Operation Christmas Child Warehouse

For the fourth year in a row, we had the opportunity to volunteer at the Operation Christmas Child Warehouse.  This is such an awesome experience, and just seeing how many shoe boxes are processed through this one warehouse, which is just one of many across the country, is an amazing testimony to the power of God and what He can do through something as simple as a shoe box filled with little toys and special items.  Everyone of these boxes will reach the hands of a young girl or boy in a far-away country, and in many cases, it will be the only gift they may ever receive in their entire lifetime.  We're so lucky to be able to be a small part of the process.

Inside the warehouse

The goal is to process at least 800,000 shoeboxes through this one warehouse,
and 100,000,000 total - WOW!

And to then send them to 3rd world countries around the glove

Some interesting facts about getting the shoe boxes to their destinations

Besides our F.R.I.E.N.D.S. group, we had quite a few other IHC'ers with us, which was great!  We arrived at the warehouse, went through the instruction process, and were ready and eager to get started . . . Here we are hard at work on the "line" . . .

Kary

Robin

Joan

Tina

Debbie

Carol N & Joy

Eva

Marla, Linda P & Seema

Some IHC'ers

And More IHC'ers

An overview of the "lines" - all those cartons are filled with shoe boxes

More boxes coming in and waiting to be processed

Yay!  We got 23 shoe boxes in one carton!  Celebration time!

Thought this was such a cute idea -
Something to remember for next year!

Thanks to everyone who came out to help.  You helped put smiles on little kids faces! 
And that's what Christmas is all about!

 

Christmas Party

Queen Annie invited us over for a wonderful lunch, then on to Pomona First Baptist Church for their amazing Christmas program, and then back to Annie's for our gift exchange and dessert.  Such a fun day!

Annie's house was so very festive with decorations everywhere, both inside and out, topped off  by her beautiful tree . . .

Annie's Gorgeous Christmas Tree

Annie always says she has a "one butt kitchen", but look how many F.R.I.E.N.D.S. can fit when we're hungry . .

One Butt Kitchen?  No Way!

Lunch was yummy and there was plenty of good stuff to choose from . . .

Enchiladas, Tamales, Rice & Beans

Ham

And salads and side dishes of every description

We wasted no time in chowing down

After lunch, we were off to Pomona First Baptist Church for their Christmas Program . .

Come Celebrate Christmas

Waiting for the program to begin

The program was wonderful.  There were lots of choirs - both kids and adults, along with dancers, and special touches throughout, culminating with the Nativity and the arrival of the Wise Men . . .

We were so impressed that they showed Jesus as a young boy
and not a baby when the Wise Men found him

After the program, we took a moment for a photo by the beautiful tree . . .

And then we headed back to Annie's for the rest of  our party . . .

And Gift Exchange

It was fun watching each gift get opened and
 then waiting to see which ones would be stolen

When it was all over, we were all really happy with what we ended up with . . .

 



Front Row - Dixie, Leslie, Annie,Carol N, Carol L
Back Row - Joy, Barbara L, Cathy, Robin, Seema, Sharon, Tina, Linda, Debbie

Thanks Queen Annie for a really fun day and a great beginning to the Christmas season.