Operation Christmas Child: Delivering Gifts To Bolivian Children

Operation Christmas Child is a project by Samaritan's Purse, an international Christian relief organisation. The project collects shoebox gifts filled with fun toys, school supplies, and hygiene items and delivers them to children in need around the world. Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has delivered over 220 million shoebox gifts to children in more than 170 countries and territories. Bolivia, a country in South America known for its llamas, alpacas, and salt flats, is one of the countries where Operation Christmas Child delivers shoeboxes. The project began delivering shoeboxes to Bolivia in 1998 and later started The Greatest Journey, a follow-up discipleship program for shoebox recipients.

The history of Operation Christmas Child in Bolivia

Operation Christmas Child is a project of Samaritan's Purse, an international Christian relief and evangelism organisation. It was started in the United Kingdom in 1990 by Dave and Jill Cooke. The project collects shoebox gifts filled with fun toys, school supplies, and hygiene items and delivers them to children in need around the world. Bolivia, located in South America, is known for its llamas, alpacas, and the world's largest salt flats. Samaritan's Purse began delivering Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes to children in Bolivia in 1998. In 2014, the organisation began The Greatest Journey follow-up discipleship program for its shoebox recipients.

The Greatest Journey is a 12-lesson discipleship program that teaches children how to follow Christ and share Him with others. It is taught by trained local teachers and is available in multiple languages. The program has led to the establishment of long-term, caring relationships with children and families, sharing the love of Jesus Christ. Over 20.2 million boys and girls have made decisions for Christ through this program.

One story from Bolivia illustrates the impact of Operation Christmas Child. Paola Justiniano, a 25-year-old doctor from Santa Cruz, Bolivia, received an Operation Christmas Child box from Sam Kiatipis over 10 years ago when she was a teenager. The box included a photo of Sam, which she kept all these years. When Paola came to Canada on exchange, she brought the picture and hoped to find the boy who had sent her the box. Through a series of connections and searches, she was able to locate Sam and they met for the first time in his Markham home. Their meeting was filled with excitement and joy, and they have stayed in touch through social media.

Operation Christmas Child has delivered gift-filled shoeboxes to over 220 million children in more than 170 countries and territories since 1993. The project is facilitated through hundreds of thousands of trained volunteers and local believers who deliver the shoebox gifts and share the Gospel. It is a powerful tool for sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ and has led to the multiplication of believers and churches in many communities.

How to get involved with Operation Christmas Child

Operation Christmas Child is a project of Samaritan's Purse, an international relief organization. The project collects shoeboxes filled with small toys, hygiene items, and school supplies, and distributes them to children affected by war, poverty, natural disaster, famine, and disease.

Packing a Shoebox

You can pack a shoebox online or physically. The website provides a list of suggested items to include in the shoebox, such as playing cards, batteries, toy spiders, and scissors. It is important to note that there are also items that are not allowed, such as liquids, medications, and used clothing. The shoeboxes can be dropped off at various locations during National Collection Week, which is November 18–25, 2024, in the United States.

Donating

Monetary donations are crucial for collecting, processing, and shipping the shoeboxes. A $10 donation per shoebox is suggested to cover these costs. You can also donate $6 to provide a child with lesson books and a Bible as part of the discipleship program, or $10 to give a family a copy of the Bible or Christian literature.

Volunteering

You can serve as a year-round or short-term volunteer with Operation Christmas Child. There are various volunteer opportunities available, such as working at Processing Centers to inspect and prepare the shoeboxes for international shipment. You can also become a Project Leader, leading a church or group effort in packing shoeboxes.

Praying

Operation Christmas Child encourages people to pray for the children who receive the shoeboxes and their families. They believe that prayer is an important part of sharing God's love and can have a significant impact on the lives of those receiving the gifts.

The Greatest Journey discipleship program

Samaritan's Purse, the organisation behind Operation Christmas Child, also runs a follow-up discipleship program called The Greatest Journey. This program was launched in Bolivia in 2014.

The Greatest Journey is a 12-lesson course for children who have received Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes. It teaches them how to follow Christ and share their faith with others. The course is taught by trained local teachers and includes Bible stories and Scripture memorisation. Children who complete the course receive a graduation certificate and a Bible in their own language.

The impact of the program has been remarkable, with a high percentage of children making decisions to follow Christ. Since 2009, nearly 20 million children have participated in the program.

The Greatest Journey costs just $6 per child, providing lesson books and a Bible. This is made possible through donations, with each $10 donation covering the costs of one child's participation.

Stories from the Field

Bolivian Girl Received a Shoebox and Continues Journey in Faith

A girl from Bolivia received a shoebox gift from Samaritan's Purse when she was a teenager. The shoebox was sent by a boy from Canada, who included a photo of himself in the package. The girl kept the photo for over 10 years, and eventually travelled to Canada for an exchange program. She managed to track down the boy and met him and his family in person.

Gospel Reaches Deaf Communities Through Shoebox Gifts

A hearing-impaired pastor has a unique vision to spread the Good News to deaf communities, an often overlooked group.

Go Tell It on the Mountains

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How to pack a shoebox

Samaritan's Purse delivers Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes to Bolivia. The organisation began delivering shoeboxes to children in Bolivia in 1998.

Start with an average-size cardboard or plastic shoebox. You can wrap the box and lid separately if you wish. You can use your own shoebox or order pre-printed ones from Samaritan's Purse. These boxes are sturdy and can be used by children to store cherished items.

Next, select a "wow" item such as a soccer ball with a pump or a stuffed animal. Then, fill the box with other fun toys, school supplies, and personal care items. You can refer to the Samaritan's Purse website for a list of suggested gifts.

Don't forget to include a personal note and photo, which are often the child's favourite things to receive! You can also pray for the child who will receive the shoebox and their family.

Finally, take your shoebox gift to a local drop-off location during National Collection Week, which is from November 18 to 25, 2024.

Frequently asked questions