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CHRISTMAS 2008 OUTREACH PROJECT This year we collected 150 shoe boxes loaded with toys, school supplies, stuffed animals, and hygiene products for Operation Christmas Child, a ministry of Samaritan's Purse. These shoe boxes will be distributed to children around the world for Christmas as a reminder of Jesus' love for them and the Eternal Life He came to bring. Last year, some 7 million shoeboxes were received and distributed by Operation Christmas Child.... Simple gifts that God will use to change lives forever. Here's the story of one family, from Zimbabwe, and how one shoe box made an impact: Tatenda, 11, was in his last year of school. His father died when he was four, and his mother had struggled for years to make ends meet for his school fees, clothing, and food. But his mother had taught him to trust God for all his needs and to continue to pray.
Two weeks before exam time, Tatenda mentioned to his mother once again the school supplies he needed for the tests--two pencils, an eraser, a ruler, and two pens. "God is faithful"-- that's all his mother could say. The following Sunday at church, the pastor announced that visitors were coming from Operation Christmas Child. Tatenda received a gift box and a Gospel booklet. On the way home, he couldn't hold back the excitement of finding out what was in the box. He opened it and shouted with joy at the sight of a 12-pack of pencils, a 10-pack of pens, a calculator, and socks. He and his mother sat by the roadside and carefully looked at the rest of the contents of the box. There were two t-shirts, a wristwatch, two toothbrushes, two tubes of toothpaste, soaps, towels, and sweets.
His mother sang the "God is faithful" chorus all the way home. Just at the right time, God had answered their prayers. Everything Tatenda needed for the exams had been provided for, plus a lot more. The next morning Tatenda's mother went to their pastor and shared with him how God had touched the lives of her son and herself.
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