THE BATTLEFORDS — Soon I will be celebrating Christmas in July in a most memorable way. The snow will not be falling, the temperature won’t be -40, the Christmas tree won’t be decorated and there won’t be any Christmas carols playing; but what there will be is the joy and laughter on children’s faces as they receive what, for some, is their first gift ever. This summer I will be joining Samaritan’s Purse and Operation Christmas Child as they deliver shoebox gifts in Costa Rica.
Every fall, various churches, businesses, schools, clubs and individuals in the Battlefords and area join together and pack shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child. It is a fun and simple way to share the excitement of the holiday season and experience the joy of giving. Samaritan’s Purse has been collecting these shoeboxes filled with toys, school supplies and hygiene items since 1993. Last year Canada collected 415,072 shoeboxes to be distributed to El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Senegal, Guinea, The Gambia, Sierra Leone, Guinea Bissau, Ukraine and Philippines.
Perhaps you have wondered what happens next, once these boxes are packed. I am excited to be able to experience the final leg of the journey myself and to share that experience with you. For one week I will be joining a team of 26 members from across Canada, ages 12-84. We will visit various communities in Costa Rica and hand out shoeboxes that perhaps you and your groups have packed. Samaritan’s Purse partners with the local churches to host special community events, inviting the local children to be a part of it and to receive their very own Christmas gift. Over 462,000 shoebox gifts have been handed out in Costa Rica since the partnership began there in 2000.
There are so many touching stories about the impact Operation Christmas Child gifts have had on the life of a child, their family and their communities. There’s the shoebox that was delivered to a blind child and was filled with everything to do with sound; the young girl whose shoes were worn out and taped together and her shoebox gift held a brand new pair of shoes; the shoebox that was delivered to an orphan who was sharing a bar of soap with the other children and received a bar all his own; the young boy who was scared to walk home in a rough neighbour in the dark and received a new flashlight to light his way; or the one shoebox that was left to hand out to twin girls and had two of everything in it so they could share. The stories could go on that show every shoebox gift is delivered to just the right child who needs it.
Thank you for taking the time to pack a shoebox and be a part of Operation Christmas Child each year. Not only is it a wonderful project to be a part of, but the difference these simple shoeboxes can have to a child in another country is great.
I look forward to letting you know how my trip goes, seeing the smiles on the children’s faces and sharing the joy of Christmas in July with you all!
If you would like more information on Samaritan’s Purse and Operation Christmas Child, go to samaritanspurse.ca or contact Life Church, North Battleford, 306-445-7777. They would be happy to provide more information and help you start packing a shoebox for this Christmas season. National Collection Week is Nov. 13-19, 2023.
