More Village OCC Events- in Cuatlaxtecoma and El Organal

On another trip out to Ixcamilpa, we lead two other Operation Christmas Child events in neighboring villages.

Cuatlaxtecoma is a tiny village of only 112 people.  The village auditorium was covered in goat and donkey manure, mixed with the dust (obviously the village

herds passed through the auditorium on the way to grazing.)

When the children heard about a kids’ party, they rushed to attend.  About 35 children arrived (practically all the children of the village!) and were thrilled with all the

games, songs and Gospel presentation.  One girl in particular, Anayeli (12 years old) was especially attentive to the Gospel and confidently shouted “Me!” when we asked who wanted to become a child of God believing in Jesus Christ’s sacrifice for forgiveness. 

The children were so surprised that there was a shoebox gift from Jesus for each one of them!

One boy received a flashlight, and was so excited that now he would have light to walk to the bathroom at night (a definite necessity in this area, as many makeshift bathrooms are located

outside the house simply enclosed by a curtain.

Later in the afternoon, we lead a children’s event in the slightly larger village of El Organal.  There, over 55 children heard the Gospel and received their shoebox.

The children were not the only ones grateful for our presence- their parents were profusely grateful for our attention and love to their children.  One family in Cuatlaxtecoma invited us to their home (outside kitchen) after the event – where we ate tortillas hand-made over a woodburning stone stove,

beans, and peanuts – all prepared from the family’s own harvest.  Another family in El Organal invited us back another day to go hunting with them, or join them for their watermelon harvest- as a show of thanks for our presence.

Visiting OCC Events around Tlaxcala State

After unloading the shoeboxes from the big Operation Christmas Child truck, Paco and I have the joy of visiting all the OCC events in participating churches around the state of Tlaxcala.

Such a variety of events!- some in small villages, others in cities;

some in established churches, others in church plants just starting; some with 200 children, others with 50 children; some inside, some outside… but all with prepared with love for the children and for our Lord!

The children are all so thankful

and pleased with their shoebox gifts!  (Because I look obviously American, many children come up to personally thank me for their gift. I remind them that it is not from me, but from Jesus who loves and knows them!)

This year I was touched by one

boy, Antonio, age 7, who, after opening his shoebox, approached to ask me what a little box was that he had received.  I explained that it was a toothbrush holder.  He face immediately dropped: “But I don’t have a toothbrush.” Praying, I started to search through his shoebox with him

(thinking: surely whoever packed a toothbrush holder packed a toothbrush as well!)- and, sure enough, we pulled out a new toothbrush and toothpaste.  Antonio was thrilled!  He immediately opened his toothbrush to store it inside his new toothbrush holder.

Though the gifts are exciting, the most important part of each event is the presentation of the Gospel of salvation in Jesus Christ.  The children will lose/break/outgrow/finish their shoebox gifts, but the gift of eternal salvation and peace and hope in the Lord will never ever fade. 

Some of the participating churches do not have much experience in presenting the Gospel to children in a visual,

concise, easy-to-understand way. In those churches, I had the honor of sharing the Good news with the children in the event!  What a joy to spread the precious gift of Jesus Christ to so many children!

Buenavista Village "Operation Christmas Child"

After discovering the damaged village of Buenavista (in Ixcamilpa, Puebla) after the great earthquake last September, we have been moved by the great poverty and need of the people.  What better place for Operation Christmas Child?!  The children there need a gift- not only a shoebox, but the hope

and presence of Jesus Christ!

Moving 200 shoebox gifts, along with materials to lead a children’s evangelism event (speakers, microphone, decorations, candy…) 5 hours away, through curvy mountain-side roads to the edge of civilization is no small task. 

We praise the Lord for providing a team of fellow servants, both from our church and all the way from Kentucky!, and two other cars to reach this village.

Upon arriving, we were discouraged to see that the open auditorium of the village was

littered with alcohol and soda bottles, paper plates, and leftovers from a wedding reception the day before- not to mention a group of drunken men hanging around outside questioning our business in the village.  However, within a few hours we had everything set up and had the village loudspeaker

announce our invitation to all the children for a Christmas party!

100 children attended- where they played games, sang songs, and most importantly, heard the Gospel of salvation in Jesus Christ!  And, they were absolutely thrilled with their

shoeboxes! (Their village had never received Operation Christmas Child before).

Testimonies:
When asked what her favorite gift in her box was, one little girl replied: “Everything! Because it all comes from Jesus just for me!”

Another 10-year-old boy excitedly pulled binoculars out of his box, exclaiming: “Now I can care for my sheep even from far away!”

When opening his box, a 14-year-old boy cried out: “This is exactly what I needed” He held up a pair of scissors.  He explained that he needed them

for school and hadn’t been able to buy them. 

The kids must have been excited because the very next day all 100 of them returned for the first class of “The Greatest Journey” – the children’s discipleship program that follows the shoebox event,

which teaches them more about Jesus from the Bible. 

Immediately after the children’s event, a Bible study was offered for the adults- 25 people stayed to hear the Word of God. 

We believe the Holy Spirit is working in Buenavista- which

makes sleeping in our car, travelling curvy roads, using less-than-adequate bathrooms, being sweaty and dusty (with a 1-year-old in tow!) all worth the effort.

OCC Truck of 10,500 shoeboxes arrives- on Christmas Day!!

As part of the Operation Christmas Child team, we, along with the churches of Tlaxcala, wait excitedly all Christmas season for the big truck with all shoeboxes to arrive. This was the first year that the truck arrived on Christmas Day morning!- our Christmas gifts from the Lord!

Unloading, counting, storing and distributing 10,500 shoeboxes is a lot of work! We wondered if any volunteers would offer to help this morning- certainly they would all be busy celebrating Christmas day with their families. 

But no!  More than 40 people

from churches around the state arrived to help with the unloading process- celebrating their Christmas by serving the Lord and the children. I think we started a new state record for fastest truck unloading!

We are thankful for a family that travelled all the way from Kentucky to serve in the OCC

ministry this year- what a blessing!

We rejoice to give the shoeboxes out to participating churches- watching them leave with arms and hearts full, with plans on sharing the Gospel with the children in their areas.