Participated in Operation Christmas Child (shoe box ministry) this morning. Operation Christmas Child is sponsored by Samaritan’s Purse, a nondenominational evangelical Christian organization. Volunteers pack shoe boxes with gift items that are sent overseas to needy children. Today’s event was held in their warehouse in Kaka’ako. Kumu Joy organized a team of Kamehameha 8th graders for this service-learning project.

The shoe boxes from Hawai’i will be shipped to Nepal. It was a blessing to serve…. My role in the assembly line was as inspector. My job was to remove all food and liquid items and to add additional gifts if the boxes were sparse.

It was amazing to see what was packed in these boxes. There were toys, school supplies, toiletries, books, and candy. Everything was lovingly packed and gift wrapped. What was most heartwarming were the notes, letters, and family photos that were included. Today, I saw some of the most beautiful Christmas gifts in my life.

“But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.” (Luke 10:33-34.)