Thursday, January 31, 2013

Making Jewelry with Washers

I love love love some of these projects below. I can't wait to have a crafting party with these as some of the projects. I believe this would be especially fun with teen girls, and to add to the shoeboxes of 10-14 year old girls.

The simplest one I found was this one  
I love how easy it is... but it can be added to in many ways. I love the idea of using Bible verses and I love the touch of glitter. Learn how at http://peapodcreations.blogspot.com/2011/04/washer-necklace-simple-tutorial.html

Isn't this cute? And you could do many variations, changing the cord up for ribbon or leather. You could put on small rhinestones or glitter or charms. Or do more than one washer with a smaller one layered on top. So simple and so cute. Learn how at http://www.creationsbykara.com/2011/07/washer-necklace-tutorial.html

This one is more complicated, requiring more supplies.. but the effect is so beautiful I could not resist including it.  This uses special alcohol inks, and it would be beautiful with or without the wire wrapping and beads. The wire and beads could be added to any of the above options too.... see all the possibilities?? Learn how to make this beautiful pendant at http://lifemadecreations.blogspot.com/2009/09/washer-pendant-how-to.html

How about just using nail polish to decorate the washer? Charms could be added, or extras as above.. but this is fun. And with all the sparkly and fabulous nail polishes available in EVERY color, the options are limitless in this easy variation of the washer jewelry.
Learn how to do this at http://www.u-createcrafts.com/2010/06/creative-guest-nail-polish-washers-by.html#

There are so many other variations out there... I have included just a bit more below.


Metal stamps are another addition that could be neat. Don't you love this ribbon on this one??
 






Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Our God SAVES! Our God HEALS!

This story comes from the international director for South Africa: 


One of the teachers who has been trained to teach The Greatest Journey discipleship program had a student in her class named Maya who was older than all the other children because she had a hard time in school. She suffered from meningitis and couldn’t walk or talk very well. She had been spurned by other kids most of her life and could only sit in the back of the room. After listening to the lessons taught by Kahuna, she received Christ and found hope in her life. She communicated to Kahuna that she had knew of 20 kids she wanted to teach but of course she couldn’t speak. So Kahuna got a helper to teach and while teaching, Maya became able to talk and walk! Can you imagine?! What a wonderful testimony to God’s grace in her life!

 To God be the glory!!!

I couldn't resist sharing once again this video from OCC South Africa

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Better than FREE Floss at Safeway!!!

Found this deal over at Mojo Savings!

Reach Dental Floss $1.04 Money Maker at Safeway!

Deal Scenario Through 2/5:
Buy 4 Reach Dental Floss- 99¢
Get Back $3 Catalina

Use (2) $1.00 off any two (2) REACH Floss Products
or use (2) $1.00/2 Reach Dental Floss, 1/6 SS
= $1.04 Money Maker after coupon and catalina
Thanks, Who Spends Money!

What IS Operation Christmas Child???

I wanted to share a bit about Operation Christmas Child for my new readers, who may not know about this program.

Imagine, due to a life of poverty, that your child has never received a gift of any kind, not from you, your family, or from anyone.  Now imagine your child’s face when a shoe box full of gifts is handed to him or her free of charge. This happens millions of times each year through Operation Christmas Child.

Operation Christmas Child is the world’s largest Christmas project.
Operation Christmas Child became a part of Samaritan’s Purse in 1993 when Dave Cooke from Wales handed the project to the organization.  Samaritan’s Purse is based out of Boone, North Carolina and, although founded in 1970 by Dr. Bob Pierce, the current president is Franklin Graham.  The group’s purpose is, “to provide immediate, no-red-tape response to the physical and spiritual needs of individuals in crisis situations – especially in locations where few others are working.”  According to its mission statement, the organization has helped meet the needs of people who are victims of war, poverty, natural disasters, disease and famine with the purpose of sharing God’s love through His Son, Jesus Christ.

Fourteen countries take part in the giving of shoe boxes:  the United States, Canada, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Germany, Hong Kong, Finland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and New Zealand. In 2012, more than 9 million shoeboxes were collected, part of the now 100 million shoeboxes packed and sent. 100 MILLION. 

The shoeboxes go to more than 100 countries around the world, from the former Soviet Union where for decades Christ's name could not be openly spoken, to remote jungles in Central America, and Aids stricken regions of Africa. Several shoe box gifts have also been distributed in North America to Native American and Appalachian children.  One such distribution took place in the Alaskan town of Hooper Bay.  In August of 2006, the community was devastated by fire, and Samaritan’s Purse helped rebuild the town and handed out shoe boxes to those who lost everything.   OCC has donated a total of 88,666 shoeboxes to need children living in the United States, but its focus is international missions.

At each distribution the child is offered a booklet explaining the gospel in their language with bright pictures. Additionally, this ministry often opens doors for Samaritan's Purse to get involved whether building hospitals or schools or digging wells. And most wonderfully, many of these children go onto take the Greatest Journey 12 week discipleship class where upon graduation they will receive a New Testament in their language.

This simple program is changing hearts and changing lives. It brings hope and light and love into some very desperate situations. God IS working miracles!

 


Each OCC brochure (available through the website) includes shoe box labels, and donors can choose if they would like the box to be sent to boy or girl. Then they are to select the age of the recipient.  The ages range from 2-14 years old.   Also included in the brochure is a list of suggested gifts.  Some of the items include school supplies, toys (of all kinds including plush or dolls), hard candy, hygiene items, family photos, notes of encouragement and yes, even shoes.

