{"id":2669,"date":"2014-09-26T10:00:47","date_gmt":"2014-09-26T14:00:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/womensministrytoolbox.com\/?p=2669"},"modified":"2018-10-22T08:52:11","modified_gmt":"2018-10-22T12:52:11","slug":"message-box","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/womensministrytoolbox.com\/message-box\/","title":{"rendered":"My Message in a Box"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"My<\/a><\/p>\n

What if you could whisper a message in the ear of a child in another country?<\/p>\n

What if you could send that\u00a0boy or girl a box filled with gifts especially for them?<\/p>\n

What would you say to them?<\/p>\n

What would you send?<\/p>\n

This is the challenge I was given for Operation Christmas Child <\/a>this year.<\/p>\n

Our family has been packing shoe boxes <\/a>for at least 10 years now. Most of our boxes have been packed for boys the same age as ours (now 15 and 12).<\/p>\n

This year is going to be different.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m approaching my boxes with intentionality.<\/p>\n

I want to send a message to\u00a0each recipient.<\/h4>\n

I\u2019m a savvy shopper and I pick up items throughout the year for our boxes as I come across things in the clearance section at Wal-Mart, at the Dollar Tree, and even at the local Harris Teeter.<\/p>\n

A few months back a scored a sizeable amount of craft supplies on clearance at the grocery store. Color Wonder, Model Magic, coloring books (not pictured), and some other fun things.<\/p>\n

I knew one of my shoe boxes needed to be for a budding artist.<\/h5>\n

I am trusting and praying that God will put that box in the hands of a child that needs it.<\/p>\n

\"OCC<\/a><\/p>\n

We\u2019re going to include a colorful note that says:<\/p>\n

You are creative! You are special! You are talented! You are loved by a family in North Carolina, USA!<\/em><\/p>\n

I have a heart for reaching teen girls and also wanted to do a box for a young woman\u00a0who needs to hear some encouragement.<\/h5>\n

God reminded me that I already had just what I needed.<\/p>\n

Some of you may have seen my post on The Sonshine Box<\/a>. Nothing is more encouraging than the sunshine \u2013 and the true Sonshine!<\/p>\n

I pulled out my bag filled with yellow goodies and picked out some items with a young teen girl in mind. Please note: Candy may no longer be sent in shoeboxes.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\"OCC<\/a><\/p>\n

I\u2019ve created a new Sonshine printable just for the occasion and am including the free printable for you to use if you\u2019d like.<\/p>\n

Click to download the free PDF. occ sonshine cards<\/a><\/p>\n

\"OCC<\/a><\/p>\n

On the front she’ll see: May this box of Sonshine fill you with great joy and happiness!<\/em><\/p>\n

On the back, I\u2019ll write: You are beautiful! You are loved! You are prayed for by a family in North Carolina, USA!<\/em><\/p>\n

My challenge to you this fall is:<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. If your church does not already collect boxes for Operation Christmas Child<\/strong> jump in and coordinate the effort.<\/li>\n
  2. Pack your box intentionally<\/strong> this year. Think about the message you want to send. Boxes are\u00a0packed for either a\u00a0boy or a\u00a0girl ages\u00a02-4, 5-9, or 10-14.<\/li>\n
  3. Pray for these boxes!<\/strong> Pray\u00a0that they will be placed in the perfect hands. That God will smooth their transport and that many will come to know Christ through this program.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    I\u2019ll be looking for boxes packed with a message as I serve for the first time this year at the OCC Charlotte\u00a0Processing Center<\/a>. Maybe I\u2019ll see your box!<\/p>\n

    \"Operation<\/a><\/p>\n

    Get packin’! Boxes are collected the 3rd week of November.\u00a0For more details\u00a0visit the OCC website<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    Your turn to share: What message will you send in your Operation Christmas Child box this year?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

    You may also want to read:<\/strong><\/p>\n

    My Message in a Box<\/a>
    \n    Serving in the OCC Processing Center – Part 1<\/a>
    \n    Serving in the OCC Processing Center – Part 2
    \n<\/a>    How to Pack a Better Shoebox
    \n<\/a>    What It’s Like to Give a Child a Shoebox<\/a>
    \n    How to Host an Operation Christmas Child Packing Party
    \n<\/a>    How Your Women’s Ministry Can Get Involved with Operation Christmas Child<\/a><\/p>\n