Merry Christmas! We are celebrating the birth of our Savior today with my whole family! It is the first time we have all been together in at least five years! Well, if you’re visiting my blog today on Christmas day, then you must be a die hard reader of our little blog. Ha ha! I appreciate you! I have some new to share with you and a prayer request.
In November I was contacted by BlogFrog about writing a blog post for Samaritan’s Purse promoting Operation Christmas Child. This was to be for a non-profit organization so there was to be no compensation. I was happy to participate. I love what Operation Christmas Child does! BlogFrog’s goal was 200 blog posts for Operation Christmas Child. From all the bloggers that participated,Operation Christmas Child would be hosting two BlogFrog blog partners to join them in either Dominican Republic, Dec. 4-7, 2012 or Peru, Feb. 18-22, 2013 (the winner would be able to choose!). The blog winners would travel from the U.S. and experience three days of shoe box distributions in the impoverished communities outside of Santo Domingo, DR or Lima, Peru.
The kids and I had so much fun shopping for and packing our shoe boxes. We even made a video! Later we shared our journey of dropping off our boxes at the collection site. I remember thinking one day and mentioning it to my husband, “You know it is possible I could win that trip. Then what would I do?” He didn’t really say much.
Then one day I opened my email and there it was! It said, “I am honored to be the one to tell you that you have been selected by Operation Christmas Child to go with them to help deliver boxes!” I had to remind myself to breathe! It was just unbelievable! I called my husband, and he said I could go! I chose the February trip and am making plans to travel! This is an incredible opportunity to see the impact of Operation Christmas Child firsthand and experience the joy of these powerful shoe box gifts. I am beyond thrilled!
This is where you come in. I have been asked to solicit a prayer team to cover our trip in prayer. Would you pray with me? First please pray that God’s complete will be done regarding my going. I am making plans to go, but I only want to proceed if it’s the Lord’s will. If it isn’t I want all the doors slammed in my face! 🙂 Please be in prayer that every child who receives a shoebox will also be receptive and sensitive to the gospel and love of Christ. Be in prayer for my team members and OCC staff. Pray for the pastors who are setting up the distribution sites, and for the National Leadership Team in Peru. I am confident that the Lord is going to do great and mighty things through this trip.
If you would commit to praying with me, I would appreciate if you’d let me know by leaving a comment. Thank you guys so much!
I guess I’m a die-hard reader haha 🙂
I commit to praying with you. And I know that the Lord will honor your willingness to obey – no matter what: “If it isn’t I want all the doors slammed in my face!”
Thank you so much Mari!
Guess I’m a die-hard reader too! I would love to commit to pray with you. I know you will bring so much joy and laughter along with you to share with all of those children 🙂
Sarah, Thank you! And thank you for the encouragement.
Very exciting, Esther… I look forward to the feedback next year. I don’t know how regularly I’ll pray, but I will.
Robin-ever the honest one! Cracks me up. I’ll take all the prayer I can get! 🙂
Merry Christmas, and of course I came to check in on your blog! 🙂 So excited about the trip…I will be praying!!
I traveled to Romania a few years ago and worked with visually impaired orphans ona church mission trip. One thing we were not expecting was to witness and pass out shoe boxes from Operation CHristmas CHild. Its an amazing thing to see the excitment of a child with a few simple things that fit into a shoe box. Good Luck, prayers for you and the team and I cant wait to read about your experience!
Oh how very, very exciting. What a privilege you get to go and minister to the people over there. Me and my family have loved and supported Operation Christmas Child for a very long time. I will be praying for you on this journey and believe that God will use you in whatever way he desires while you are there. Also, Merry Christmas to you and your family.
What a wonderful opportunity for you, I will of course pray for you while you plan for the trip, while you are there and for your family as they wait at home for you. I love your blog and start every day reading it.
I am so excited for you, Esther!
I have close friends who travel to Peru on missions trips every other summer ~ they love going there and seeing all that God is accomplishing in that area.
It would be my honor to pray for you, your family, the team members, OCC staff, pastors, and everyone else involved with the shoebox distribution up in prayer. I’ll definitely be holding all of you close in my heart and prayers ~ lifting you up to the Father’s throne of grace!
Interestingly, we just received an email from OCC informing us that the shoeboxes we packed are being sent to Suriname ~ I printed off labels from their website that have tracking numbers on them = )
Can’t wait to hear how God works through you and in you as you share His love with children in Peru!!
I would love to pray for your trip. We are so excited for you!
Michelle
Esther- I am so over the top excited for you!! What an amazing opportunity! I will be praying for you. I can’t wait to hear all about your preparations and your trip!
Esther, I am so happy for you! May God’s perfect will be done during the trip and may His mercies be with you along the way. I pray you be a powerful vessel in His hands. Dios se glorifique y cumple Su proposito en enviarte. Let me know if we can help with the kiddos in any way. 🙂 so amazing!
I am so excited
for you Esther and I will be praying for you it is a wonderful opportunity and so amazing. Ilove you and your family and have for many many years. Love RUTH Madison Burkett
Definitely!! Count me in as your prayer partner – and if need be, childcare or anything else we can do to help your homefront keep plodding along while you are gone! We are so excited for you!