I encourage you to go to their website to learn the specifics about what you can pack in your shoebox... things like liquids are not allowed, for instance. Or military toys. Shoebox lids and bases must be wrapped separately so that they can be checked to see if customs regulations were met..

After the boxes are brought from local drop off points, (here at Calvary Chapel Klamath Falls, during Collection Week) they are inspected at six warehouses across the United States.  Next, they are shipped by cargo planes, trucks or sea containers to a variety of destinations.  In the remote location of Zimbabwe, one local form of transportation has been used – elephants.  Other colorful modes of transportation have included camels and dog sleds. 

A $7 donation is suggested so that the shipping and printing costs are covered. By using “EZ Give,” the online giving option on the Samaritan’s Purse Web site, donors can follow their box to the destination country where the boxes are hand-delivered by church leaders in that particular country.

Learn about all God is doing through the Impact Tab above... where you can see videos and pictures and read stories about how God is working mightily through this ministry!

Join us.. do something simple.. something beautiful.. for a child. Show YOUR love and God's love in a tangible way. Pack a shoebox with your children to teach them how to give and how to love their neighbor. Pack a shoebox with your ministry groups to carry out the Great Commission. Pack shoeboxes with your organization or school to have an IMPACT in a child's life... a child who likely has never received a Christmas gift.

Operation Christmas Child reaches children!!!

OCC Philippines has started their own page.. it is still under construction but I found THIS on it... and just had to share.

80% of today’s Christians came to Christ between the ages of 2 to 14 years old

Operation Christmas Child brings joy and hope to children in desperate situations around the world through gift-filled shoe boxes and the Good News of God’s love. Since 1993, more than 61 million shoe boxes have been packed, shipped, and delivered across the globe. People of all ages can be involved in this simple, hands-on missions project while focusing on the true meaning of Christmas — Jesus Christ.

Why focus on the children?

  1. Reaching out to children is reaching out to their parents and eventually to the community.
    Caring for children is a wonderful opportunity to witness to the whole family.
  2. The clay is still soft.
    Most people who make significant faith decisions do so before the age of 18.
  3. Because children are the future.
    Childhood years are formative.
Can we afford to leave to chance the spiritual and moral development of our future leaders?




I look forward to seeing how this page grows! I know as they fill in the impact stories and gallery it will only be an encouragement to more prayer for this area that is our region of prayer focus! http://occphilippines.org

Monday, January 28, 2013

Be encouraged!


Celebrating our US total!!! And had to SHARE! 

Below are excerpts from a letter by Jim Harrelson, a worker with Operation Christmas Child written to volunteers. As you can see the total has grown since he wrote this, just a few weeks ago. I was so blessed that I wanted to share parts of it with you. Whether you pack a single box, or many, or serve as a volunteer I want you to KNOW that you are partnering with God in this amazing ministry!
Think of the millions of boys and girls who will have an opportunity to hear and respond to the Gospel of Jesus through this team’s prayers, serving, mobilizing and hard work this year. I think there is much joy in Heaven as we have just finished an incredible year of sharing the Gospel with millions of children in 2012 with over 700,000 being discipled! What an opportunity and privilege. Right now over 6,530,000 more Gospel Opportunities are on their way to millions more (over 9 million internationally!)! .... WOW! Once again we marvel at God’s faithfulness, His desire to gather the children to Himself, and in allowing us to participate with Him. Thank you all for your hard work and faithfulness this year, and in leading through serving in following hard after Jesus and His example.

Since the recession hit in 2009, OCC has grown in the USA by over 1.3 million shoe box gifts! Great testimony to God’s faithfulness and His desire to bless children with redemption, and also of this team’s faithfulness and hard work.

What better picture than 10 year old Melvin in a Hindu/Muslim mountainside village in Fiji, coming to faith through OCC/TGJ, along with his grandfather, who was a Hindu priest and the local witchdoctor, with a small church being planted as a result with 10 baptisms to date! Or the young girl in Latvia who came to faith through OCC/TGJ, faithfully going to the hospital every day for several weeks to read her NT to her dad and to pray for him as he had brain cancer; with the dad coming to faith two weeks before he died. Or the Muslim Imam in a Middle Eastern country who participated in giving out OCC gifts and who watched the Jesus film showed to the children after the distribution, approaching an OCC volunteer, asking for a Bible, being prayed for and coming to faith. There are so many more stories from this processing season as well of prayers being answered, healings, folks coming to faith, many being encouraged and all feeling the love of Christ as lived out by the OCC team.

Sunday, January 27, 2013

Dollar Tree Coupon Matchups

Please remember that Dollar Tree can limit coupons and has a firm limit of printable coupons to only two per day.

These deals run the week of 1/27 and I found them over at thekrazycouponlady.com  

Olay Soap Bar, 1 ct $1.00, regular price Use $1.00/1 Olay Bath Bars, Body Washes or In-Shower Body Lotions, excludes trial/travel size and Simply Olay, Limit of 4 like coupons per household per day from PG 1/27 (exp 2/28)

Final Price: Free

Lady Speed Stick, 1.7 oz $1.00, regular price
Use $1.00/1 Speed Stick Regular or Lady Speed Stick Antiperspirant/ Deodorant, excludes 2 oz, 1.4 oz and .5 oz, Limit of 4 coupons for same product in same transaction from SS 1/20 (exp 2/2)

Final Price: Free


Band-Aid Plastic Comfort Flex, 30 ct $1.00, regular price
Use $0.50/1 – Band-Aid Product, Excludes Trial Size – (healthyessentials.com)

Final Price: $0.50


While you are Dollar Tree, consider picking up an item for the shoebox as well. My favorites? Multipacks of combs. Multipacks of pencil sharpeners. And they carry awesome small balls (footballs or cute cartoon ones) that are perfect for the shoeboxes.

