Packing Party Morning

It's here!  Packing Party Morning.  I've prayed for it and prepared for it for months and, now, it's here.  I am so proud of all who have worked so hard to get us to this day.  Like "The Little Engine That Could" our team has pulled together and it's happening.

Yesterday we hosted two groups of school students in the morning and packed just under 3,000 boxes.  Last night's youth packing party brought us to a total of 5,681 as we go into this day of major packing.

The ground is wet from the rain God sent in the night.  Even the earth around us has taken a bath to get ready for this day.

I, too, am ready.  I am excited at the possibilities I see in each of these items waiting to make its way into a box to bless a child.

For the first time, God has prompted me to share a brief gospel message at our opening this morning. So, most of all, I am excited at the possibility that someone on "this side of the box" might make the life-changing decision to confess his or her sins and received God's offer of eternal life.  It could happen.  How exciting is that!

Because, even though I focus on shoebox 'stuff' all year long, that's not what it's really about.  Beyond the ordering and the truck deliveries and the storage and the oodles of cardboard are the hearts of boys and girls and men and women who need Jesus.

So...here we go.