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Operation Christmas Child Link Up

how many boxes did you pack

I am SO excited for today! A few weeks ago, I challenged you to pack 100 Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes together! I know just from your comments that we’re gonna reach that goal—especially because so many of you were already planning on doing this awesome activity with your kids before you saw my little old post.

 

We ended up packing 18 shoeboxes at our house. The whole time we packed, the kids were so serious. Lydia really took all the stories of miracles God has done with shoeboxes to heart. She saw her boxes as potential miracles for a little kid somewhere else. She could totally see the kids who would be opening her boxes. And I love that!

 

I want my sweet girl to know that God can do miracles with her simple obedience! I want her to give and know that even as a 7 year old God wants and needs her to give! When I was in the Dominican Republic last year with Operation Christmas Child, Evilyn Pinnow, a 12 year old girl who started an Operation Christmas Child shoebox club with her friends delivered the 100 millionth shoebox. Here’s a video of the start of her journey…

 

 

I sat with Evilyn and her mom, Josie in the food court of a Walmart-ish/Mall-ish store in the Dominican Republic and asked them HOW? How did this happen? How did you raise a daughter that wanted to make the difference in the life of kids when she was in fact, a kid? How did you decide to make OCC your hobby instead of Barbies? I was so impressed with our conversation, their relationship with each other and the Lord.
source: Josie Pinnow

source: Josie Pinnow

 

I interviewed Evilyn earlier this month…

 

Me: When was the first time you packed a box? Why was it significant to you?

Evilyn: The first time I packed a shoe box was at out first Shoebox Club meeting in May of 2009. It was significant because I knew it was going to a kid in another country.

Me: Why did you decide to start a Shoebox Club?

Evilyn: I felt it was what God was calling me to do. I wanted to make a difference in another part of the world.

Me: What is your best memory or biggest lesson from your trip to the Dominican Republic to deliver the 100 millionth box?

Evilyn: I was really impacted by the joy on the kids faces from the DR after they got a shoe box. It was just really awesome to see how much their gifts impacted them. I guess the biggest lesson I learned was not to take anything for granted. A lot of people are living with a ton less than we are in this world.

Me: What would you tell kids today about God’s plans?

Evilyn: I would tell kids not to wait until you are an adult to make a difference. With God on your side you can do anything!

source: samaritan's purse

source: samaritan’s purse

Isn’t she great? Isn’t this the attitude we want our kids to have? That they recognize God calling them? That they know they can do anything with God?

 

Friends, use shoeboxes or ministry at your church or simple living-day-to-day to remind your kids and teach your kids that God can use them right here and right now! Let them know that God has a plan for them—not someday a long time from now, but NOW! It might not be with a big shoebox club or a ministry to the homeless. But wherever they are and whatever they do, God is involved!

 

This is why I love Operation Christmas Child. It impacts kids around the world and it impacts my kids at home. I hope you and your children felt the impact as you packed shoeboxes this year!

OK. Now go! Link up your blog posts, Instagram pictures, tweets or whatever other thing you can link up to show us your shoebox adventure this year! If you don’t have any of those, just leave a comment below telling us how many shoeboxes you packed! (Subscribers, click over to link up!)


Wanna know more about my trip to the Dominican Republic with Operation Christmas Child? Click here to see my first post & follow me through the adventure!

 

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