God in a Box

I was thoroughly blessed by this song today.. and by the story shared about God's PERFECT provision in a shoebox. What an awesome God we serve!
Nick Mercer, thank you for sharing this story in your beautiful song! I am SO happy I happened upon this video.

VOLUNTEERING WITH OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD

Have you ever considered becoming a volunteer with Operation Christmas Child??? There are many ways you can do that beyond packing your shoebox. You can be a project leader or helper in your own church or organization. You can help at events throughout the year. OR you could be being called to step into being a YEAR ROUND VOLUNTEER. I love being a CONNECT Year Round Volunteer. There are many needs here in Klamath Falls, and around the nation.

If you feel called for one of these jobs, please please please feel free to contact me and I can share with you a bit more about it. lambofhisflock @ gmail . com

You can make a huge difference! And it is a BLESSING!!!

I have added notes particular to our Klamath area in RED ITALICS below.
OCC Volunteer YearRound

Year-Round Local Volunteers

Use your talents and gifts to share Operation Christmas Child with your local community!

Connect—Serve Year-Round


Children around the world are learning of the hope and love of Jesus Christ through simple shoe box gifts and God is using local volunteers to encourage more and more people to pack these life-changing gifts. At Operation Christmas Child, year-round volunteers, also known as Connect Volunteers, serve on Area Teams to organize, promote, and pray for the ministry in their own area throughout the year. They are actively involved in fulfilling the Great Commission through Operation Christmas Child (OCC) by using their unique gifts and talents. Make an eternal impact on the lives of children by using your gifts to serve the Lord as a Connect Volunteer on your local Area Team in one of these ministry teams:


Church Relations Teams The church relations team in Klamath is ME.. I would love others to help me reach more churches in the area. Such a small percentage of churches throughout the county participate and many have never even heard of OCC.


Connect Volunteers serving on interdenominational Church Relations Teams reach out to local churches to share the joy of Operation Christmas Child and to support them in fulfilling the Great Commission through this hands-on mission project.


Community Relations Teams My 17 year old daughter is the community relations team here (although Abi and I join in to help as needed) but she is going to college this fall... We have had great growth in the schools this year, but NO 4H or scouting groups or organizations participate.. YET.


Throughout the year, Connect Volunteers who serve on the Community Relations Team build relationships with community groups such as schools, businesses, and civic organizations, inviting them to pack shoe box gifts to bring joy and hope to children around the world. They also reach out to local businesses to build promotional partnerships to bring awareness to the ministry.


Prayer Mobilization Teams I am prayer mobilization also... I have been sadly inconsistent with my prayer e-newsletters. If you would like to receive one please let me know.. if you would like to help me with this.. YAY. Prayer is vitally important and I hate that sometimes this gets left undone.


Prayer Mobilization Teams are made up of Connect Volunteers who have a heart for Jesus Christ and believe in the power of prayer. They commit to pray regularly, and enlist other groups to pray, for various aspects of the ministry, including the children who receive shoe box gifts, destination countries, donors, and other volunteers, as well as the logistics of collection and transportation.


Media Relations Teams We have no media relations person in all of Southern Oregon.. I maintain the blog and FB but we have no one going to the newspapers or radio stations at this time.


Media Relations Team Members seek and build relationships with local media outlets including print, radio, and television in order to build awareness of Operation Christmas Child. These Connect volunteers serve with their media partners to share the impact these gifts make on a child’s life and to encourage more people to pack shoe box gifts.


Collection Teams Abi is our Collection leader... so help here is more short term and not year round


Connect Volunteers at shoe box collection sites enjoy using their gifts of organization, planning, and hospitality to welcome donors to their site, collect the carefully wrapped shoe box gifts, and plan the transportation of these powerful gifts to the Processing Centers.


Leadership This is taken care of here as Wayne and Terrie out of Roseburg are our area leaders. Until we grow to 5000 for the area we will be with their team and under their awesome leadership.


With their gifts of motivating and leading others, Coordinators are responsible for establishing goals and strategies for growing shoe box collection as they plan and implement all Operation Christmas Child activities in their areas. They are also responsible for building a strong volunteer team through the recruitment, selection, training and leadership of all the volunteers who currently serve or who will serve on the team.


What’s Next?


Is God calling you to consider serving with this life-changing ministry?
Complete our Volunteer Interest Form

Saturday, January 26, 2013

Your gifts are blessings...

This is an older impact story, simple, but shows how very much your shoebox is a blessing.

Algeria, 2003 - Three years ago we distributed one container of shoeboxes

4/27/2009

Three years ago we distributed one container of shoeboxes. This year I stayed in a camp near that distribution site. One night a lady came to the reception area where I was and asked to see me. She had a note from a child that had been in a box she received three years ago. She had kept the note -actually, it looked like it had just been opened. She talked with us about how her children had been so glad to receive the gifts and she wanted to write the family that had sent the shoebox. So we wrote a thank you letter for her and talked with her for some time. She invited us to her tent for tea the next night. When we got there and saw her tent I realized that she was very poor. A baby lay on the floor and she said the child was hers. I asked her how old the baby was and she said nine months. Later she told us the child only weighed five kilos (approx 12 lbs.). She served us tea, gave us gifts, and kept telling us how blessed she was to receive a gift -no matter that it was three years ago. We shared with her about why we were there -because we loved Jesus and wanted to share with her and also how that families that care about the Sahrawi had put together the gifts. We were touched and blessed by her generosity and her gratefulness.

