A few days ago behind the stage at the media event for Operation Christmas Child in Boone, NC, Franklin Graham shook my hand and said, "This is my favorite time of year. I get to see what everyone is doing all year round for the ministry and that really charges my batteries."
What really energizes all of us is seeing what God is doing. We know that there is no good in any of us in our own power. "for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose." (Philippians 2:13)
I had the opportunity to be on the stage for a short time at OCC media events in Charlotte and Boone--representing the hundreds of year-round volunteers and 191 Area Coordinators who make this project happen every year. This was nothing I deserved but a blessing that came by God's grace
If you want to hear me stumble through my comments, Jana Snyder was kind enough to tape them....
If you want to read more about the event, here's a link to an article on the Billy Graham Evangelistic Assn. website
The scariest part of last week was renting a car at the Charlotte airport and driving myself around. I've never rented before and am terrible with directions. As I've learned, though, God is always sufficient and despite some tears and frustration I was okay, especially after I got a hug from Mary Damron.
The highlight of last week really wasn't shaking Franklin Graham's hand or even being on the platform for these events--it was meeting up with so many Area Coordinators from the Mid-Atlantic area and working in TWO processing centers to handle more of those precious boxes.
I also spent some hours working in the 'Inappropriate Items' section where I sorted countless bottles of liquids and scooped thousands of Tootsie Rolls (which are definitely inappropriate for boxes) into bins. The cool thing was seeing a list of all the ministries that were coming to pick up the items that had to be taken out of the boxes. Nothing is wasted. Every Tootsie Roll goes to help a local ministry survive. So I saw firsthand how OCC does help children in our country, as well.
As I watched thousands of boxes going through the processing center, I could visualize crowds of children, each one receiving a 'gospel opportunity' for the first time. Over 4.5 million boxes have already been processed in the six processing centers this season.
My hands are shaking with excitement.
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