Operation Christmas Child Costa Rica 2019 - Part IV

Sorry these posts about my trip are so far between.  Life, you know, just got in the way, and I got a bit overwhelmed with going through the thousand plus pictures and doing up the posts.

Participating in an Operation Christmas Child shoebox gift distribution is truly a life changing experience.  And that is not only for the children involved.   Along with playing with the children, we were privileged to be able to participate in sharing the gospel story with them.  If you missed the story of what happened up to this point you can catch up here:

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

And to restate:  some of these pictures may be from other team members.  We all shared our pictures and I didn't think to mark down which set came from whom, so if a team member happens to stumble upon this post please let me know so I can credit your picture to you.


After play time the kids are all brought in to the main area whether it be a porch, a classroom or a church.  While we had been playing with them, a couple of the team members as inconspicuously as possible had starting setting up the shoe boxes at the front of the area where the children would be seated.  They were set out in groupings of how they would be given out.  The stacks of shoebox gifts were then covered with a big, colorful parachute or fabric of some kind so that the children couldn't see the boxes. Then the children were seated in rows according to age and gender in order to make the distributing of the boxes less chaotic.

Once all the children are in their rows, they sing some familiar songs.  Then they are asked to be seated and are given a short, fun gospel presentation.  Because Costa Rica is mainly Catholic, the gospel is still allowed in the schools so this was totally acceptable to do if we were in a school setting.  And because it is all organized through a participating local church all school officials know what is going on and have been contacted before hand by the church.  Nothing is done in secret or by surprise or under handed.  It was so good working with an organization that is so above board and organized with all that they do.

The participating local churches are trained by Samaritan's Purse and all materials are provided by them so that there is consistency to how the gospel is presented.  It is beautifully done in a fun, easy to understand way.  And in all locations that distributions are done the parents are invited so, again, everything is transparent and above board.  We got to participate in some locations by holding up the pictures as they told the story of creation, man's fall and the story of Jesus life and His saving mankind.  Then the children and parents, if they want to, are led in a short prayer of thankfulness and salvation.

Then small booklets of the Greatest Journey are given out so that the children can take them home, and reread the story and color in it and the parents can also read it.  

The leader will now talk about how Jesus was the greatest gift of all and start talking about gifts and how fun it is to get a gift.  Then they are asked if they would like a gift.  Some of the children don't quite know how to respond.  Some are wary as they have never received a gift.  Others are excited for that very reason and in anticipation of where this is leading. In most of the distributions we did the children were now asked to close their eyes and put out their hands and keep them like that and were told "No peeking".   Now our team would quickly place age and gender appropiate boxes into their outstretched little hands.  At this point some of them just couldn't contain themselves and take a quick peek at what could be in their hands.  When everyone has one they get to open their eyes.  To build the excitement even further they do fun things like get the kids to place the boxes on their heads, drum on the boxes, all sorts of fun things to build and build the tension and make it fun and memorable.

The anticipation is high!  The boxes are taped so they can't open them yet and they start a big countdown to where everyone can open them.  They make it so fun and build the excitement by stopping the countdown for silly things like the pretense of tying their shoe or something.  But finally the countdown reaches "go" and then the opening begins.   If the children can't rip the tape themselves our team members help.  It is loud and it is exciting.  Some of the children are quite overwhelmed.  Some will take one thing out of the box and try to pass the box on.  They don't quite understand the whole box is for them.  Some are so overwhelmed when they open the box they look at the things on top and then close the box not quite sure what to make of it.  And others are going through the box as fast as they can.  

One incredibly meaningful thing that Operation Christmas Child does for the team members is that if you want you can bring a packed box in your luggage to personally give to a child.  They divide up the personally packed boxes amongst the different distributions so there is some in each one.  You get to choose the child you want to give it to so while you play with all the kids you are praying and asking God to direct you to just the right child for your gift.  Then when they are seated on the floor and you go and sit with them.  Your box is in a bag so they don't know what's going on.  They just assume adults are sitting down with the kids.  Then when they start distributing the gifts you get to give your child the box you packed for them.  It is so deeply moving knowing all the prayer that I did for just the right things in the box and for that box to go to just the right child so that they would know Jesus loved them and that I packed the box lovingly and prayerfully just for them.  And then being able to hand them the box and watch them open it?  Pure joy!!!   

(face blurred on purpose)

At this point, the children are then invited to join a 12 week Greatest Journey course in their community.  More coming on that in the next post.  Now we just spent time showing how some games or gadgets in their boxes worked if they didn't know and the grand party was over.  As we walked towards our waiting bus, the children would run up to gates or fences to wave us off.  In one location a little boy ran up to me and gave me a great big hug as I was waiting by the bus.  This started a chain reaction of kids running up and giving us hugs and thank yous.  Not one team member left with dry eyes.  And as we were driving away we would catch glimpses of them walking home with their boxes, happy and excited.

I wish I could share all the pictures of the whole thing with you.  It is truly am amazing thing to be a part of.

