Today is the start of the journey of the Operation Christmas Child’s shoeboxes to their destination in Cambodia and Vietnam.  I am delighted to tell you that we have packed 109 boxes from this Church!  Some boxes have been packed by individual members of our congregation, some by Mainly Music families, some by friends, but the majority were packed here 2 weeks ago by a team of 10 volunteers.

To reach this year’s total number of boxes has required a lot of effort by many people – the Thursday craft group making over 50 beaded bracelets, a team of knitters lovingly knitting 100 teddy bears, soft toys and beanies, the donation of 20 hand-made wooden toys, and many carry bags, skirts and pencil cases sewn from donated pieces of fabric. To this add the generous monetary donations of many people, and items they have bought, and we again at BCUC can be proud of the impact we will have on the lives of 109 young boys and girls.

But there is an added bonus to receiving one of our boxes. Each child will be given the opportunity to learn about Jesus and his love by enrolling  in a 12 week course called The Greatest Journey.  Each shoebox given to a child opens the door for that child to know more about our loving Father.

From here the boxes will go to the warehouse at Holden Hill for checking and processing, then the cartons packed into containers to be shipped to their destinations. Operation Christmas Child staff in Cambodia and Vietnam will then work with the local Churches to see the boxes finally distributed to the children in January of next year.    — Di Croft