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Will YOU Give a Desperately Poor Child the GIFT of CHRISTMAS? (This is a CALL to ACTION!)

Many of you who are reading this post are parents. You LOVE your children more than life itself...and you would give your own life to prevent them from suffering...if necessary. I KNOW...because I have four daughters...and I feel the same way about them. Their happiness and comfort and protection are my priorities in life...above my own needs.

Imagine if your children were hungry...and you could not give them food. Imagine if your children were cold...and you could not provide them shelter. Imagine if your children were sad...and you could not give them hope. I know you do not wish to imagine these things...but imagine IF you could not even give your children the basic needs of life...much less a gift on their birthdays or Christmas. Imagine.

Samaritan's Purse is an emergency relief organization that provides physical and spiritual aid to victims of war, poverty, natural disasters, disease, and famine...all over the world. Every year, at Christmas, they provide gift boxes to children through their 'Operation Christmas Child' Project. For a desperately poor child, living in these disasterous conditions, this shoebox gift may be the ONLY gift they will receive in their lifetime.

PLEASE...WILL YOU GIVE THESEPRECIOUS CHILDREN THE GIFT OF CHRISTMAS THIS YEAR???

Maybe you have never seen the face of poverty firsthand. I have. I have been to Central and South America and held children in my arms...watched their joy when I gave them a handful of trail mix and a piece of colorful ribbon for their hair. I've watched 100 little boys line up and wait patiently JUST to have their picture taken while holding a soccer ball. They did not line up to play with it...just to touch it.

JUST LIKE YOUR CHILDREN...these children need to know that they are special...that they matter to the world. YOUR SMALL GIFT...a shoebox full of hygiene items, a stuffed animal, a book, hard candy, a yo-yo or ball cap, perhaps...is ALL IT TAKES.

AGAIN...I ASK YOU...WILL YOU GIVE THESE PRECIOUS CHILDREN THE GIFT OF CHRISTMAS?

Right now...today...there are 58,177 members of ActiveRain. IF each person gave only one shoe box...we could give 58,177 children the gift of Christmas. IS THAT TOO MUCH TO ASK?

There are two ways to give...

My dear friend, Grace Safrin, recently wrote a post about Operation Shoebox. In her post, there is a short video that you definitely should watch. If you do, you will see, with your own eyes, some of the children this project has impacted. You will hear their stories and see their smiles. YOU WILL BE MOVED TO TEARS...I PROMISE. HOWEVER...I WANT YOU TO BE MOVED TO ACTION!

Your Old Shoe Boxes can Bring a Smile to a Child this Holiday-Operation Christmas Child National Collection week November 12-19, 2007

IF you are too busy to assemble a shoebox by the drop-off deadline of November 19th, you can also give a $7 donation per shoebox gift you wish to give. IT IS JUST THAT EASY TO MAKE THIS CHRISTMAS SPECIAL FOR A CHILD...CAN THEY COUNT ON YOU??

I truly believe that we can reach this goal! As you read this post...and make a decision to give...will you leave me a comment letting me know how many shoebox gifts you will give. We are going to tally the numbers and announce how many shoebox gifts were donated to Samaritan's Purse on behalf of the ActiveRain members. PLEASE...DO YOUR PART...FOR THE CHILDREN!

Written and Posted by:

Elizabeth Nieves - Broker, REALTOR® -- The Elizabeth Nieves Realty Group @ Keller Williams (A Bilingual Real Estate Team serving Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill NC and surrounding areas.)

Visit our website at www.ElizabethNieves.com

Posted by Elizabeth Nieves - Bilingual Raleigh - Durham North Carolina Real Estate Team on 11/17/2007 11:21 AM

Comments (20)

Giving Back in the ActiveRain Channel

inspirational thoughts from bilingual nc realtor, raleigh durham chapel hill real estate, nc real estate, activist rain, samaritans purse

Originally posted at: Raleigh - Durham...A Real N.C. Girl's Perspective: Will YOU Give a Desperately Poor Child the GIFT of CHRISTMAS? (This is a CALL to ACTION!)

