My daughter went to a unique birthday party yesterday afternoon. Her little girlfriend, Alex, invited 22 girls to a birthday celebration, but instead of the guests bringing gifts for her, they each shopped for and packed a shoebox for Operation Christmas Child. OCC is a ministry of Samaritan’s Purse that provides gift-filled shoe boxes to needy children around the world. For most of these children, these shoe boxes are the only Christmas gift they will get.
The girls were loaded into three vans and driven to the Dollar Tree, where they spent $10 picking out 9 items to go into their shoe boxes. Lindsay told me people in the Dollar Tree asked the girls what they all were doing and they got to tell them! What a testimony!
Before Lindsay left for the party, I made our donation and printed our mailing label online. This will allow OCC to track Lindsay’s shoe box and report to us which country it goes to! I encouraged Lindsay to pray before deciding whether she would pack a box for a boy or a girl. I told her that God knows exactly what little boy or what little girl will get her box, and He will make sure the right child gets the right box. Lindsay felt like God wanted her to choose to give her shoe box to a boy because she thought not many people would pick a boy. Out of the 23 girls, she was the only one who shopped for a boy! I was so proud of her for sticking to her decision and not changing her mind once she saw she was the only one doing something different!
The girls returned to Alex’s house to pack their boxes with their treasures and extra treats the host family provided. The party ended with a cake decorated like a gift-filled shoe box and ice cream. It was a memorable party and a precious thing to be part of.
Now because of this sweet little girl and her desire to focus on others (even on her own birthday), 23 more children will receive shoe boxes and the gospel message. What a gift! You, too, can be part of packing a shoe box for a needy child. Please visit samaritanspurse.org to get started!
The Mommy Bloggy 
I love this idea!!! I think I am going to do that for Claire next year. I’m so tired of trying to find creative ideas for a party so close to Christmas and this is perfect! Thanks for sharing the idea!
At the website, you can order party packages, so check it out! I love the idea, too, and almost wish one of my kids had a birthday this time of year!!
Alex’s Mom directed me to your post. What a beautiful way of getting the WORD out to fellow sisters and brothers in Christ! I am one of Alex’s big girl galpals and was so proud of her to choose this option for her birthday! God works such special miracles in our children! Great blogspot! I enjoyed your entry on patience as well. Peace!