I first learned about Operation Christmas Child (OCC) from Missy Middleton. She has packed OCC shoeboxes for several years and has a contagious excitement about the shoebox ministry. Missy was eager to share with me the impact a shoebox can have on a child and his/her family. Children don’t just receive a shoebox of gifts, but they also learn about Jesus and what He did for them. The children can share this knowledge with their families and the Word of God can spread through villages!

After hearing what can happen as a result of packing a shoebox, I knew this was something I wanted to share with my church in hope that they would want to be a part of this wonderful ministry. I was amazed and overjoyed by the response I received. Our first year, we packed 91 shoeboxes for OCC. This year, amid Covid -19, we packed 117 precious shoeboxes.

Last year, my husband and I had the opportunity to go to Boone NC and help with the processing of the shoeboxes. While we were there, we heard testimonies from two people who had received shoeboxes as children. Today, they are actively involved in OCC helping to spread the love of Jesus.