“It was the very first time joy entered my life,” she said.
Now 18, the memory of the unexpected present still brings an excited smile to the teenager’s face as she details the contents of the box — a Teddy bear, toothbrush, toothpaste, a Slinky toy, candy and a watermelon-flavored Chap Stick.
“I started brushing my hair with the toothbrush,” she said, eliciting quiet laughter from a crowd of children and adults at University Baptist Church, Wednesday evening.
But the chuckles quickly died out when she explained that it worked for her hair, which was very short, because the children often had their heads shaved to prevent the spread of lice.
Then, she said, she ate the Chap Stick thinking it was food because of the watermelon picture on its casing.
Her stomach started hurting, so she ate the candy.
“All of the others (children) were smiling and happy,” she recalled, “and my sister was so touched that she got a lollipop, she was crying.”
More than 8 million Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes were delivered around the world in 2010, and Alaskans supplied 14,000 of them, said Iliana Salazar, Sr. regional director, Western Regions at Samaritan’s Purse, an international Christian relief and evangelization organization.
Once the shoe boxes reach their destination country, they go by boat, motorcycle or truck and are given out unconditionally as gifts by local churches and ministry partners. Wherever appropriate a copy of the “Greatest Gift of All “booklet in their own language is offered and followed up with the offer to attend a discipleship program.
“The boxes bring hope and an opportunity to know Christ,” Salazar said.
Anyone participating in Operation Christmas Child may track their individual boxes if they make the $7 shipping donation per box online. Using a credit or debit card, a special tracking label is included with the e-mail receipt.
Luba’s memories of the orphanage, where she was placed as an infant along with an older brother and sister, are inhumanely grim.
She recalls always being hungry and sick, searching for food, and being terrified to answer in school classes for fear of being beaten with a tree branch for an incorrect answer.
Previously, she said, a group of Christians had visited the orphanage and told the children about Jesus, but Luba didn’t believe them.
“I was always so sick and with lice, I was confused when they would say ‘Jesus gives life.’ I didn’t believe it because my life was so miserable.”
Luba said the shoe boxes contained not only gifts but hope. “It was the first time in my life that I thought life is going to get better.”
“I was shocked that a stranger handed me a gift and said, ‘I love you.’ Nobody gave me a gift in my whole life.”
Luba said she prayed her first prayer that day, asking, “Jesus, if you are real, please give me a family.”
That same day, she said, she was notified a family in America wanted to adopt her.
It took a year before Luba, her sister and her brother were adopted and brought to the states. Today she is a college student in Northern California.
Luba asked the audience to not think of the shoe box as a box, but as a child.
“There are so many children out there who have nothing. So many children who don’t have love,” she said.
Drop off
Drop off at First Baptist Church, 805 Sixth Avenue, Fairbanks, during the times specified below:
Drop off schedule:
Nov. 14 to 17 — 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Nov. 18 — 2 to 6 p.m.
Nov. 19 — noon to 4 p.m.
Nov. 20 — 2 to 6 p.m.
Nov. 21 — 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Information: Ellen Leetch, 488-0619.
How to pack a shoe box
• Use a standard size shoe box or plastic shoe box. Lids can be wrapped separately with holiday paper.
• Select a gender for each box, and an age category — 2 to 4, 5 to 9, or 10 to 14.
• Fill with a variety of gifts.
• Include a $7 donation to help cover shipping and other project costs.
Shoe box gift suggestions
School supplies: Pens, pencils, sharpener, crayons, markers, stamps and ink pad sets, writing pads, paper, solar calculators, coloring and picture books.
Toys: Small cars, balls, dolls, stuffed animals, kazoos, harmonicas, yo-yos, jump ropes, Slinky, small Etch A Sketch; include extra batteries for toys that need them.
Hygiene items: Toothbrush, toothpaste, mild bar soap (in a plastic bag), comb and washcloths.
Other: Hard candy and lollipops (double bag all candy), mints, gum, T-shirts, socks, ball caps, sunglasses, hair clips, toy jewelry, watches and flashlights.
Personal note: If desired, include a separate envelope with a note to the child and a photo of self or family. If your address is included, you may receive a response.
Do not include: Used or damaged items; war-related items such as toy guns, knives or military figures; chocolate or food; out-of-date candy; liquids or lotions; medications or vitamins; breakable items such as snow globes or glass containers; or aerosol cans.
Tracking: Individual boxes may be tracked if the $7 shipping donation per box is paid online. A special tracking label is included with the email receipt. Visit www.samaritanspurse.org/index/php/OCC.
Contact staff writer Mary Beth Smetzer at 459-7546.
@ gadian & LetMeIn!
I am not a Christian & my family has donated to this program for a little over 2 decades. We add a letter in each shoe box that clearly states we care from one human to another human. We also included a self addressed envelope with a postage stamp booklet as well as writing supplies. Over the years we have received several returned letters & drawings. We also add little pictures taped to each item to indicate the usage of the items we send to help over come any language barriers. We also include a personal picture of the family member who picked the items & packed the box.
We also do this type of thing locally, statewide, & nationally for children & their families several times a year. Usually by word of mouth of a need. How many? 1 for each member of our family. It's a family affair for us. Some to the same child/children for years depending on the case.
You don't need to be anything but a caring human.....
I sat with my daughter and read about this and I am very thankful we were able to read the story of 1 box.
I am so happy this young girl was adopted! Thanks for the story!!
Great idea!
I'm on it; one for a boy and one for a girl, maybe 2 of each. ;-)