Operation Christmas Child Costa Rica - Part 3

As we go further in my Operation Christmas Child Costa Rica posts I want to say that from now on some of these pictures do not belong to me but to other team members.  And I don't know which belongs to whom.  We shared our pictures on WhatsApp with each other and in the flurry of 1400 pictures being shared within a few days (yes, that number is correct!!) I didn't think to mark which came from who as soon as I saved them into my files.  :(   So if a team member happens to come across these blogs and you recognize your picture please let me know so I may credit you!!!  I will try and mark with an asterix if it's not my picture but am still watermarking them to the blog.

Also to note, we were asked to be respectful and treat the pictures we took of children as we would want our own children's pictures treated.  In other words, ask and don't necessarily splash them all over the internet.  So if you are wondering why I am lacking in pictures of the children directly, that is why.  In fact at the first school  we went to I was so worried about doing something wrong with the camera I didn't take a whole lot of pictures of the kids at all.

One thing I really learned in Costa Rica is that when one joins with a group and goes on a mission such as this is that one's focus and understanding gains a whole new perspective.  We were not going in there because we, coming from a privileged country, know better and have got it together and we want to change the receiving country.  We go in humbly, understanding that we are joining with God in what He is already doing!  He has been at work in Costa Rica for a long time.  When we take on that attitude instead of one of superiority it is amazing to watch what God is doing and such a privilege to become a part of it.

And now the fun began.  This year there were 40,000 shoebox gifts awaiting distribution in Costa Rica alone.  Samaritan's Purse works with local churches who have been registered with them for the Operation Christmas Child program (referred to as OCC from now on in the posts).  Samaritan's Purse trains the church's pastors and leaders and volunteers and supports them in the distribution of the gifts and in the presentation of the gospel and in the follow up discipleship classes of "The Greatest Journey".    There were about 3 teams that I know of that went to Costa Rica this year to distribute shoebox gifts.  Our team gave out about 350-450 over the course of week, I believe.  All our distributions were in smaller rural schools or churches but sometimes a distribution can have around 200 kids!  When there is not a missions team involved the rest of the distributions are done with awesome local volunteers who give of their personal time.  Time to load up and go!

Our team went to schools and churches in tiny, very rural, very poor areas.  The schools were one or two rooms with one or one or two teachers.  Very poor, most with very, very limited supplies.  Dirt areas to play.  Not one had any sort of playground.  These teachers were amazing as sometimes they not only fulfilled the role of teacher but also of mom and advocate. 

 The children must all register to come to the party.  The distribution policy is one box per child in a lifetime.  This also helps the directors know how many boxes of each age group and gender they would need.  The children are not told about the boxes, only that there will be a special party and because we were helping they were told we were there to have some fun and play with them.  We came in and set up our different stations:  nail polish, bubbles, face painting, tatoos, coloring and stickers, crafts and sports.  And then we played.  And tried to communicate lots of times ending up in giggles as we stumbled over trying the language.  Some of the kids were shy, some quite bold and thrilled we were there to play. 

This play time was so precious as it gave us opportunity to pursue relationship and connect with the kids and the parents, if they were there, in small tangible ways.  Love shown thru a smile, laughter, touch when we painted a face or sparkled a finger nail.  Love and laughter are not barricaded in by language.  We just had to let it flow.


 Part 1

Part 2

OCC Costa Rica ~ Part 2

Doing up these posts was really difficult in the sense of how does one condense 7 days of ministry, love and happenings from 1400 or so pictures down to small bites that would convey to you what I experienced.  How do I represent Jesus well in these posts?  How to translate all the emotions?  That is the challenge.  I hope I do well and from it give you a sense of the miracle these little shoebox gifts really are to the children who receive them.  

Operation Christmas Child

Costa Rica Team April 2019

In our official group photo, taken on one of our last ministry days.  It was such a great thing to see how God took this huge group of people from varied backgrounds, lives, jobs,  experiences andpersonalities and how they arrived to the point of being there and totally knit our hearts together.  Testimony after testimony of God's saving grace and power were shared over our meals and during our long bus rides.  This team really made a huge effort to get to know one another and didn't just stick to sitting with the same comfortable few people they first connected with.  It was an amazing thing to be a part of.  That is one of the things I miss most since returning home is the camaraderie of a shared vision and goal and the constant natural conversation of how God has moved and is moving in people's lives.

