Where did our boxes end up?

We were able to send 135 boxes to Uruguay, Burundi, Columbia, and Ecuador on Monday, December 15 2023!

Uruguay

Uruguay is a country on the southeastern coast of South America. About half of the population lives in the metropolitan area of the capital, Montevideo. Spanish is the official language, and ethnic influences include Spanish, Italian, French, British, and South American indigenous people groups. Samaritan’s Purse began distributing gift-filled shoeboxes to these peoples in 2002 and launched The Greatest Journey, our follow-up discipleship program, in this nation in 2010.

Burundi

Located in East Africa, Burundi has been known for centuries, in part, for its political instability and violence between the rival Hutu and Tutsi peoples. Samaritan’s Purse began distributing gift-filled shoeboxes to this nation’s children in 2008 and launched The Greatest Journey, our follow-up discipleship program, here in 2013.

Columbia

Colombia is the only country in South America to border both the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans. Its geography ranges from snowcapped volcanoes in the Andes Mountains to beautiful beaches on the coast. Samaritan’s Purse started delivering Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts to children here in 2003, and we launched The Greatest Journey, our follow-up discipleship program for shoebox recipients, in Colombia in 2009.

Ecuador

Located on the equator in South America, Ecuador is known for its export of Panama hats, cacao, and bananas. Samaritan’s Purse began delivering Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts to children here in 1997 and in 2009 launched The Greatest Journey, our follow-up discipleship program for shoebox recipients, in this nation.

Pray for Your Shoebox Recipient

Please don’t stop praying for the boy or girl that you first lifted up when you packed your shoebox. Continue to ask God to soften his or her heart to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, so that he or she will follow Him all the days of their life. Pray also for families and entire communities to be transformed as God’s love is shared through your simple gift.

“Whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” -Matthew 21:22

Story from the Field

Candelaria’s mother initially did not want her to participate in the Operation Christmas Child outreach event. But in the end, she let her 13-year-old attend and watched on the edges of the group as church leaders shared the Gospel and handed out the shoebox gifts to the children. God used that event to prompt Candelaria to give her heart to the Lord Jesus Christ—and her mother made the same life-changing decision!  Today, their whole family has come to faith and they attend church together.