Making Children Happy Through Operation Christmas Child

In January 2005 my wife, Barbara and I were fortunate to be in Rosettenville Baptist Church on the outskirts of Johannesburg, South Africa, one of the churches in South Africa who at that time received and distributed the boxes to the local schools. During that visit we talked to a family, Mike and Mary Wood, who worked with the Operation Christmas Child distribution the previous year. We were amazed seeing the glow on Mary’s face when she described the overwhelming joy of the little ones to whom she personally gave the boxes. Here is a partial quote of a letter of gratitude sent to the church by a school principal, Mrs. M.P. Taylor.

“Thank you so very much for the wonderful gift boxes our ‘littlies’ (little ones) received today. Our school as you observed now serves mainly learners from the formerly disadvantaged group.

Many of our youngsters come from one-parent families, mothers who are domestic employees, some parents unemployed, and sadly an increasing number of grannies who are taking care of AIDS Orphans. All of whom are not able to provide such “luxuries” as were included in the Samaritan Purse Gift Boxes.

Bless you for lighting up these little children’s eyes as they beheld their ‘special’ boxes, remembering that some little ones have never received a present even at Christmas time or for their birthdays. No doubt you saw the joy and the excitement as these youngsters felt today, as they could not wait to go home and share of their riches with their brothers and sisters.

I know just seeing those little faces made your hearts overflow with Love. Today you were the hands of Jesus, feeding His little lambs. In my mind’s eye I saw Jesus open His arms to these little ones saying, ‘Let the little children come unto Me, and do not forbid them: for such as there is the kingdom of heaven.’ You and I never know which little heart was reached for Jesus in this single act of generosity & kindness, but our Savior does.

Thank you once again, may the donators & distributors of these acts of AGAPE be richly rewarded.”

Mary Wood told us how she wept each place she went distributing the boxes. She said, in most locations the children were expecting a small bag of what they call, “sweets”, but went away with an abundance of candy, toys, school supplies and other commodities.

Barbara and I along with a mission team from Cabarrus Baptist Association were fortunate enough to return to Rosettenville Baptist Church in May of that year and assisted that church with their shoebox distribution to a number of schools in that area of Johannesburg. Each of the team members were overjoyed when we saw the expressions on the children’s faces as they opened the boxes and clung to each item. They did not know which gift they appreciated the most. They also loved the letters and photos from the individuals and families. The children also received a copy of their first book, “The Greatest Gift of All” which tells the story of Jesus in their own language.

Operation Christmas Child is without a doubt the best way for Christians to send the Word of God around the world. Operation Christmas Child is reaching more children for Christ than any other ministry in existence.

Let’s all do our part by packing as many shoeboxes as we can this year. The collection week is November 14 – 21, 2016. For more information on Operation Christmas Child, Call me at 704-305-2000 or email donbarbaradavis@gmail.com

Don Davis and his wife, Barbara, are members of the Church Relations Team for Operations Christmas Child covering the South Piedmont Area.