Thanks once again to the generosity of the Sunshine Coast, 846 shoe boxes were filled through the Operation Christmas Child campaign.
“Thanks to the people of the Sunshine Coast who once again supported the filling of shoeboxes with hygiene items, school supplies and toys for needy kids in third world countries,” said Sunshine Coast co-ordinator Martha Schroth.
“In spite of my broken elbow, everyone came together and helped by delivering the boxes to my home and packing them into cartons ready to be shipped. Know that you have brought smiles to children who have very little to smile about.”
Operation Christmas Child brings joy and hope to children in desperate situations around the world through gift-filled shoe boxes and the message of God’s unconditional love.
And the good news doesn’t just end with the successful Christmas campaign. In August 2014 Coast resident Shannon Heavens had the opportunity to hand out gift-filled shoeboxes in Nicaragua.
“I had the opportunity of a lifetime to visit Nicaragua with a Samaritans Purse group involved in Operation Christmas Child. It was a trip that was both challenging and rewarding,” she said. “I got to change the lives of not just the kids I handed the shoebox of gifts to, but their families too.
“Most children in Nicaragua will never receive a gift in their life. To get a shoebox full of goodies is unimaginable to them.”
Heavens was shown the schools the children learn in. Dirt floors, no desks no chalkboards — nothing — but the warm, joyous hospitality they showed was shocking to her.
“They have so little yet they gave everything they had to us,” Heavens recalled. “Although we only had a short time to play with these kids, I fell in love with each and every one of them. We laughed and shared smiles with one another when a child received a toy that they didn’t know how to use. I was able to teach a girl how to play the recorder and show a boy how to fly a kite. It was amazing the connection with these kids I got from just being there and paying attention to them.
“They are filled with so much love and compassion. It was a privilege to be able to physically hand over the shoeboxes to the kids. This is the first of many mission trips that I won’t forget.”
For more information and stories see www.SamaritansPurse.ca/occ