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Free Paper at Staples and Simple Note Pad Tutorial

I found this deal over at ClipWithPurpose.. an AWESOME OCC blog I have linked in my sidebar.

Staples 8.5×11 Multipurpose Paper $6.99
Submit for $6.99 Easy Rebate with Coupon (Limit 1)
Final Price: FREE after Rebate!
Staples 8.5×11 Pastel Colored Paper $8.99
Submit for $8.99 Easy Rebate with Coupon (Limit 2)
Final Price: 2 for FREE after Rebate!

Plus she has a GREAT tutorial on how to make pads of paper to include in your shoeboxes!
With a simple recipe for padding compound available on her site. Learn more at http://www.clipwithpurpose.com/free-copy-paper-another-pad-tutorial/

or you can buy padding compound at amazon.com and use to make a LOT of pads.

There is a LOVELY tutorial for this at http://www.ohmyhandmade.com/2010/what-we-know/tutorials/tutorial-making-personalized-notepads/
Think of the blessing these pads of paper could be to the child who receives them.. whether decorated or plain... they are a BLESSING. And with FREE PAPER????

Monday, January 21, 2013

Martin Luther King, Jr: "What are you doing for others??"

"Life's most urgent question is, what are you doing for others?" ~ Martin Luther King Jr.

I focus here on Operation Christmas Child.. and sometimes Samaritan's Purse, but there are so MANY ways to do for others.  Human nature is to do for ourselves, but the higher calling is to do for OTHERS. This is Christ's call for our lives. Galatians 5:14: The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself."

Today as we remember Martin Luther King, Jr.... let us remember to do for others. Our family. Our literal neighbors. Our brothers and sisters in Christ. Those in need in our own communities. And those in need around the world. The need is great.

Christ said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few." Operation Christmas Child and Samaritan's Purse are just 2 ways to partner with those who go into the world to bring in the harvest. To show God's love.

Whether you help through these programs or otherwise.... HELP. And in giving and caring be blessed!

I thought I would share a few more of the impact updates from churches around the world.... be encouraged. (And don't forget there are so many more stories at the IMPACT tab above.)

Tajikistan

Oleg, Evangelical Baptist church minister, Kurgan-Tube city.
We were driving a long way, higher and higher into the mountains. Who may live here? – we thought. There are only stones…But then the village appeared. I do not think the people here have ever heard the gospel. Poverty and very primitive life conditions. We told them about Jesus and after this gave presents. Incredible – what the reaction was! The hearts were wide opened. Thank you, OCC, for the key to the hearts of children and adults, Jesus enters them! The gifts give the opportunity to go to whre no one spoke about Jesus before. Thank you!

Haiti

There was an 11-year-old girl whose father was a voodoo priest. She received a shoe box during a distribution at a church. She received Christ during the service, and she went home and read “The Greatest Gift” booklet. When her father’s clients would come to see him, they had to wait in the courtyard if he was with someone else. While they were waiting she would talk with them herself and pray with them. Many of them received Christ and were healed and their problems were resolved. When the father would come out and see that the people were gone, he would ask what happened to them. She told him that she had healed them herself. He was incredulous because he hadn’t taught her the voodoo craft yet. She told him that it wasn’t voodoo; it was the power of Jesus Christ. The father got angry and kicked her out of the house. The pastor took her in, and over the next couple of months the child’s mother became a Christian, and her brothers and sisters too. The father hasn’t yet converted, but he stopped practicing voodoo because the area has really been changed. That’s one of the things about Samaritan's Purse. It’s not just about giving the boxes so the children can receive presents. Giving the boxes actually evangelizes more than you guys think. That’s one of the blessings in Haiti. With Samaritan's Purse helping out with the shoe boxes, it really has helped us bring in souls.

Kazakhstan (2008)

Our family lives afar from city where no work is. In summer the children fish and help in our house. But it is very difficult in winter. They can only clean the snow off. Sometimes the children don’t visit school as they have no winter shoes. When church people visited our home, we had no coal and woods to warm the house. I didn't want to invite them to the cold home, but they said God had prepared the gifts for the children. To be honest only when I heard about the gifts I let them come in. They told about God’s love and I had only one question in my mind "Where was God when we lived in such poverty?" They told a lot about Jesus and promised to come the next day with the gifts. I didn’t believe them. But we were very surprised when the next day these people came again and they has something with them as they promised. They brought the gifts for the children, coal and woods, food and things for the children. The children were happy. There were so many things they needed in their boxes: soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes; and they were so glad to get the pencils and coloring books they had dreamt of so long. The elder boy got a torch. The younger one got a little car with the bench board. We kindled the oven, laid the table and began to watch "Jesus" movie. I understood that if it were not God these people would never come to us. That day I repented and received Jesus as my Lord. Now I have assurance in my children’s future.

We thank the American children who expressed their care for us through these gifts in spite of the crisis.








Sunday, January 20, 2013

Reflecting on the Blessings I have Received from OCC

Today, I woke feeling VERY blessed. You see, yesterday, after many long days of preparation, I hosted a Thank You Celebration for Operation Christmas Child. Leading up to the event I was excited, tired, and more than a bit frazzled and nervous. Today, I am just deeply deeply blessed.

