Yesterday was the best Christmas experience I have had thus far in my life. We had the privilege of going with “Four Square” church (the one we’ve been doing a lot of construction for) to the river barrio we’ve been doing a lot of relationship evangelism in to distribute Samaritan’s Purse “Operation Christmas Child” presents to all the kids that we’ve loved on for the last month.
I had no idea what we were going to end up doing yesterday, which is pretty standard for the World Race. Mac and Scotty, the team leaders, only knew we were helping to distribute Christmas presents to kids, but we didn’t know where the gifts were coming from or what children would be receiving the presents. When we drove down to the river barrio, my heart rejoiced because I knew we’d be giving some of my favorite kids in the WORLD Christmas presents that they would never be able to get without the help of other donating them. Well, then I looked over at the truck and I saw a lot of familiar looking boxes with the “Operation Christmas Child” seal all over them. WHAT A TREAT!
My church, First Presbyterian in Greeley, Colorado ALWAYS works with “Operation Christmas Child” and we’re always donating as many shoe boxes as we can for the children in third world nations all over the world. Last year, the Youth Minister, Donny and I took a lot of the middle school and high school students to the “Operation Christmas Child” Packaging and Distribution Center in Denver, Colorado to help sort and pack all the presents, and I prayed the entire time we were wrapping the presents and sending them out “God, some day I want to see the faces of the children who are receiving these presents. Please, Jesus…some day give me the gift of handing these presents out to children on Christmas.” One year later EXACTLY, Jesus answered my prayer! He’s so good like that. 😉
We fed our friends down at the barrio lunch, I chatted with my favorite ladies, Claudia and Ramona, and then we handed out all the presents to the children. It was one of the most special days of my life, and one I will never forget. I knew this was going to be the best Christmas ever but I wasn’t sure how it was going to pan out…until yesterday.
I want to say THANK YOU! Thank you to Scott and Lois Urquhart, two of the saints at my home church, First Pres. who are always working for Samaritan’s Purse and organizing the “Operation Christmas Child” ministry at our church. Thank you, to my family at First Pres. who participate in “Operation Christmas Child” every year. I got to see the faces of the children who received your gifts, and I can tell you they were SOOO blessed by them.
The best part of the day was looking at the children reading the Samaritan’s Purse book “El Mejor Regalo” which is “The Best Gift” and it shares the GOSPEL OF JESUS with every child who receives a present. That’s the TRUE meaning of Christmas. 🙂
Of included some photos of yesterday, for your viewing pleasure…and at the end of this blog is a video my team leader, Mac Mitchell, made about the day we had. I am SURE Samaritan’s Purse will use his video as a marketing video next year, so sure of it. Merry Christmas, loved ones! Thank you for giving gifts to children who would not receive ANY without YOU!!! LOVE YOU!!!!
