Anderson Arizona Adventures: January 2014

One of my all-time, absolute, favorite things to do is pack shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child! Last year, we began a family tradition that grows as Caleb grows. Caleb's age determines the number of boxes we pack for both boys and girls. Since Caleb is 4, we packed 4 girl boxes and 4 boy boxes. The boxes are then packed with items for children his age. In the weeks leading up to our shopping trip, Caleb shared his heart about what he wanted to give to the little boys and girls. He must do his best thinking in the shower, because one evening he said, "We need to send Lysol." I asked, "Why Lysol?" He responded, "Because if they don't have anything, they can't protect against germs." I was speechless and absolutely amazed at his understanding. A few days later, he asked, "Do the little boys and girls know about Jesus? If not, we could send them Bibles." His other wish was to give the children something to hold. We couldn't send Lysol, but we did send hand wipes. We found stuffed animals that were also puppets, perfect for snuggling. Best of all, Papa Dave and Grandma Sandy had little New Testaments, all different colors, that needed homes! Caleb helped with every stage of the process from shopping to packing. As a family, we prayed over the boxes and the precious children who would soon receive them. A month later, we learned that our boxes were shipped to the Philippines! One of the greatest ways we've found to show Caleb and the world who Jesus really is is through the simple gift of a shoe box!