At the event I met so many wonderful people. People who have packed shoeboxes, many for YEARS and YEARS and wanted to learn more. As I shared the stories of the shoeboxes and showed pictures and managed (thank you Lord) not to cry myself until the very last one, I looked out at these lovely people and saw smiles and tears and wonder and joy.

I saw the heart of Jesus shining back at me.

I have always felt blessed to be able to pack a shoebox. Blessed to be able to give. Blessed by the stories of the shoeboxes and how God is working. But now, I meet so many wonderful people who have such a heart for the Lord and for children and for missions. And I find myself rejoicing in the riches of God's blessings and the beauty of His church. From all over the Klamath Area people came... from Chiloquin and Bly and from all over town from all different churches.

If you were one of the people there yesterday... THANK YOU.

You blessed me. God blessed me through you. I pray God blesses you richly for your service and your faithfulness and your encouragement and your love. And I look forward to the day when we can meet again.

Saturday, January 19, 2013

Mini Magnetic Games

I love this idea! I do not typically have Altoid tins around... but I might be tempted now. This idea could also be scaled up to fit in different metal containers.. or could maybe even be done with magnetic paint inside a different container?
The complete instructions for this idea can be found at http://www.artistshelpingchildren.org/kidscraftsactivitiesblog/2011/02/how-to-make-a-magnetic-travel-board-games-set-with-altoids-tins-craft-for-kids/

Friday, January 18, 2013

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Middle East ~ Shoe Box Revolution

The below article is from the Winter 2013 Prayer Point, a quarterly prayer booklet from Samaritan's Purse. Photos are from Operation Christmas Child.

A quiet revolution is unfolding in the Middle East. This revolution offers blessings and redemption.

Simple shoe boxes filled with small toys and basic necessities are opening doors for ministry in places that would otherwise be closed. Over the past 17 years, over 3 million children in predominantly Arab countries have received shoe box gifts through Operaiton Christmas Child. For many it's the first Christmas celebration they have ever experienced.

In a region notorious for hostility toward Christians, the Gospel is being shared throughout countless communities. Churches are growing and working together with one purpose- to share the message of salvation through Jesus Christ.

"Without Operation Christmas Child, we cannot share the Gospel in many areas," said one of our partners. (Because of security concerns, we cannot publish names or locations.)

In one country, a church had only a few children attending before shoe box gifts were distributed. Now 21 children attend with their parents.

In another location, a Muslim imam came to see shoe box gifts distributed. The JESUS film was presented, and the imam cried as he watched it. Later, he approached our partner, requested a Bible, and asked how to be saved.

After one gift distribution in a home, a family began meeting with Christian believers and trusted Jesus as their Savior. The mother began working with the Operation Christmas Child leadership team in that country and said, "I came to Christ because of this gift."

Evangelism in such settings demands great faith, courage, and tact. But the danger does not deter our partners, as they boldly follow the motto of the Apostle Paul: "I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes." (Romans 1:16)

"If you are interested in expanding God's kingdom, pack a shoe box for Operation Christmas Child," said one of our partners in the Arab world.

PLEASE PRAY
*For the safety and witness of Operation Christmas Child national leaders in the Arab world.
*For the Lord to provide more opportunities to share the Gospel through Operation Christmas Child.
*For children and families to come to Jesus Christ in repentance and faith.

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

An Answer To Prayer

Fregane was thrilled when she found a teddy bear inside her shoe box gift. Her new friend immediately went onto her back.

An Answer to Prayer

An Operation Christmas Child shoe box gift is seen as evidence of God’s love and provision
After her daughter died and her son-in-law was injured in a car accident, Mila Wangit had an extra responsibility. She now had to raise her granddaughter.

The Filipino grandmother smiles when she talks about how 2-year-old Fregane meets her at the door holding slippers after a long day working in the garden, where she grows vegetables to earn a meager income.

Fregane often plays with neighborhood children, some of whom have toys and dolls. Mila watches as her granddaughter lovingly strokes a borrowed doll, examines its eyes, and pats it gently. Fregane often carries it around for hours. But when it’s time to go home, Mila also sees Fregane reluctantly return the doll to its owner.

“I just can’t afford to buy such things,” Mila said.

One day, Mila was invited to bring her granddaughter to a special event at the church in their village. Mila strapped Fregane to her back and began the journey. In the Philippines, women use a small sheet, knotted in the front, to carry children who are too young to walk long distances.

Mila did not know Operation Christmas Child gifts would be distributed that day. She listened as the pastor described the love of Jesus. The rows of brightly colored shoe boxes were tangible representations of God’s love for each child.

Mila had been praying that the Lord would provide for her granddaughter. As Mila and Fregane opened the large box neatly wrapped in green paper, a large teddy bear stared back at them.

“I was overjoyed when my grandchild opened the box and saw it was a doll,” Mila said. “She asked me to put it on her back immediately.”

Mila smiled as Fregane proudly walked around with her new friend.

“I am so thankful and grateful,” she said. “I want to bring my grandchild here so she will become a believer when she is older.”

Saturday, January 12, 2013

You Are Changing Their Lives FOREVER

I love the "full circle stories" where we get to see what God has done and IS doing. This story below, of Lejla, is one of the first shoebox stories. She received a shoebox when she was a child in Bosnia, when Operation Christmas Child was just starting... and now she packs shoeboxes.

