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" Blessed are you, O Israel!
Who is like you, a people saved by the LORD?"
Who is like you, a people saved by the LORD?"
Deuteronomy 33:29 (NIV)
Samaritan's Purse International
Operation Christmas Child Project 2003 - Eastern Region Report
Dear Friends,
The expression on the face of a child who has nothing changes dramatically when a decorated shoebox full of little gifts is put into their hand - absolute joy is the result. This is what you have helped us to do.
Even though this year our region was reduced in the Luton/Bedford area, a total of 80,332 shoeboxes were dispatched from the Chelmsford warehouse, with the help of Satellite Units in Isleham, Clare, Histon, Harlow, Maldon, Biggleswade and Harpenden. Our grateful thanks to everyone involved.
Again our Regional Warehouse was situated in Chelmsford, a brand new building so kindly and freely provided by Royal London Insurance and transport by Ford Motor Company in the form of two brand new transit vehicles for the six week period. The generosity of these two Companies was of immense value to the Project.
A special thanks to every volunteer that has helped in this massive Project - to those who provided hundreds of fillers; our friends who have knitted throughout the year; to those who have stored, collected, processed, packed and dispatched the lorries and to our drivers who brought so many shoeboxes into the warehouse. A special feature this year was the help given by volunteers from companies who worked in the warehouse. We were glad to welcome teams from Ford Motor Company at Aveley and from Dunton and also from EDF Energy Company at Witham.
Many people were able to help in the Project this year through the development of Satellite Processing Centres in our region. Folk were able to process and pack shoeboxes in a variety of buildings and established local networks for collecting and promoting the work. We also thank those companies, busy though they are, who have found the time and resources to provide so much help, totally free. This has been so invaluable and it is so enjoyable to work with them.
To all the schools, churches, organisations, companies and countless individuals, our sincere thanks for supporting this work so generously. Without this help and commitment the Project would not succeed and so many children would miss out.
Many of you are aware of the criticism of the Charity again this year. Much of this related to the inclusion of Christian literature within the shoeboxes before they were sealed. We can assure you that every single box that left the Chelmsford warehouse was checked and no Christian or other literature was enclosed.
Yes, we are a Christian Charity and this in itself motivates us to help others. This Project enables both young and old to give, in a practical way, an unconditional gift to those who have so very, very little.
Watching the ten 40 tonne lorries leave Chelmsford for Eastern Europe indicated the amount of love and concern from the people of this region for those less fortunate. It is always a blessing to work with so many other people from different backgrounds to show the love of Christ for others and the true meaning of Christmas.
A massive thank you comes directly to you from the 80,332 little people from the other side of Europe who benefited so greatly from your generosity.
Yours very sincerely,
Sheila Heaton and Colin Ridgewell
Area Coordinators, Eastern Region
THESE ARE SOME OF THE DESTINATIONS FOR THE SHOEBOXES
10,011 shoeboxes to Tula near Moscow in Russia - the boxes went to very poor families. Tula used to be a prosperous engineering region and now has feeding programmes and soup kitchens for the people.
8,644 shoeboxes to Azerbaijan - to refugee families. Samaritan's Purse has been involved in building 400 houses and a play park for these families.
7,039 shoeboxes to Armenia - these went to extremely poor refugees who are still suffering from the effects of a massive earthquake several years ago, and ongoing wars. Many people are living in water tanks and other poor temporary shelters.
10,518 shoeboxes to Ukraine - these went to children in SPI shelters for street children. SPI works with soup kitchen programmes and hospitals
7,542 shoeboxes to Belarus - distributed to children and young people in State institutions, orphanages and prisons. Children as young as 12 to 18 years are in prison for stealing bread and potatoes
12,865 shoeboxes to Serbia - the boxes went to orphans, refugee camps and Kosovan refugees
6,258 shoeboxes plus 48 cartons of humanitarian aid to Armenia went to families as above
10,114 shoeboxes to Russia - these went to central Moscow, to street children including the youngsters who live in the sewer network
6,196 shoeboxes to Romania - these were distributed to poor families all over the country
1,145 shoeboxes to Wrexham for distribution throughout Eastern Europe plus 72 cartons of humanitarian aid
I go to prepare a place for you
An old man who was very ill wrote the following of Heaven:
"I am interested in Heaven because I have held a clear title to a bit of property there for over 55 years. I did not buy it. It was given to me without money and without price. But the donor purchased it for me at a tremendous sacrifice. I am not holding it for speculation since the title is not transferable. It is not a vacant lot. For more than half a century I have been sending materials out of which the greatest architect and builder of the universe has been building a home for me which will never need to be repaired because it will suit me perfectly, individually and will never grow old. Termites can never undermine its foundations, for they rest upon the Rock of Ages. Fire cannot destroy it. Floods cannot wash it away. No locks or bolts will ever be placed upon its doors, for no vicious person can enter the land where my dwelling stands, now almost completed and almost ready for me to enter in and abide, in peace eternally without fear of being ejected."
