husband and I are making a valuable contribution to our retirement community by working in the library. It has its challenges (mostly limited space), but we have been blessed to see how God provides books for the residents. It has given us an opportunity to become acquainted with some of the apartment residents and some of the staff. The library “bowl” is full.