I hope you enjoy the video and are blessed.





Lejla Allison, whose life was changed after receiving a shoe box gift, passes the blessing on to other children.

Evidence of God's Love

A girl growing up in war-torn Bosnia sees an answer to prayer when she receives a shoe box gift


Lejla Allison’s happy childhood was turned upside down by the bitter ethnic conflict in Bosnia in the 1990s. The rolling green hills that surrounded her village of Dubrave erupted with gunfire and shelling. The shadow of death was a constant presence. Hunger, fear, and misery were daily concerns.

But God had not forgotten Lejla or her family. She was among the first group of children to receive gift-filled shoe boxes when Operation Christmas Child was launched in 1993 in Bosnia.

Lejla, 11 years old at the time, remembers how much the brightly colored box with the beautiful items inside cheered her heart and kept her from despair. This was evidence that God loved and cared about her.

“I truly felt blessed,” she said. “I knew that God, my real God, had answered my prayers. I was so overwhelmed I started to cry. But these were not the tears I was used to. This time they were tears of joy. This time I knew it was worthwhile to keep on living.”

Today Lejla is married to Jesse, whom she met while working on a military base in Bosnia. Jesse was serving with NATO on a peace-keeping mission as a civilian contractor. They were married in her village and lived there for 8 months before moving to the United States.

Lejla and Jesse now live in Williamsburg, Pennsylvania, where she works as a certified nursing assistant and cake decorator and he is employed as an elevator technician. They are the proud parents of a 6-year-old son, Calvin Gene, and a 4-year-old daughter, Jessica Lee.

Ironically, Lejla was not familiar with Operation Christmas Child by name until her sister-in-law told her several years ago about a shoe box packing project for needy children around the world. Leyla immediately made the connection.

“I got one of those boxes when I was younger!” Lejla exclaimed.

Because she knows first-hand what a blessing a shoe box gift can be to a hurting child, Lejla encourages anyone who wants to touch a life with Jesus’ love to consider packing a box.

“It is hard to put into words what that box meant to me,” she said. “It really changed my life. Now, thanks to the Lord, I get to pack some of those boxes and I get to pray that these children learn about my God. I pray that every one of these boys and girls will know that God loves them the same way I knew He loved me, because He gave His greatest gift, His only Son.”

Friday, January 11, 2013

Tell Them They Are BEAUTIFUL

This is another one of the beautiful and touching blogs from Muthering Heights about her Operation Christmas Child distribution. Once again she stirred my heart. Taste a bit of her blog here but... please read the whole thing at http://www.mutheringheights.com/2012/12/day-two-why-pack-a-shoebox-because-little-girls-grow-up/ 

NOTE: Unfortunately the above link is no longer operational... now I wish I had copied the whole blog post... it was touching beyond words... but be blessed by this tiny section.

Who will tell these girls, living in such poverty, that they’re beautiful?  Who will tell them they are precious, unique, irreplaceable?  Who will tell them they matter…that God knows their names, the number of hairs, swept carefully back, on their darling little heads?
You will.

You will tell them with hair bows and pencils and strawberry candies.  You will tell them with notebook paper and silly bands and a toothbrush and socks. With a little box of gifts that says, “I see you.  Jesus sees you too, and he calls you beautiful.”

I love to make the girls who receive the box feel beautiful... putting in jewelry (homemade or play jewelry), play crowns, hair accessories, clothing, etc. To let the child know she is precious to God and beautiful!!!! Because of that I have often posted craft ideas here.... here are some ones I have done before, and some new ones.

Pillowcase Dress http://klamathocc.blogspot.com/2012/06/quick-and-cute-pillowcase-dress.html


Floral hairpins http://klamathocc.blogspot.com/2012/03/crafting-weekend-floral-hair-clips.html


Crowns http://klamathocc.blogspot.com/2012/05/beautiful-crowns-for-shoebox-craft-idea.html


And now a new one.. that I love! From the blog Sew Delightful a simple craft to make floral hairbands for younger girls at http://sewdelightful.blogspot.com/2012/12/halo-headband.html

and a different variation for older ones at http://sewdelightful.blogspot.com/2012/12/headband-tutorial.html

Thursday, January 10, 2013

A Box Full of Love

The below is just a small taste of a blog from a distribution.... but it hit me hard. Please consider reading the whole thing, and her other entries from the distribution at http://www.mutheringheights.com/2012/12/the-real-impact-of-a-shoebox/

Let’s say that I’m someone you don’t know in the Unites States, and I have lots of opportunities to do charitable things around the holidays.  What would you say to me – why should I pack an Operation Christmas Child Shoebox?

Edison: You should definitely pack a shoebox.  This is something that goes beyond the toys, beyond the candy, beyond the booklet [The Greatest Journey discipleship program booklet] – this is something that goes straight to the hearts of children.  It’s a box full of love, full of hope that you bring into the country.  When you grow up in an environment like this, you feel unloved.  You wonder, “Will God really care about me?  Look where I live!  I don’t have anything: I don’t have food, electricity, water or health care, my school isn’t good…” But when you bring in an Operation Christmas Child shoebox, the whole thing changes and the child starts to see things differently.  It’s like a huge sign in the middle of the desert telling them there’s water here, and it’s the water of the love of God.  The water of the hope that Jesus can give to the hearts of people.  I think that’s the whole reason behind packing an Operation Christmas Child shoebox.