Post is included in group: Christianity and Real Estate

20 Comments on Will YOU Give a Desperately Poor Child the GIFT of CHRISTMAS? (This is a CALL to ACTION!)

NOV

2007

I'm so glad I read your post!! I have a shoebox :)

And I plan on filling it! Thank you!

Nancy: You are the first! That is ONE child who will feel loved this Christmas!!!! THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!! ONLY 58,176 to go! God bless you!

I have 3 kids and this breaks my heart! I'll fill a shoebox or give $$$. Anything to help these precious babies! It's up to us! Come on Active Rainers..... do your part!!!!

Elizabeth - I love Samaratin's Purse! Franklin Graham is amazing for what he's trying to do here. I think every church needs to adopt this program, but at the very least...every person can do 1 box! You're such an inspiration! Love ya!

Thank you, Jennifer! Please spread the word...to everyone within your circle. It is sooooooo very easy to be a hero to these children. God bless you!!!!

Dear Elizabeth - thanks so much for posting on this fine cause....your work with the worlds underprivileged children 1st hand is so commendable! (I handed my boxes in this past Wednesday).

Blessings to you & yours

Grace

I'm in. Great post! Great idea! This is what we're called to do!

Love your new group!

Hi Elizabeth, We did this last week in our church. It was wonderful. I shared it on AR and on emails with friends and family. It turns out that my husband's cousin helps at one of the distribution centers. It is just a blessing to know that these children will be blessed and feel the love from all of us. Great post.

Linda: YES!! Franklin Graham has continued the work his father demonstrated to him. Isn't it amazing how that happens? I LOVE YOU TOO, MY SISTER!!! Please spread the word about this challenge.

My Dear Grace: Thank you, my beautiful sister! This is such a wonderful thing we can do to touch in such a powerful way. God bless you!

Armando: How many can I put you down for? ;-) Thanks for the support! Thanks for joining our new group also. GBYBACK!!!!

Pat: Thank you, sister! I know you already gave...but please share this challenge with your AR circle. Blessings!!

Diego and I are packing our boxes right now. THIS IS SOOOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH FUN!!!

Elizabeth

We love Samaritan's purse....we do 2 boxes per family member, so my wife and I and the 2 kids each do 1 for a boy, and 1 for a girl! Though the kids are only 4 1/2 and 2 1/2, you can never start too young letting them know that many are not blessed enough to have some of the very basics during the holidays....so why not share some happiness.....

Another truly wonderful group is Compassion International, where you get to sponsor a child in another part of the world. We choose Guatemala since that is where my family is from.....

great post!!!

Bill: That is so incredible!!! That's eight more!

Bill...I would like to invite you to join a new group that I just started...the whole purpose is to gather those who want to make a difference in the world...one life at a time. It is called 'ACTIVIST' Rain. God bless you and your family!

Elizabeth, will there be enough time for us to donate - is the 19th a strict cutoff for when they need the money?

(I should probably just mosey on over to the link you provided instead of asking you! )

The photos are incredible Elizabeth. Incredible.

Kris: The 19th is the cutoff for the pickup. I'm not sure when the cutoff for the donation will be. BUT...IF we get the word out...there is plenty of time to make a donation.

I'm glad you lke the pictures. You should see the rest of them. They will TEAR YOU UP! I promise. Leaving was the hardest part. I fell in love with them.

I'm so excited about this project!!! We can bring so much joy by giving so little. Now that's a WIN WIN!!! GBY!

Wow! What a difference this would make. I have actually already commited to purchasing gifts for our local childrens home so will pass on this one BUT everyone needs to do something.

Bryant: I understand, and that if WONDERFUL!!! Do me a favor, please. You have a huge circle of friends here at AR. IF you would please spread the word...it would MAKE A DIFFERENCE!! Blessings!