GENESEO -- Lorraine United Methodist Church youth thought of an out-of-the-box and out-of-town approach to an Operation Christmas Child ministry.
Youth group members at the rural Geneseo church collected, wrapped and filled 152 shoeboxes destined for Africa, but that wasn't enough. They also traveled to Minneapolis, Minn., to help prepare the boxes for shipping.
Eight of them recently spent three weeks of school vacation working in a Minneapolis warehouse preparing boxes to be sent to kids in Belize and Tanzania, youth group treasurer Kaysey Bos said.
Part of their job was to go through boxes to make sure nothing breakable or any liquids were in them, she said. Such items were replaced with a different, smaller gift.
Operation Christmas Child is an outreach of Samaritan Purse, an international Christian relief and evangelism organization.
“It's the most exciting time of year for me, Miss Boss said. "I love all the excitement that happens in the weeks we are involved with the shoebox ministry and it is a way we can share God’s love in different parts of the world.”
Miss Boss earlier had persuaded other church members to help with a November packing party, and she shopped for school supplies, stuffed toys, hygiene items and other small things to fill boxes.
"Our goal was to pack 78 shoeboxes, and we went way beyond that," she said. "Even though we are a small congregation, our members graciously donated the money needed to ship the boxes and that is $7 for each box. I am incredibly proud of them for putting together that many shoeboxes."
Each box also contains a Gospel message.
"I include my favorite Scripture, Philippians 4:13: 'For I can do all things through Him who strengthens me,’ with a note telling the child about myself and my family and about things I like to do," Miss Bos said.
"We know the shoeboxes are distributed all over the world and are given to kids who have never before received a Christmas gift," she said. "They are absolutely overwhelmed that someone so far away would care about them."
Miss Bos already is thinking about next year's campaign.
"I’m thinking about a sewing day at church to make T-shirt and pillow-case dresses for next year’s boxes," she said. She hopes it could be done sometime in January.
"Just the thought of a child opening the shoebox and beaming with excitement," she said, "makes my heart happy.
Source:
http://www.qconline.com
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