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Operation Christmas Child Canada in SENEGAL

Helping Children in Senegal

Villages in Senegal, Africa, are open to hearing about God's love after children have been helped through Operation Christmas Child shoe box gifts.

Maxime Kouda, a church pastor and head of the National Leadership Team in Senegal, Africa that coordinates Operation Christmas Child in the west African nation, is thrilled that more than 341,000 shoe boxes from Canada have been distributed there during the past six years, after 9,000 in Year One.

However, he wants the number of Operation Christmas Child  shoe boxes contributed by Canadians to continue growing each year because he knows first-hand how many hurting children there are in Senegal, Africa and other parts of the developing world for whom an Operation Christmas Child  shoe box can be life transforming.

"It tells them they are loved," Kouda says. "It gives them hope." And often, "it introduces the children and their families to the saving power of Jesus Christ."

When distributing the Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes in partnership with local churches, in Senegal, Africa Samaritan's Purse offers each child an illustrated booklet in his or her native language that tells the story of Jesus' life, death and resurrection. Children aren't required to accept the booklet, but many do.

Also, a couple of weeks after Operation Christmas Child  shoe boxes are distributed, local churches partner with Samaritan's Purse in offer a voluntary Bible study - known as The Greatest Journey - to children and families.

"People here in Senegal (where the population is 95 per cent Muslim) are generally hostile to the Gospel," Kouda explains. "But when we distribute the Operation Christmas Child  shoe boxes, and show we really care about the Muslim children as well as the Christian children, we see an openness that wasn't there before."

For example, in one Senegalese village where an Operation Christmas Child  shoe box distribution happened in 2005, the village chief - a Muslim - remains one of the program's biggest fans of Operation Christmas Child.

"I'm very happy to work with the Christians (including local church leaders) to help children receive Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes," says Salion Gueye, 81, who joined the local Islamic imam in officiating at the 2005 shoe box distribution in their village. "We're glad to have received shoe boxes, and we thank the people of Canada."

Gueye still has the photos of the mother and daughter from Canada who packed an Operation Christmas Child  shoe box that his grandson received in 2005. "I'd like to meet those people and say 'thank you' to them for the happiness they brought to my grandson and my village."

Kouda says at least 2,000 children and adults in Senegal, Africa have publicly committed their lives to Christ through Operation Christmas Child and its discipleship program.

"Entire families have made commitments," adds Pastor Victor Dyatta, another member of Senegal's National Leadership Team for Operation Christmas Child.

Dyatta recalls one child who dedicated her life to Jesus, then began attending a local church. Her mother wasn't happy with this, and arrived at the church one Sunday to order her daughter home. The mother couldn't get her daughter's attention, and had to wait until the service ended before speaking to the girl.

By then, Mom had heard the pastor's message of salvation. It pulled on her heart so much during the next few days that she began attending church with her daughter, and eventually made her own commitment to Christ.

"We have many stories like this," Kouda says. "Operation Christmas Child is helping our churches grow in Senegal."

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Calvary Chapel Klamath Falls Youth Packing Party Video

Well, here it is... the video from our youth packing party. Our church's FIRST youth packing party. And it was SO fun and SUCH a blessing.





A HUGE thank you to all who donated for the party, to every child who shared their love and prayers as they packed a shoebox, and to Pastor Andy who made this video!

Rite Aid Christmas Clearance!!

Rite Aid has marked down Christmas stuff 75% including LOTS of great deals on toys and stocking stuffers.

Some of the finds to be had include:

webkinz for 1.49
stuffed bears for 1.49
baby doll with extras for 2.50
bead kit for 33 cents
wooden puzzle for 33 cents
craft kits 33 cents
and LOTS more.. check it out!!!

A Doll to Love

One gift that can be such a blessing to a child is a doll. They can be hard to find on sale, so keep your eyes open. Here are a couple of stories of precious children and their baby dolls:

Philippines
2013-01-02


Hanna and her new doll
Hannah Ruth, is a lovely two-year old girl. I spotter her cheerfully cuddling her new baby doll from the shoebox. Then her mother told me that one day, along the street, Hannah found a ragged doll with a broken head in a garbage bag. She brought it home and used to place it beside her when she sleeps. And how happy she was when she received a brand new baby doll that just looks like the same with her old doll. Her whole family was amazed at how God answered that little desire of Hannah's heart. With this incident, they were reminded once again that truly God answers prayers. God can hear every word, thought, and desire. Even the slightest whisper of a child, He can decipher.

2013-01-02

A blessed day in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, I am the mother of Jelly Mae Mariano. My daughter is only two years old so I am writing this letter in her behalf. Thank you so much for the gift she received, including a doll. She is so happy to finally have a real doll to play with. She even sleeps with her toy. Before, she used to play with a bottle of coke as her doll. So when we found out that there will be gifts for children, I told my daughter to pray to Papa Jesus that she will get a doll as a gift. Upon opening the gift box, she found a big doll which she embraced immediately. I ask my daughter to thank Papa Jesus for answered prayer. I never expected her to get a doll and it is a big one. I almost shed a tear of joy; my daughter could not contain her happiness. That is why I am thanking first of all the Lord Jesus Christ and secondly, the Samaritan's Purse. The bible says that it is more blessed to give than to receive. This is all I can say with this letter of thanksgiving. May you be blessed by our Lord Jesus.

Monday, January 7, 2013

Chalkboard Book

I found this idea over at http://whipup.net/2011/09/10/guest-blogger-series-creative-chalkboards/ and loved it! So versatile. The concept is this.. take a board book - from the dollar store or thrift store or garage sale.. and make it into a blackboard book with gesso, blackboard paint, and paint markers for added fun.

