Growing Up with Shoeboxes

My name is Jordan, and I was “born and raised” in Luxembourg in an amazing Christian household. There are a lot of ways I have seen my parents serve the community and others around them, one of those ways was (and is) through the project “Operation Christmas Child”.
Every year the organization “Samaritan’s Purse” runs the project “Operation Christmas Child” throughout the whole world. The big idea, is that people can fill up a shoebox with different items and drop it off at a gathering point. The organization then has people check the boxes and ten transport them to countries, people and communities in need. The shoeboxes are gifted to children, and often the Good News is also shared with the children and the families (where the communities allow it). For some children, this shoebox might be the only Christmas-present they receive that year, because their families aren’t able to give them much extra.

My mother, Jessica Mills, has been organizing the project in Luxembourg over the last number of years. Well, actually, as long as I can remember. She told me that she started packing shoeboxes with us when we were younger because it was a practical way to involve us as children in giving. When the previous Luxemburg-coordinator had to step back, my mom decided to step forward, because she loved the project so much.

Every year, during the months of September to October, my mom would be reaching out to people and churches and encourage them to pack shoeboxes. Our garage would become like “Santa’s workshop” during the end of October, since we would collect the boxes from all over Luxemburg. We would also check every single box, as each box needs to contain something from every category (clothing, toiletries, school supplies, toys, sweets, something fluffy and a personalized card) and there are some things that aren’t allowed. I have spent many hours with my mother and other “box-checkers” standing in the garage, opening one box after the other, “oohing and aahing” over beautifully packed boxes. I have also become an expert at fitting a lot of things into a shoebox!

Within the Luxemburg community, so many people generously give time, money and donations every year! Not everyone involved is a Christan, but everyone is generous and helpful and has a heart for children. Every box is packed with love: “Every Box counts because every Child matters”! Not everyone enjoys packing a whole box, so some people will drop of a big bag of toiletries, or school supplies; others will help by collecting money and some will help load up boxes into cars/trucks when the boxes are delivered to a drop off point in Germany. Everyone who wants to, is able to contribute with what they have, and it all comes together to a beautiful community of generous and kind people.

I greatly admire my mother for continuously encouraging people to give so generously. I believe that God smiles over this project because it brings so many great people together. So many children have been blessed because of this project and have encountered a God who loves them. God uses these boxes to bless not only the recipients, but also the generous givers, the packers, the “checkers” and each person the box comes in contact with.

Because of my mother, I will always look at a shoebox and see the potential to bless someone else with and through it. My yearly seasons contain not only a Christmas season but will always include a “shoebox-season”, a season of giving generously.

For more information about the Project in Luxembourg follow this link:
Christmas in a Shoebox Luxembourg – Every Box counts because Every Child matters (christmasshoebox-luxembourg.com)

THE AUTHOR

Jordan Mills

My name is Jordan, I’m 22 years old and am currently studying in Tübingen, Germany. I enjoy reading, being creative and inviting God into my every day.