Operation Christmas Child 2008

Just ine Emerson, the Southeast Coordinator, sent me this information to pass on to each of the Ketchikan area coordinators:

Boxes – Our SE boxes will go to California for procession again this year. They could go to any of 90+ countries. Please encourage people to pack a regular size shoebox (mens shoe size 8 is the standard) or use a 6.5 qt size plastic box rather than large boxes.

Shipping Donation – People can give the $7.00 donation for shipping on-line rather than including it in the boxes at www.samaritanspurse.org. If you pack multiple boxes you can use the EZGIVE on-line option for all of them with one credit card billing.

Follow Your Box – This is a REALLY cool new feature. If you use EZGIVE you can print out a label to put on your box(es). When your box is about to be shipped, they will scan the label and send you an e-mail letting you know to what country your box is going and it will also include things to pray about for that particular location.

Website – Check out the www.samaritanspurse.org website for all kinds of info about OCC.

Did you know that boxes are given out through local churches whenever possible and that a booklet that is like a condensed picture Bible in the language of the country goes with each box? Even more wonderful is that each booklet is read by an average of 27 people. There is a follow-up Bible Mailbox Club for the children. Since 1999 over 3 million children have completed the 10 lessons of this discipleship program.

Stories – Erin Forsythe, a Northwest US OCC Coordinator told these stories when she was in Juneau in July. Both of these stories are from what she saw in Peru . Erin said that both of these stories showed her that God really does orchestrate who gets what box and He knows what will bless a child and his or her parent(s):

At one distribution at the edge of a huge garbage dump where the children lived in shacks surrounding the dump and spend their days combing through garbage, a girl of about 7 came with her mother. The shoebox she was given was all pink with pink wrapping paper and a cut out picture of “Strawberry Shortcake” on the top. When the girl opened the box there was a Strawberry Shortcake doll and her pink clothes, toys and accessories. The mother left, indicting that she would be back. When she returned she had in her hand a filthy cardboard cut out of Strawberry shortcake, which she had found in the dump several years before. She had given it to her daughter and told her that some day she hoped and prayed that she might be able to have such a doll.

At another distribution place there was a boy of about 5 who wanted to sit on the lap of his mother while the boxes were handed out. Erin was dismayed that his box contained only a Costco size bundle of socks and 4 pencils, nothing else. (If a box is full, nothing will be added to it. This is also true if it has a note from the sender in it. Otherwise companies donate stuffed animals, toothbrushes, etc. that are added to some boxes at the Processing Center ). His mother started crying when the box was opened and Erin thought she was unhappy with her son’s box compared to those of the other children. But then his mother told Erin , through the interpreter, that her son’s feet had been burned badly when he was younger. He only had one pair of socks, which were like filthy rags. His mother had prayed that he might someday have nice socks to protect his feet and so here they were. Also, he had recently received a notebook from his church to write in, but he had nothing to write with, so he was delighted with those 4 pencils.

You may want to share this information with your church family, school children, etc.

We are still in need of people to serve in Children’s Church and Nursery. The sign-up list is on the back bulletin board. Currently, we have an immediate need for Children’s Church for April 6. Thank you for those who serve in this critical area of ministry!

Saturday, April 5 ~ Spring Clean-up Event at 9:00 a.m.
CBC needs some TLC and a good scrubbing! Cleaning supplies (and lunch) will be provided. Needed: 1 or 2 power washers. Many hands = light (and fun) work! Please pray about how you might serve!
Items to be cleaned (for those who like a particular area/task and desire to plan for it in advance):
- power wash church sign and siding
- wash outside and inside windows, including window screens
- disinfect all toys and objects in the church nursery
- shampoo carpet in nursery
- clean kitchen cabinets & drawers inside and out
- clean refrigerator and ovens inside and out
- disinfect all kitchen counters and surfaces
- thorough cleaning of both bathrooms (including stalls, fixtures, etc.)
- clean and polish bookshelves
- clean and polish wooden doors, trim, etc.
- other areas where you may see a need

Just a friendly reminder that Daylight Savings Time begins this weekend. Please “Spring Forward” one hour!