Photo courtesy Nancy Burke
Operation Christmas Child volunteers show their joy as shoeboxes begin filtering in during collection week in late November. This year’s program collected 734 shoeboxes. Volunteers are, from left to right, Donna Clemison, Theresa Lussi, Nancy Burke and Lynell Wiggers.
By Nancy Burke
Special to The PREVIEW
Thanks to many tender hearts in Pagosa, children around the world will experience love from someone they do not even know.
People in Pagosa recently filled 734 Operation Christmas Child (OCC) boxes with toys, stuffed animals, hygiene items, school supplies and a variety of other treasures and delivered them to the OCC Relay Center at CrossRoad Christian Fellowship.
These boxes have begun a journey from Durango to Denver, and then on to Mexico and Native American communities.
Each box tells the child he or she is loved by someone far away, but, more importantly, loved by God. Along with the shoebox, children receive a booklet, in their own language, that tells them of God’s great love and plan for their lives. Many find the love, hope and peace of making a personal commitment to Jesus and being forgiven for their sins. Many of the local churches also offer a 12-week discipleship program for the young children so that they can develop a life-long relationship with Jesus.
Operation Christmas Child wishes to sincerely thank CrossRoad Christian Fellowship for the use of their fellowship hall as the Relay Center for OCC. They have graciously given us the use of this space for many years.
I also thank the many volunteers at the local churches and local businesses that welcomed a poster at their business, Judi Stansbury who delivered posters and pamphlets, those who helped at the Relay Center, and the generous donation of a trailer by Jeff Heitz at A-Affordable Storage.
Your time, donations and energy made it all possible. Keep praying for the boxes you filled — they are life-changers.
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