"There is a valley of deep shadows between the place where I live and that to which I shall journey in a very short time. I cannot reach my home in that city of gold without passing through this deep valley of shadows, but I am not afraid because the best friend I ever had went through the same valley long ago and drove away all of its gloom."
"He has stuck by me through thick and thin ever since we first became acquainted 55 years ago, and I hold His promise in printed form, never to forsake nor leave me alone. He will be with me as I walk through the valley of shadows and I shall not lose my way when He is with me."
Christian Chuckles
PARADISE WEAR
A little boy opened the big and old family Bible with fascination and looked at the old pages as he turned them. Suddenly something fell out of the Bible and he picked it up and look at it closely. It was an old leaf from a tree that had been pressed in between the pages. "Mum, look what I found", the boy called out. "What have you got there dear?" his mother asked. With astonishment in the young boy's voice, he answered: "I think it¹s
Adam's suit!"
CHURCH MESSAGE
(spotted on a church notice board in Lincolnshire)
When you were born your Mother brought you here.
When you were married your partner brought you here.
When you die, your friends will bring you here.
Why not try coming on your own sometimes!
Dear Lord,
So far today, I'm doing all right.
I have not gossiped, lost my temper, been greedy, grumpy, nasty, selfish or self-indulgent. I have not whined, complained, cursed or eaten any chocolate. I have charged nothing on my credit card.
But I will be getting out of bed in a minute, and I think that I will really need your help then!
Operation Christmas Child Project 2003 - Eastern Region Report
Dear Friends,
The expression on the face of a child who has nothing changes dramatically when a decorated shoebox full of little gifts is put into their hand - absolute joy is the result. This is what you have helped us to do.
Even though this year our region was reduced in the Luton/Bedford area, a total of 80,332 shoeboxes were dispatched from the Chelmsford warehouse, with the help of Satellite Units in Isleham, Clare, Histon, Harlow, Maldon, Biggleswade and Harpenden. Our grateful thanks to everyone involved.
Again our Regional Warehouse was situated in Chelmsford, a brand new building so kindly and freely provided by Royal London Insurance and transport by Ford Motor Company in the form of two brand new transit vehicles for the six week period. The generosity of these two Companies was of immense value to the Project.
A special thanks to every volunteer that has helped in this massive Project - to those who provided hundreds of fillers; our friends who have knitted throughout the year; to those who have stored, collected, processed, packed and dispatched the lorries and to our drivers who brought so many shoeboxes into the warehouse. A special feature this year was the help given by volunteers from companies who worked in the warehouse. We were glad to welcome teams from Ford Motor Company at Aveley and from Dunton and also from EDF Energy Company at Witham.
Many people were able to help in the Project this year through the development of Satellite Processing Centres in our region. Folk were able to process and pack shoeboxes in a variety of buildings and established local networks for collecting and promoting the work. We also thank those companies, busy though they are, who have found the time and resources to provide so much help, totally free. This has been so invaluable and it is so enjoyable to work with them.
To all the schools, churches, organisations, companies and countless individuals, our sincere thanks for supporting this work so generously. Without this help and commitment the Project would not succeed and so many children would miss out.
Many of you are aware of the criticism of the Charity again this year. Much of this related to the inclusion of Christian literature within the shoeboxes before they were sealed. We can assure you that every single box that left the Chelmsford warehouse was checked and no Christian or other literature was enclosed.
