Shoe boxes making a difference

Calgary, AB – A team of more than forty Canadian youth, along with a group of leaders and trained medical professionals, flew to Paraguay recently. During the trip, the team distributed Operation Christmas Child shoe box gifts to thousands of children and conducted medical, dental, and eyeglass clinics.

Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan’s Purse Canada, gives Canadians a practical way to bless the lives of children living in the developing world. Each shoe box gift distributed in Paraguay was packed and donated by a caring Canadian.

Samaritan’s Purse is an international Christian relief organization providing basic needs such as clean water, disaster relief, and medical help around the world. Operation Christmas Child provides hope for today and Samaritan’s Purse provides resources for tomorrow.

Darryl Elliott of Calgary remembers his experience while volunteering on a team in Peru.

"We’d gone down to help in disaster relief and found out we were able to do a couple of shoe box deliveries while we were there," he said. "We headed out across the desert while standing in the back of a cattle truck. There were no trees, no structures of any kind. An hour later we pull into this town and the entire community showed up. We put on a Christmas show for the kids. One lady helped a child open a box. On top of the box she saw a note from a friend she knew in Canada. She’d had coffee with that friend before she left and was told, ‘Wouldn’t it be cool if you see where my shoe box goes.’ And behold, she’s handing out her friend’s shoe box."

"It was overwhelming enough to be able to be there," Elliott noted. "Let alone, witness that."

The youth trip to Paraguay was an opportunity for individuals aged 16-20 to experience new cultures and life-altering experiences. "This trip is an incredible chance for young people to make a positive difference in the lives of others" said Gil Dimas, Operation Christmas Child International Regional Director for South America.

 Visit www.samaritanspurse.ca/occ/ .