During 19th-21st March 2010, we sent a team of six to Manila and visited 4 local churches to give out gift boxes. Each church was crowded with over 200 kids aged between 2 to 14 eagerly waiting for our arrival. Most of them were street kids living near the churches. There were also some Sunday school pupils and their friends. They all lined up in several rows according to age and gender. After praying together, we started to give each of them an OCC gift box and a gospel booklet ‘The Greatest Gift of All’ printed in the Filipino language. When the children received the gifts, their eyes all gleamed with excitement. Having ensured that each of them had received a gift box, we invited them to count down together before opening. All of a sudden, bursts of laughters, cheering and screaming exploded one after another. Joyous atmosphere infected the whole venue and everyone was very pleased, even though the indoor temperature rose as high as 39℃ and, of course, without air-conditioning! Many were so excited that they ran around telling others what gifts they had received. Among them was a birthday girl who was overjoyed to see in her box a coveted velvet dress of her size, as if it was a birthday present specially prepared for her by our heavenly Father.
Another memorable scene was to meet and hear the first hand testimony of a teenage leader in a dilapidated village church. Eight years ago, he received a similar OCC gift box. After understanding the gospel, he decided to accept Jesus Christ as his Savior and attended the training course afterwards. Today, he is sixteen but already a youth leader helping out in the children’s ministry at church. Through him, we can see God’s blessings reaching out to the local church communities as well.
OCC gift boxes do not only bring joy to children, but also serve as a tool in sharing God’s love and hope with them, their parents, and even the whole community.
We are looking forward to your participation in this year’s Operation Christmas Child. We hope that we can collect more gift boxes for children in need in 2010. Gift collection will start from November 28 till December 8. Further information will be posted on our website shortly.
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