Adventures WorldRace SethBarnes Sponsorship Giving

| by archiveworldraceblogs

Today was the day that several of us have been looking forward to. It’s Operation Christmas Child with Samaratin’s Purse. First, we loaded up truckfulls of boxes and they were transported a short distance down the street to the school here in Arroyo Cano where we helped hand out hundreds of toys to boys and girls divided into ages groups 2-4, 5-9, and 10-14. It was interesting to see the difference in the reaction of the children receiving gifts based on their age group. In all honesty, it was a little disheartening as well to see that the kids here are no different than children in America when it comes to getting free stuff. 
 

When it was time to hand out the toys, the kids were lined up and herded through the line like cattle. Many of the kids ages 2-4 were crying and screaming and did not even want the gift boxes that we were trying to give them. Some of the boxes seemed to be bigger than the children were. The kids ages 5-9 seemed to be a bit more anxious and happy about receiving their gifts. Then by the time, we handed out gifts to the 10-14 age group, some actually said “Gracias” while others were extremely ungrateful and one girl even refused to accept the gift she was given and tried to argue her way to getting a gift in a bigger box. We told her ‘no’ but then a couple minutes later she came back again trying to exchange her gift for a different one.

Even though this was called Operation Christmas Child and we had been looking forward to giving out the gifts, I found the experience to be very different from what I had expected or even hoped for. Of course, the teachers and administrative people of the school and the town were very courteous and extremely grateful and Pastor Gregorio was all smiles, but something didn’t feel quite right. Maybe it is because kids will be kids regardless of their culture or circumstance or maybe there is more to it than that.

After we finished giving out the gifts in Arroyo Cano, we sorted and reloaded the truck to take toys to another village close by. The kids there seemed more receptive initially at least the ones ages 2-9. This village’s response seemed much more like what I had expected and we would have some beautiful pictures if we had brought our cameras. However, by the time it came time to hand out the gifts to the kids ages 10-14, we had almost completely run out of toys and the kids were not happy. In fact, they were much more outspoken and disgruntled than the kids in Arroyo Cano. We only had enough to give one gift per family for kids in that age group and as we handed them out it appeared we didn’t even have quite enough for that. As a result, there was a big argument that broke out and completely ruined the spirit of things. On the way back to the church, I just sat silently in the truck and tried to process what had happened. I was pondering how the generosity and good intentions of the American people is received so differently from how it was intended. While some of the adults are appreciative, the kids are not.

Truly the giving from the donations do come from a “Samaratin’s purse” but sadly, I do not feel that operation Christmas Child is an appropriate name. Perhaps, I feel this way because the true meaning of Christmas is not commercial and materialistic at all. It is completely contrary to the nature of the gift giving that we saw. Although Gregorio’s church was handing out a booklet of Bible stories to each child who received a toy, I believe the connection of the story of Christ and the heart behind the gift giving was never made.

In some ways, it makes me feel as though generosity in this way must be coupled first with an explanation to the reason for giving. I just hope that it means more than a free handout to them. Giving from the heart is never in vain and God sees the work that we do, but I hope the message was received appropriately. Whatever the case, the children have been constantly using the gifts they have received and playing with the toys they were given especially the ones that make noise!