This blog was posted both on her blog and on SP website.... I was so blessed by not just THIS blog post about the distribution but by her blog as well.... so check it out, and learn about Whitney's story.. about her testimony and about Cambodia and the work Samaritan Purse does there!
Here are some excerpts from her post... this is by her husband, Andrew:
Yesterday I had the privilege of joining with the team of visitors from Oxley College, Australia, to give shoeboxes to children in a rural village church. Although I have been in Cambodia working with Samaritan's Purse {SP} for nearly 3 years now, this is the first time I have been able to to participate in an Operation Christmas Child {OCC} shoebox distribution. I love how SP makes every effort to look for ways to integrate and work with local, nationally led churches - even the least of them.The church building is so small and the only one for miles so it was 'standing room only' for some. Here the speakers give a short presentation to the villagers about the meaning of Christmas.
Only one shoebox is given to each child in their lifetime, with the goal of reaching every child around the globe.
A small box, filled with small toys, given to small children in a small church in a small village in a small country brings big smiles to kids and adults.
Then suddenly, at the count of three, they open their shoeboxes...and try to figure out what to do with everything they get from slinkies to teddy bears, jump ropes to schools supplies.
If you have never been able to be a part of an OCC shoebox distribution, I highly recommend adding it to your bucket list. Or maybe if you've been a supporter of OCC for many years, consider supporting the other projects we are doing in Cambodia - for the glory of God and the good of the village.
But please.. don't stop here.. go to her blog and read the whole post! And check out more of her blog to see what the Lord is doing in Cambodia and through Samaritan's Purse.
Just some info about Cambodia to put it in perspective:
cambodia stats from unicef
- Infants dying before reaching age 1 - 6.8%
- Children dying before reaching age 5 - 8.8%
- Births without a midwife or doctor - 56%
- Average annual income in 2009 - $650
- Population living below international poverty line of $1.25 per day - 26%
- Life expectancy (in 2009) - 62 years
- Estimated adult HIV prevalence - 0.5%
- Population without improved sanitation - 71%
- Population not using improved (clean) drinking water sources - 39%
- Children under-five suffering from stunting - 40%
And I also had to share this from the blog about one of the water projects they work on... water, such a precious gift of life, that we so easily take for granted!
This week we had the privilege of hosting a team of students from Greenpoint College, Australia. I always enjoy having visitors, but this week gave me a fresh look at the people we are helping through the eyes of those who have never seen it before. It also gave me some time to test out our new camera. The following pictures are from visits to a couple of the projects I manage: Water for Kids and Water for Families - BioSand Filter.
On Friday, we took them to visit the Water for Kids project at one of the primary schools where we provided clean water supply, water filters, and toilets in 2013. It's amazing seeing the difference from what the school was like last year to now. Before this year, the students typically would scoop out water from a dirty pond to drink when they were thirsty. As a result, they were often getting sick and missing school. They also had no toilets to use at the school, making the area smelly and unsanitary.
Thanks to the team and our supporters, 460 students at this school now have a toilet to use and are enjoying clean, safe water. Their health is better now they are able to attend school more often. The principal told me, "The number of students here has increased by 25% because more and more parents want their children to go to a school that will improve their health and not make them sick."
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