On this rainy day in Virginia, I thought I’d take a moment to share what Jim and I did this past weekend.

Ever hear of Operation Christmas Child?  It brings joy and love to millions of children in need every year through a simple shoebox packed with toys and candy.  Our church has taken part in it for many years, through collecting boxes packed by families.  Last year, we took on our first whole-church effort, and were able to pack more boxes.  This year, we doubled that number!  It really gets the Christmas spirit moving when you pack these boxes, and know that on the other end, you’re going to bring joy to someone who might have little joy in their lives.

This past weekend, Jim and I, along with another member and my nephew, went down to Charlotte to volunteer at one of their processing centers.  Wow!!!  That’s about all I can say.  What an incredible effort this organization goes through each year through the collection of the boxes, all the way to the distribution to those in need.  The warehouse was filled over 1000 volunteers, all there to help get the boxes ready to ship.  We met volunteers from all over the country, who had come to Charlotte – some for  a week or more – just to volunteer.  I tell you, we were just plain pooped at the end of our shift, but I don’t think that any of us were upset about it.

Take a look at all the incredible work they do on their website – http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/OCC/ - and think about doing a shoebox or so yourself next year.  I warn you, it can be addicting!  I’m already planning for the church-wide effort next year, and will begin purchasing for the boxes right after Christmas!  Just call me crazy…

It’s really just a shoebox filled with stuff – or is it?

Happy stitchin’!

I did want to take a few minutes to share with you the important reason why we’re in Memphis. Yes, we’re going to have fun, but our main reason for being here is the meeting of our church’s General Assembly.

Once a year Ruling and Teaching Elders from all over the country gather together to worship together, and meet together. As this is Jim’s and my first time, we had no idea what to expect. We just returned from the first evening worship service, and let me just say how awesome it was. Here we were in a room with hundreds of our brothers and sisters in Christ, all worshiping and learning together. What incredible things our Father does for us, and to be part of such an inspiring worship service is definitely an honor. As we all took Communion together, I couldn’t help but get a tear in my eye, realizing once again what our Father has done for us, by giving His OWN Son that we may live.

While the “boys” attended meetings and such, Joan and I spent today taking tours of some incredible things happening in the Memphis area. As Jim and I lived in Memphis for several years, I was familiar with some of them, as our former church supports these missions. What fantastic progress they have made.

We started our morning at St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. If you’re not familiar with the work that this hospital, stop by their website to find out. This organization, started by Danny Thomas, helps thousands of children every year. They come through their doors, having been diagnosed with the most terrifying medical conditions, and are met with loving doctors and nurses, fighting for their lives. Not a single patient of St. Jude’s ever has to pay a cent – for either their treatment, or for their housing. Our tour guide noted that when St. Jude first opened it’s doors, there was only a 4% survival rate for one of the medical conditions (I think it was leukemia). Today, if a child walks through the door with that same condition, they have a 94% chance of surviving. Please, stop by their website to learn more. I do suggest having a box of kleenex near by, as these children will grab at your hearts.

From there we headed to the Church Health Center of Memphis to find out how churches across the Memphis area have joined together to support the health and welfare of those in need.

Finally we went to Streets Ministries, which is one organization I had been familiar with when we lived here. This ministry serves one of the poorest areas in the United States. Their ministries reach thousands of children every year, and provide them with the opportunities to be successful in their own lives.

Tonight, as I look back at all we saw, how blessed we were by having the opportunity to learn about them. Please say a prayer for these ministries, as well as those across the world, who daily fight the fight against Satan, and who give of themselves, so that those in need may be given the opportunities we ourselves have been given.