Many of you probably haven’t been called to be a missionary in another country. Some of you may have never even left the country (like me!). But in a world where globalization is a very real thing, we have so many opportunities to be a light “to the ends of the earth.” Which is why I LOVE taking part in Operation Christmas Child, why I want to encourage you to be a part of it too, and why I’m giving you a handful of Operation Christmas Child tips to help you pack your shoebox.
As part of Boldly Rise, it’s my goal to help you serve others around the world, even if you’re called to stay where you are. As a military wife, I go where God calls my husband and I. I am not able to travel to many other countries and I’m required to have a certain sense of security because we are a military family. Even with those restrictions, I know I can still help those around the world in Christ’s name in some sort of way. So as I learn, I want you to learn with me:)
Hence, Operation Christmas Child!
This is an amazing outreach put on by Samaritan’s Purse to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ to so many kids around the world. It’s a beautiful way to show God’s love by loving on these kids with a shoebox present. And believe me, it’s so much fun to try and fill that shoebox with love:)
Each shoebox is shipped worldwide to kids who may have never heard of Jesus before. God has called so many people to be in these locations to hand out shoeboxes, preach the gospel, and love on these kids as Christ would. Your shoebox, as simple as it may seem to us, could be the very thing that brings a child to faith in Christ!
So here’s the details.
Every third week in November is collection week. This year it falls between November 18 through the 25th. This means that you’ll need to drop your shoebox off at a location near you (or your church may have a collection) BEFORE November 25, otherwise it won’t get collected.
Where to start?
Get a shoebox! Hobby Lobby sells adorable OCC shoe boxes in the front for about $3. Otherwise, you can get a regular shoebox from the store.
Operation Christmas Child TIPS #1: Use a plastic shoebox
It’s more durable than a cardboard shoe box.
Decide whether you want to buy for a girl or boy, ages 2-4, 5-9, or 10-14. You can do multiple boxes as well!
What to fill it with?
The best resource you have for this is the ideas list provided by Samaritan’s Purse.
I encourage you to not go by yourself. Take your kids with you, make it a date with your husband or boyfriend, or grab a friend. It’s always nice to have someone to bounce ideas off of.
Pack it full! No kid wants to get a box that’s half empty. You’d rather buy too much than not enough.
Operation Christmas Child TIPS #2: Easily fill a box under $25!
If you’re wondering about expenses, I’ve found that it’s about $20-25 to fill a shoebox to the brim.
Operation Christmas Child TIPS #3: Use a vacuum seal bag!
If you bought anything like clothes, blankets, washcloths, stuffed animals, or anything with similar material, pack it in a small vacuum seal bag! Not only will this give the child extra durable storage for their valued items, it gives you so much extra space!
Operation Christmas Child TIPS #4: Tape is your best friend!
Use tape to keep the lid shut… especially if it won’t stay closed by itself.
Dropping it off
Need help finding a location to drop it off?? I gotcha… click here!
Operation Christmas Child TIPS #5: Spend the extra $9 to see where your box is shipped!
Last year, the box that my husband and I shipped went to Togo, Africa. How cool is that? And now that I know where it went, it gives me a little more specifics to know how to pray. And the same can help you!
Eternal Impact
Friends, filling a shoebox, spending $20-$35, and dropping it off somewhere near you may not seem like you’re doing much…but you are! Something even as little as a shoebox filled with goodies can make all the difference in a little one’s life. It could be the very tool that leads them to Christ! By you doing your part to love on a kid from halfway across the world, you are still showing God’s love.
Operation Christmas Child needs you, your kids, your friends, your church, and your community to make this operation possible. There are so many kids in this world who need to know they’re loved, especially by Jesus. Though you may not be traveling to another country to evangelize to others, you can still help spread the name of Jesus right here in the states.
So carve out a couple hours this week to go shopping, put the box together, and drop it off before November 25th! Have fun with it, and don’t forget to pray for that little child it’s going to:)
For additional resources, visit https://www.samaritanspurse.org/what-we-do/operation-christmas-child/