Costa Rica leaders

Operation Christmas Child partners with churches and leaders of the countries that they are going to.  Above left is Carlos Gamboa Umana the National Director for Operation Christmas Child Costa Rica.  He is a pastor full of heart and love for the kids.   The lady beside him is my friend Linda who got us going on this trip.  Next to me is Adilita Porras.  This little lady is a force to be reckoned with.  She works tirelessly ministering to the poor of Costa Rica.  Her ministry, Moviendo Esperanzas (google translated link), is who Samaratin's Purse works with to provide all sorts of services such as health and dental care to the rural poor of Costa Rica along with the Operation Christmas Child ministry.  She is an advocate with government officials for the rural poor and for ministries in the country.   She was amazing at teaching us about her beloved nation and about the people and what God is doing in Costa Rica.  Next to her is our fearless bus driver.  We were very blessed to have a very comfortable tour bus for our mission.  I had totally been trying to prepare myself for riding in some hot, rickety old school bus but we were spoiled with an amazing air conditioned ride.  This man deserves a special medal for patience not only driving the crazy traffic of Costa Rica and getting us everywhere out in the middle of nowhere safe and sound, but for patience as he was constantly being asked to open the bus as we'd forgotten something or other on it.  

translators

These ladies were our translators.  They deserve a special shout out as their jobs were non-stop and exhausting.  They translated not only as we were individually trying to talk with children and people but they translated quietly to us the lessons that were being taught to the kids.  Translation is not an easy job I learned as they don't just change words from one language to the next as that doesn't always come across properly.  They must translate ideas and context and their brains are always going one step ahead.  It is a huge job.  The little gal 2nd from the left was only 18 years old.  She and I had a special connection as she was my bus partner from the airport.  The other ladies are all in full time missionary work and I still am in contact with the lady on the right and consider her a friend.  She has been a missionary for about 35 years and is amazingly creative in ministry.  The young lady next to her ministers to street people and prostitutes on the streets of San Jose and the young lady on the left is actually from the States but lives in Costa Rica and works with YWAM all over the world.

 Our first morning was spent in orientation.  They were so good walking us through exactly what was going to happen and what we could expect and what to do if certain situations presented themselves.  They even had us sitting on the floor just as the children would be.  

Ministry material prep

We then got busy sorting the ministry materials that everyone had brought.  We all provided all sorts of fun stuff for the different stations for the kid's parties such as coloring books, stickers, crayons, nail polish supplies, sports equipment such as balls and frisbees, bubbles, tattoos and face painting.  We also made several bags of thesesupplies to gift to the different pastors we would encounter.  This group ended up providing over and beyond and they even had supplies left over to be able to bless other children with after our team had finished our week there.

devotions

Every morning we started the day with devotions led my one of our two team leaders.  I learned so much from these ladies and the lessons they brought forth.  If I look upset in this picture it's because for the 1st three mornings I woke up with a headache due to caffiene withdrawl and the advil had not as yet kicked in.  Yes we are in Costa Rica where they have awesome coffee but it took me 3 days to figure out I had to actually ask for another cup and that it was alright to do that.   And they only served it at breakfast.  All other times we were served amazing fresh made juice which was incredible...another thing I really miss. 

Whew.  And that was just the first morning.  Now we were ready to meet some wonderful people of Costa Rica.

Operation Christmas Child Costa Rica April 2019 ~ Part 1

Finally I am able to sit down and share some posts about my wonderful mission trip to Costa Rica with Samaritan's Purse/Operation Christmas Child.   It's been a busy couple of months processing, thinking, sharing in person.  Also what they call re-entry.  I get now that that is a real thing.  It's been tough getting back to my real life.  A big chunk of my heart was left with the rural people of Costa Rica.   They are in my thoughts and prayers constantly and my mind is filled with how I can get back there as soon as I can on another mission trip.  It was an amazing experience and I highly recommend everyone take an opportunity to go on a that sort of trip with whatever organization they are passionate for.

My passion was and is Operation Christmas Child.  I remember way back during the Kosovo/Bosnian war watching Franklin Graham on Trinity Broadcasting Network sharing about taking some shoe boxes filled with gifts over to the children who were really feeling the effects of the war.  My heart was so touched and I told myself as soon as there was a way to do something like that I was gonna be all over it.  Years later as their ministry grew one of the churches in town actually become a drop off point and I've been packing boxes ever since.  All 3 of my kids have grown up packing boxes each year.  They had a budget and got to get what they wanted for their own box, with some mild guidance when needed.  Then when sharing with my pastors about this ministry they encouraged me to make it happen in our own church so I've been heading it up ever since.


I never thought I 'd be able to actually go and hand those precious shoebox gifts into the hands of children.  It's been on my bucket list but I think deep down I never thought it would happen.  But God made a way where there seemed to be no way.  So in April of this year, I joined 28 other Canadians and we made our way to Costa Rica to spread some joy and great news.

We started with the red eye in Calgary and flew to Toronto to collect the rest of the team and tough out a 3 hour lay over and then on to Costa Rica.  I have not been on a plane since 1988 so this was an adventure in itself.  It was all new to me and things have changed so much.  But all part of the adventure.  I had an aisle seat but a sweet team member in my row, when she found out I had not been on a plane in so long,  suggested I take her window seat so that I could watch out the window.  We landed safely in Liberia, Costa Rica into a breezey heat wave

flying by one of the great lakes

Nicaragua's coast line

Hello Liberia, Costa Rica

The blue shirt gang waiting to get through customs

We came from all over Canada...Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Quebec, Ontario and New Brunswick.  Though the ones that started in Calgary were quite a bit more bleary eyed than those that joined in Toronto, we were excited and ready to serve the children of Costa Rica.