This is so exciting!  Sarah from Real Life is coordinating an Operation Christmas Child Carnival – a lot of things are happening for this carnival, leading up to a live shoebox packing party on November 5th (see Sarah’s blog for details!).

I heard of Samaritan’s Purse’s Operation Christmas Child soon after I became a believer – and I literally cried when I heard about their mission and the lives they have touched through the years.  The young adults’ group I was involved in packed several shoeboxes that year, and I remember the glee I felt as I purchased little things for the little girl who would be receiving the shoebox I was packing – and more tears were shed as I bought a toothbrush for the shoebox.  Just being able to provide something so small but needed… what a blessing to me - not just the little girl who would one day use that toothbrush.

Having something concrete in my hands to hold while praying for a little girl far away also was amazing – I felt a connection to the little girl that would be receiving the shoebox.  I have no idea who received my box that year, but I know that a little girl and her family received some needed things and some fun things, love and prayers – and the Good News of Jesus Christ was shared with them as well.

I continued to put together shoeboxes through the years, but the past couple of years I haven’t done anything.  And I’ve realized how much I’ve missed that tradition, and how much I want the simple act of packing a shoebox for a child far away to become a tradition in our family.  Elias is at an age where I feel he will understand this – I want him to learn how to bless others!

So what are we going to do? We’re going to host a packing party! Unfortunately, we will not be hosting it on November 5th to link up with Sarah’s virtual packing party, but I hope to have a post up about ours on the 5th!

So stay tuned for details about our packing party, and please hop on over to Sarah’s to read more inspirational stories about Operation Christmas Child – and to participate yourself!