The 2008 Christmas Season has begun

We have kicked off to a great start for the 2008 "Box of Love" outreach ministry. First of all I want to give a great big THANK YOU to all our supporters, because without you this would not be happening.
THANKS TO YOU: Camp Foster Chapel, Central Baptist Church, EDIS, The Harbor Community, Kadena Protestant Women of the Chapel, Kadena Protestant Youth, Keystone Church, Koza Baptist Church, Okinawa Christian School International, Toys for Tots, USO, Yomitan International Church and many individual supporters. Not only have you all contributed the gifts or money, you have done it with such a loving heart and that has been a joy to be a part of and to witness first hand.
Rika and Kimie are sorting through the first wave of boxes from OCHEA, EDIS, Koza and Central Baptist Churches. The boxes have been EXACTLY what we had hoped and prayed for. Way to go all of you who filled a "Box of Love". We are so excited for the kids who will receive them. Our "base camp" if you will, is at Koza Baptist this year. Last year we filled my house up to the ceiling with boxes and that was serving 600 children. This year our goal is to serve 800+. Not only would that amount not fit in my house, we are in the middle of packing up ourselves and moving a few doors down to a new house, so imagine our trying to figure out how that was going to take place. God is always faithful in providing for our needs. Koza Baptist was so gracious in allowing us to work out of there and allow folks to see this huge blessing in action as well.
Toys for Tots were once again very gracious to us in giving us 420 toys for us to distribute to 3 different locations. We enjoyed spending a few hours in their warehouse shopping for those 420 kids from their very well organized shelves of donated toys. So...if you have ever given a toy to the Toys for Tots, after it leaves the box you put it in, it goes to a warehouse and is sorted and placed on a shelf, then folks like us go in and shop for specific children, then go and distribute. If you'd like to see where these toys from Toys for Tots are going you can join us when we go to Urasoe and Ginowan City's in the next few weeks.
Thanks to all the folks at the Harbor for their generous donations and for helping us unload the Toys for Tots van.
The tree is full, the closet behind the tree is full, the floor is full and the prayer closet is full of TOYS. YIPPEE!!!
First distribution to some children who loved Renee's crocheted caps, thanks Renee. These kids were so happy to open their gifts and see what all was in them. One little guy loved his Thomas the Train very well.

Again, here are a few of the kids happy to pose for a picture. Thank you Koza Baptist for serving this facilty a "Box of Love".
Next stop will be Urasoe City on Saturday the 6th. Meet at Koza @1:30 to help transport toys and join us in fellowship with the handicapped kids of Urasoe City.
Thanks again!