Operation Christmas Child

'Tis the season to pack boxes for Operation Christmas Child! Every year each table packs two boxes, one for a boy and one for a girl. Over the next two meetings we will be packing our boxes. Don't know what to pack? The information below is directly from the Samaritan's Purse website. Discussion group leaders can help answer any questions you might have. :)

GIFT IDEAS

TOYS
small cars, balls, dolls, stuffed animals, kazoos, harmonicas, yo-yos, jump ropes, small Etch A Sketch®, toys that light up or make noise (with extra batteries), Slinky®, etc.

SCHOOL SUPPLIES
pens, pencils and sharpener, crayons or markers, stamps and ink pad sets, writing pads or paper, solar calculators, coloring and picture books, etc.

HYGIENE ITEMS
toothbrush, toothpaste, mild bar soap (in a plastic bag), comb, washcloth, etc.

OTHER
Hard candy and lollipops (please double bag all candy), mints, gum, T-shirts, socks, ball caps; sunglasses, hair clips, toy jewelry, watches, flashlights (with extra batteries)

A PERSONAL NOTE
In a separate envelope, you may enclose a note to the child and a photo of yourself or your family. (If you include your name and address, the child may write back.)

DO NOT INCLUDE:
Used or damaged items; war-related items such as toy guns, knives or military figures; chocolate or food; out-of-date candy; liquids or lotions; medications or vitamins; breakable items such as snowglobes or glass containers; aerosol cans

How to Pack
a Shoe Box

1. SHOE BOX

PRINT THESE INSTRUCTIONS AND LABELS
Click image to download.Use an empty shoe box (standard size, please) or a small plastic container. You can wrap the box (lid separately), but wrapping is not required. Most importantly, pray for the child who will receive your gift.

2. BOY OR GIRL?

Determine whether your gift will be for a boy or a girl, and the child’s age category: 2-4, 5-9, or 10-14. Print out the appropriate boy/girl label by downloading the artwork to the right. Mark the correct age category on the label, and tape the label to the top of your box.

3. FILL WITH GIFTS

Fill the box with a variety of gifts that will bring delight to a child.  Use the gift ideas provided on the bottom of this page.

4. INCLUDE YOUR DONATION

Please donate $7 or more for each shoe box you prepare to help cover shipping and other project costs. You can give online by using our “Follow Your Box Donation” option, or you can write a check to Samaritan’s Purse (note “OCC” on memo line) and place it in an envelope on top of the gift items inside your box. If you or your family are preparing more than one shoe box, please make one combined donation.

5. DROP OFF

Place a rubber band around each closed shoe box and drop off at the Collection Center nearest you during our collection week, November 14-21.

For locations and hours of collection visit our Drop-Off Locations page where you can find the nearest place to take your shoe box by entering your ZIP Code or you can call 1-800-353-5949.

You can also send your shoe box gift to:
Samaritan’s Purse
Operation Christmas Child
801 Bamboo Road
Boone, NC 28607

Download the Newsletter

The newsletter is available for download if you need a printed copy. :)

Before You Speak, THINK!

Found this cute downloadable sign from Sweet Blessings. Great reminder for mommies and little ones in our practice of respecting others.

Sense of Respect

"Do Unto Others as You Would Have Them Do To You"

Luke 6:31

This week we will be going over Chapter 5 in MomSense. We'll be discussing respect and how it is relevant to our relationship with our children. I can always remember my mom stressing the commandment that we should honor our mother and our father, but there is a flip side to that coin. As parents we are to love and respect our children. In order to develop respectful children, we need to respect our children.

^"Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged."

Colossians 3:21

 

As parents we are the foremost important model for our children. Our children are watching. They are watching how we treat others, how we treat them, and how we talk about others when they are not in the room. Here are some tips from MomSense on raising respectful children.

• Interact often with your children.
• Value your children's thoughts and opinions.
• Say nice things about other people.
• Use positive forms of communication.
• Do what you say.
• When (not if) you mess up, say, "I'm sorry."

I came across the following poem on Christian-Bloggers. They also shared this sermon from Truth for Life which is worth a listen.

I Took a Piece of Plastic Clay:
(Author Unknown)

I took a piece of plastic clay
And idly fashioned it one day-
And as my fingers pressed it, still
It bent and yielded to my will.

I came again when days were past
The bit of clay was hard at last.
The form I gave it, still it bore,
But I could change that form no more!

I took a piece of living clay,
And gently formed it day by day,
And molded with my power and art
A young child’s soft and yielding heart.

I came again when years were gone:
He was a man I looked upon.
The early imprint still he bore,
But I could change him then no more.

In our discussion groups we will go over your personal MomSense. If you have an opportunity, think over these discussion questions from the end of the chapter.

1. Describe actions that are respectful.
2. Describe actions that are disrespectful.
3. What does or would respect look like in your home?
4. What is one thing you can do today to show your children you respect others?
5. What is one thing you can do today to show your children you have respect for them?

October Calendar

Check out this month's calendar! Please let us know if you have an event you would like to add.