Dear All:
There are 15 teams from our North-Alabama Conference going to this missionary in Honduras in 2008.
The attachment has the information on the contents for the boxes as well as general instructions. (If you have trouble opening this document, let me know.) The way this got started, a team was returning home and as soon as the plane leveled out and the seat belt sign turned off, one of the nurses came to the team leader and said, "We have a problem back here." He asked: "What is wrong?" She replied: "Just come see."
He went back and there were three nurses with tears streaming down their faces. He asked: "What is wrong?" Not one of the four said a word, just more tears. Finally one said: "You realize that those children back there will NOT have a Christmas if something is not done." He replied: "You are probably right. What do you have in mind?"
None said a thing until one was able to say: "Isn't there someone who sends Christmas gifts to children?" The team leader said: "Yes, Franklin Graham does this with 'Samaritan's Purse." A nurse said: "Do you think we could get them to send something to those children?" The Team Leader said: "I do not know, but IF we want to make sure that they have a Christmas, we could do it ourselves." They responded: "Oh, let's do it!"
That first year a Christmas container was shipped to the missionary. Inside was a lot of things the missionary needed, along with 1,057 shoe boxes of toys.
When the container arrived at the mission compound, they were having a women's conference. The ladies had never seen a container. They asked the missionary what it was and what was in it. She told them and that finished the conference for that day. When the shoe boxes were unloaded on the ground, the ladies wanted to see what was in them.
They stood back when the first one was opened and in astonishment agreed that "This would NOT do." They explained to the missionary, that if one of their children received what as in that shoe box, the older kids in their neighborhoods would beat up their children and take it away from them.
The missionary sent to the local store and purchased plastic bags. For the remainder of the conference, the ladies opened every shoe box and sub-divided the items and that Christmas more than 6,000 children received Christmas.
Year before last, we sent about 480 shoe boxes from the Decatur area. Last year we sent a little over 900 shoe boxes. Three churches contacted me last week wanting to get started earlier this year. IF Asbury UMC would like to help give Christmas to some children who more than likely will not have anything for Christmas, we would love for you to participate.
Samaritan Purse charges a shipping charge of either $7 or $8 with each shoe box. But by going with the other districts in the North Alabama Conference, we can do it for $1.50 freight plus $1.50 for fuel cost for the missionary to deliver the boxes to as many churches as we can supply. That is a total of $3/shoe box. Our money goes further and to more children! It works GREAT!
Each year, we get pictures back where the children are receiving our shoe boxes. We can recognize our boxes, because for the last few years, different churches attach crayon colored nativity scenes to the outside of the boxes.
The closest church to you that has a team going to the missionary is at Good Shepherd UMC. They can answer just about any questions you might have. Next would be Central UMC in Decatur.
Please print and read the attached document. If I can help you in anyway, please let me know. And if you think any of your people might be interested in going down to help the missionary disburse the shoe boxes, let me know. I remain,
In His service,

Ray Crump
256-642-1759 Cell
256-301-9800 Home

Suggestions for Contents and other info