I have been encouraged by the thoughtfulness of people in the States who get involved in reaching out to those in need here in Africa.  Our sister-in-law, Melanie, is an elementary school teacher.  She had an idea to have her students choose a child from Morning Star Children’s Home and put together a personalized Christmas box for that child.  Each student participated by writing a letter, sending a picture and filling the box with all kinds of things kids like, and they committed to pray.  Our church in the States, Calvary Chapel of El Cajon, joined in by taking on the extra children, as there are more children in the home than in the class, and also by paying for the shipping.  Some of our dear friends who heard about the idea joined in too!  Each child was going to have a Christmas box from someone in the States.  We were thrilled to hear of this generous act!  They even included our two boys because they knew that they were going to be with us when we delivered the boxes.

Christmas was approaching fast and it looked as if the boxes weren’t going to make it to Africa in time.  But God is a Big God and He answers prayer!  The boxes came at the last possible moment, just in time for Christmas on December 23rd.   There they were, thirty two boxes, beautifully wrapped, sent with so much thoughtfulness and love – I felt like St. Nick with our car filled to the brim with gifts for girls and boys!!!  We took them to Morning Star on Christmas Eve day and I was reminded of one of the joys of being a missionary – to personally see the faces of the ones who are receiving love from another human being.  There are no words to describe the emotions of handing over a gift of this magnitude, a gift that has so much love behind it, to a child who feels so special to be receiving it.  God must feel this way each time one of His children accepts His perfect gift of His Son.  Oh, to see the faces of each believer when they are at the receiving end, but that is God’s view!  I think I just got a little “peak” at what He sees.