One glimpse from this side!

The generous man will be prosperous, and he who waters will himself be watered.  

Proverbs 11:25

It was surreal to be on the "unpacking" side of Operation Christmas Child boxes- Three Christmases ago, as we strolled through Big Lots and Target to fill our shoe boxes, I had no idea that my kids would grow into these tall, smart people and together, we would watch little Africans open the one gift they would receive all year.

 A 4 person team drove 10 hours south from Ouagadougou with a trailer full of boxes- they spent 3 days in 2 villages, with balloon animals, a puppet show, singing, dancing, a health lesson and evening evangelism program- they have it down to a science!

  We provided willing hands, a little muscle and mad skills at balloon animals in the midst of a mob.

 This sweet baby spends her days on the back of this little girl, while the mama teaches school.

Little eyes lit up only after we explained what all these treasures were!  Soccer balls, stuffed animals and flashlights were the best gifts- useful, and well-known.  This little girl received a letter in her box- I translated it into French, so she could hear of the love of Christ coming to her through this family from Lexington, Kentucky!

I cried as I helped one little guy who received a broken etch-a-sketch, an awesome but non functioning flashlight, a plastic harmonica that didn't work and a box of skittles.   

Arrgh…no fun…

I laughed as a friend explained chapstick to one kid, then another child found what she thought was lip balm in her box too- she brought it over in excitement, but had to be corrected- because hers was a gluestick!