Turkey Day Top Ten: Day 5

Day 5: I'm thankful for a change in perspective

Last year while watching Veggie Tales, Cole saw an advertisement from Samaritan's Purse {an International Relief Organization} for Operation Christmas Child and he wanted to get involved. We packed up a shoe box and sent it on its way. We ended up tracking it online and found out that it ended up with a little boy between the ages of 5-9 in Mexico. It was a great experience and we were anxious to do it again. I think it's important for Cole to realize that there are children who aren't as fortunate as him. 

I only wish I could be there to help deliver them...they go all over the world and this year a few of the countries being "featured" were Lithuania, Peru and Bosnia. 

I'm seriously jealous. I'd love to take a humanitarian trip ANYWHERE

Does this not make you smile? The kids in India look pretty happy :)

So after my crummy day, we wrapped up our box full of toys, hygiene items and CANDY {duh!} and met Danny after work at the only drop-off location that was still open. We like to push things to the very last minute. I like to think that we were really just saving it as a Family Home Evening activity...Cole and I were of course, in pajamas since we'd been home sick all day. They probably thought we were homeless and giving away all our stuff. Maybe *that's* why they offered us donuts...

When we got there, they had these little cute pages for kids to fill out that would tell the recipient of the package about them and where they were from. They have translators at the site where they are distributed. The questionnaire was pretty basic: their favorite color, drink, sport, etc. But my favorite was: "I love Jesus because______." Cole's answer was perfect. "He is nice". He sure is.

This church where we dropped off our shoe box is rad. If you can call a church rad. I think I want to go one Sunday and check it out :) Just for curiosity's sake. Don't go stressin'. But seriously--it's a cool place.

If you're looking for a good cause that only costs $7.00 for shipping plus the cost of what you put in your shoe box, this is a great way to go. I mean, I love the Festival of Trees just as much as the next person--but dang. This sure beats waiting in the lines and parking 3 miles away from the entrance...