Yes, we are a Christian Charity and this in itself motivates us to help others. This Project enables both young and old to give, in a practical way, an unconditional gift to those who have so very, very little.
Watching the ten 40 tonne lorries leave Chelmsford for Eastern Europe indicated the amount of love and concern from the people of this region for those less fortunate. It is always a blessing to work with so many other people from different backgrounds to show the love of Christ for others and the true meaning of Christmas.
A massive thank you comes directly to you from the 80,332 little people from the other side of Europe who benefited so greatly from your generosity.
Yours very sincerely,
Sheila Heaton and Colin Ridgewell
Area Coordinators, Eastern Region
THESE ARE SOME OF THE DESTINATIONS FOR THE SHOEBOXES
10,011 shoeboxes to Tula near Moscow in Russia - the boxes went to very poor families. Tula used to be a prosperous engineering region and now has feeding programmes and soup kitchens for the people.
8,644 shoeboxes to Azerbaijan - to refugee families. Samaritan's Purse has been involved in building 400 houses and a play park for these families.
7,039 shoeboxes to Armenia - these went to extremely poor refugees who are still suffering from the effects of a massive earthquake several years ago, and ongoing wars. Many people are living in water tanks and other poor temporary shelters.
10,518 shoeboxes to Ukraine - these went to children in SPI shelters for street children. SPI works with soup kitchen programmes and hospitals
7,542 shoeboxes to Belarus - distributed to children and young people in State institutions, orphanages and prisons. Children as young as 12 to 18 years are in prison for stealing bread and potatoes
12,865 shoeboxes to Serbia - the boxes went to orphans, refugee camps and Kosovan refugees
6,258 shoeboxes plus 48 cartons of humanitarian aid to Armenia went to families as above
10,114 shoeboxes to Russia - these went to central Moscow, to street children including the youngsters who live in the sewer network
6,196 shoeboxes to Romania - these were distributed to poor families all over the country
1,145 shoeboxes to Wrexham for distribution throughout Eastern Europe plus 72 cartons of humanitarian aid
I go to prepare a place for you
An old man who was very ill wrote the following of Heaven:
"I am interested in Heaven because I have held a clear title to a bit of property there for over 55 years. I did not buy it. It was given to me without money and without price. But the donor purchased it for me at a tremendous sacrifice. I am not holding it for speculation since the title is not transferable. It is not a vacant lot. For more than half a century I have been sending materials out of which the greatest architect and builder of the universe has been building a home for me which will never need to be repaired because it will suit me perfectly, individually and will never grow old. Termites can never undermine its foundations, for they rest upon the Rock of Ages. Fire cannot destroy it. Floods cannot wash it away. No locks or bolts will ever be placed upon its doors, for no vicious person can enter the land where my dwelling stands, now almost completed and almost ready for me to enter in and abide, in peace eternally without fear of being ejected."
"There is a valley of deep shadows between the place where I live and that to which I shall journey in a very short time. I cannot reach my home in that city of gold without passing through this deep valley of shadows, but I am not afraid because the best friend I ever had went through the same valley long ago and drove away all of its gloom."
"He has stuck by me through thick and thin ever since we first became acquainted 55 years ago, and I hold His promise in printed form, never to forsake nor leave me alone. He will be with me as I walk through the valley of shadows and I shall not lose my way when He is with me."
Christian Chuckles
PARADISE WEAR
A little boy opened the big and old family Bible with fascination and looked at the old pages as he turned them. Suddenly something fell out of the Bible and he picked it up and look at it closely. It was an old leaf from a tree that had been pressed in between the pages. "Mum, look what I found", the boy called out. "What have you got there dear?" his mother asked. With astonishment in the young boy's voice, he answered: "I think it¹s
Adam's suit!"
CHURCH MESSAGE
(spotted on a church notice board in Lincolnshire)
When you were born your Mother brought you here.
When you were married your partner brought you here.
When you die, your friends will bring you here.
Why not try coming on your own sometimes!
Dear Lord,
So far today, I'm doing all right.
I have not gossiped, lost my temper, been greedy, grumpy, nasty, selfish or self-indulgent. I have not whined, complained, cursed or eaten any chocolate. I have charged nothing on my credit card.
But I will be getting out of bed in a minute, and I think that I will really need your help then!
