O: My OPERATION Christmas Child Plan is to Collect 55 Shoe Boxes

Sometimes you have to attempt something miraculous in order to jump start your faith or to change your attitude.

As of April 15, 2013, I have collected 10 boxes. I only have 45 more boxes to go.

That’s why I am collecting FIFTY-FIVE filled shoe boxes for the November 2013 Operation Christmas Child (OCC) shoe box drive at my church.

I want my faith to grow leaps and bounds. And I want my attitude to change.

So why am I doing this?

Since mid-February I’ve been in a funk, an age-related funk. I wasn’t thrilled about turning 55 in March. Mainly because I am not where I thought I’d be in most areas of my life. And to be middle-aged and disappointed with yourself (and circumstances) is a yucky place to be.

However, I am not going to let myself stew. So I’ve come up with a plan, a 55th birthday year-long plan. Go here to read the whole plan.

This post will deal with the shoe boxes. Samaritan’s Purse (an international relief organization) sponsors Operation Christmas Child. This is a collection of shoes boxes (cardboard or plastic) that are filled with age-appropriate items for needy children all over the world. Go here to see what’s in the boxes.

I am part of this heart-touching ministry. For years I have donated 2 -3 boxes each November.

• In 2006 I heard Twila Paris sing and she challenged us by saying, “Everyone can help one child.” I stepped up to that challenge and sent shoe boxes.
• In 2009 I took this photo and was grateful I had the means to help OCC.
• In 2012 I wrote Love in a Box. Again I sent shoe boxes.

I help with this ministry because I am a parent, auntie and missionary. Did you know that you are a missionary too? Read this post to see why I believe this.

So now you know my goal and the why behind my goal. And you probably figured out that this is something that requires the help of God in order for me to accomplish.

Want to help? If yes, then . . .

1. Pray. Pray that this goal is met. Pray for the recipients of the boxes. Pray for their families, schools, and communities. 
2. Give  a shoebox, cardboard or plastic. If you donate a plastic shoebox, please give a better quality one. That way it will withstand being packed in a carton and shipped with weight on top of it.
3. Give items for the shoeboxes. Soon I will post what kinds of things I am collecting. In the meantime you can go to this link for suggestions, in case you want to go shopping TODAY.
4. Give a $7.00 donation.  A donation of $7 or more helps cover project expenses such as shipping the boxes. I can send the box in your name and you can see what country it ends up in.
5. Give a filled shoebox. You can do that as a family, work unit, neighbors, or a single person. Of course I would put your name as the sender of the box.

Several years ago I interviewed Kathy, one of the OCC co-ordinators at our church. She had this to say about the importance of our involvement.

t’s our job to be good stewards of our money. The cost of filling one shoebox is a great investment. The blessing goes from the child upwards to the parents who often don’t have the financial means to give a gift to their child. 

For some children this is the first gift they’ve ever received.

Then the blessings go outwards to the community. And whole communities have been changed by one simple shoebox.

I am wondering how and with whom God will answer this prayer.

Your Turn . . . Contact me if you’d like to help through prayer or donation.

Related articles

• Celebrate Operation Christmas Child 100,000,000 Shoebox (jlue.wordpress.com)
• Life begins when the comfort zone ends. (clairemallett.wordpress.com)
• Operation Christmas (aheartsbeginning.wordpress.com)

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NOTE: This post is written for the Blogging From A to Z Challenge. There are 22 categories and my category is MI = Miscellaneous.

During the month of April I will post 26 times finishing up posts that have been in my draft fie for at least a year. For a list of all the posts go to the A-Z button on my header.

Today’s letter is O. The topic is OPERATION Christmas Child Shoeboxes.