guest blogger - Nana's trip to the Dominican Republic...

as promised, my mother (aka. Kim, aka. ma, aka. Nana) is guest blogging 2day!

b4 she even left 4 her trip, i asked her 2 share her experience with u guys when she returned...so here it goes...

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God is so good!

To sum up my trip in a few words would truly be impossible. Amazing, Humbling, and Life-Changing would be a few words with which to start.

I have been packing shoeboxes since 1993 when I had the pleasure of meeting Franklin Graham’s sister, Ruth who lives in Staunton, when she came to the telemarketing company I worked for. We made calls and received 800# calls for Samaritan’s purse. We employees started packing individual boxes, then I presented it to my church, Broadway Baptist, and we’ve been participating since then.

I have been blessed to be able to travel to Charlotte, NC twice, to work at the Processing Center to prepare shoeboxes for traveling to far off countries.

Both trips have been such a wonderful time to work with people who travel from all over the united state to volunteer in this awesome shoebox project. We work hard together for hours and come away tired and yet energized to be part of God’s wonderful love and compassion for His children.

After being an Area Coordinator Volunteer for Samaritan’s Purse/Operation Christmas Child for two short years, I had the honor and pleasure of being selected to participate in this distribution trip to the Dominican Republic. I’ve been excited about this trip since November, when I was told I was selected. I cannot believe it came and went so quickly. However, the memories I have of this trip will last a lifetime!

We arrived in Santa Domingo on Monday, February 9^th to 80+ degrees, and jumped right into the preparations for the distributions. I was on the “Silver” team (NO that doesn’t mean all the members were silver- haired!), and we participated in 6 distributions. The team of 9 OCC members, three translators and a drama team member road on our little bus.

The first two distributions on Tuesday were exact opposites. The first one was a bit chaotic and the second one much more organized. Both involved several hundred kids

We quickly warmed up to the kids up with stickers, and every child wanted to be included.

When we handed out the shoeboxes, we asked the children to wait to open them all at one time. I was so amazed at their patience. Once they did open them, their excitement was so very evident.

On Wednesday we went on two more distributions - the first one was a community center and school combined.

Once again the children were so patient and waited to open the boxes all at once.

They were very thankful to receive gifts, but were thirsty to receive the word of Jesus Christ in the booklet handed out with every box, The Greatest Gift of All.

The second was at a community center at Mama Rosa’s. I participated with the drama team’s songs...

and was able to share a few words of thanks for letting us come to visit them.

On Thursday our last two distributions were probably the most challenging. The first was outside & very large - over 400 children! We were nearly mobbed by others in the community and had to make a hasty exit.

The last distribution was probably the one that affected me most. It was in a little close-knit community, back a dirt road too narrow for the bus to maneuver, so we walked it.

It was very hot and the children had waited a long time. We were able to pass out boxes to all the children that came to that community center, but did not have extra for other children in the community. But as we walked back to the bus it was evident that each household received a box, and children were sharing treasures with their family members.

I was able to bring a box with me to the Dominican Republic to give to a child at one of the distributions. On Wednesday, there were more girls ages 10-14, than there were boys, so I selected a tall young lady. With the help of the translator, I asked her name and she said it was "Rubeily" and gave the correct spelling.

I was able to ask in Spanish if she liked her gift and she was very quick to answer positively. I didn’t see it, but I was told by other team members that she found my picture in the box and was showing it to other children and pointing me out to them.

This was one of the most life-changing experiences of my life, and I am very grateful to God and OCC for the opportunity!

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thx ma!!!

i also wanted 2 share a few more pics that she didn't include in her post...cause u know i'm all about the pics!!! ;0) plus, just look at these faces!