You could have specialty pages... a message from you in paint marker, or a Bible verse.

You could draw on lines for handwriting practice or math facts. And you could easily make ones sized for the shoebox. It could be a wonderful addition for both art and school.

Learn the how to's at the address above and do share if you have ideas for other pages.



Sunday, January 6, 2013

Coupon Deals at Dollar Tree

If you got today's paper... worth noting at Dollar Tree: 

Colgate Max Fresh Toothpaste, 4.6 oz $1.00, regular price
Use $0.75/1 Colgate Toothpaste, 4 oz or larger from SS 1/6 (exp 1/26)
Final Price: $0.25


Colgate Sparkling White Toothpaste, 4 oz $1.00, regular price
Use $0.75/1 Colgate Toothpaste, 4 oz or larger from SS 1/6 (exp 1/26)
Final Price: $0.25




Also..... Here in Klamath, Michael's Crafts Christmas stuff is mostly at 80% off. Additionally there were 4 packs of cute pencils in the clearance bins for a quarter and small journals too. And wrapping paper as well. Maybe worth checking out. :)

Full Circle Stories

A term you will hear often with Operation Christmas Child is "full circle story." This is when a child who has received a shoebox comes to the US and then has the opportunity to PACK shoeboxes. Their stories are so encouraging and give us another perspective on the whole ministry. I love these stories... I love seeing a glimpse of what God is doing through this program.

This is a video from College of the Ozarks, where Operation Christmas Child is a big deal... and in the video you hear not one, but 3 full circle stories.

Enjoy and be blessed.

Saturday, January 5, 2013

Where Our Shoeboxes Are Going ~ The Philippines

The Philippines are where a LOT of the shoeboxes go from our area, and so I have shared many videos over the year from the Philippines, but I love these videos and in case YOU haven't seen them, I am sharing them again. Here is one of my favorites.

Friday, January 4, 2013

Where Are Our Shoeboxes Going? God is WORKING.

This is a video I have shared before, but since some of the shoeboxes from our area went to Panama, I could not resist sharing this one again. Know that our God is working.. and pray as you pack your shoeboxes... and continue to pray...


Thursday, January 3, 2013

WALMART CHRISTMAS CLEARANCE 75% off!!!

Walmart has marked its Christmas items down 75%!!!

18 packs of washcloths are $1. These are in the towel section.. I left quite a few but buried and hard to get among the other colors of 18 packs. These are NOT marked on sale so they likely will not sell out quickly. What a GREAT DEAL!

6 packs of stencil rulers are 25 cents.

Wrapping Paper is 75% off.

Packs of plastic cups are 25 cents.

And lots of other great finds!

Shoebox Thank You Celebration in Klamath Falls

This info is specifically for those of you in the Klamath area.... this year we are having an Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Thank You Celebration on Saturday, January 19th, at 2pm at Calvary Chapel Klamath Falls.

We will share the stories of what God is doing here in Klamath, here in our churches and schools!  And we will be sharing what God is doing around the world through Operation Christmas Child. There will be pictures and videos and stories of God's work specifically at the Uganda distribution that included area volunteers and from the Philippines (where our boxes largely go.)

Of course, every celebration also has sweets. There will be goodie bags and door prizes. And a good time for all. If you packed a shoebox this year... or donated time or goods... please come and celebrate with us all God is doing through Operation Christmas Child!!

If you are planning on coming please let me know so that I can plan for you... RSVP at lambofhisflock @ gmail . com

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

COUPONS!!!

Jessica from Clipwithpurpose.com has one more video in her series on how to save money while filling shoeboxes.. on using coupons!




Are you ready to start filling those shoeboxes for LESS MONEY?? I am. Oh, and you might just find ways to save money on your OWN stuff too!!

Some of my favorite sites for couponing and saving are
clipwithpurpose.com
thekrazycouponlady.com
moneysavingmom.com

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

A New Day of a New Year = A New Stash for OCC

Today I took my first inventory of my stash for Operation Christmas Child. Because it is my hope to go to the Operation Christmas Child volunteer conference this year... I am not planning on donating enough for 100 boxes, but I am continuing in my shopping for my own family and to support some of the packing parties in the area with what deal I can find. To that end, so far I have:

2 floss = Free
2 toothpastes = Free
12 soap = $1.20
36 washcloths = $4
144 Christmas pencils = $3
10 Bic pens = Free
36 mini packs of crayons = $1.48
4 reams of paper = free
12 plastic Christmas cups = $1.50
12 flavored lip balm = $1.50
4 hairbrushes = $2 (cute ones too!!!)
Photo Paper = FREE (for printing photos to go in shoeboxes)

All this for UNDER $15!!!! Quite a good start to my stash. :)  These specials were all shared HERE as I found them.... so watch my blog and see how much you can get for so little! If you are packing just 1-2 boxes.... you can fill them with mostly FREE stuff. (You will likely HAVE to buy a plush and a couple of toys.. but the rest is usually available FREE if you are watching for the deals!)


I have also been blessed with a donation of 6 pairs of shoes and 6 sets of socks and extra fun stuff from a generous employee of Payless Shoes!

I have also received a promise of 50 hand made tote bags for our youth packing party!!

And I have received donations of wrapping paper!!



PLUS did you know that if you save just 15 cents a week ... by November you will have your $7 to cover shipping?? Sounds pretty painless, doesn't it???