SENEGAL — Edouard Ndecky realized how much God loved him when he received an Operation Christmas Child shoebox gift when he was growing up in Senegal. Now, Edouard lives in the U.S. and encourages others to prayerfully pack shoeboxes so that other boys and girls in need will receive a tangible expression of God’s love like he did.

Edouard Ndecky – Operation Christmas Child:

My name is Edouard Ndecky, and I’m from Senegal.

95% of people where I grow up are not Christian. But from all of that population, God picked my dad to be a pastor.

Growing up was not easy: seeing your friends going to school, and we have to stay at home because my parents didn’t have money to send us at school. I was so upset, because all my friends have everything they want. When I said, “Dad, why we are not blessed like them?” And he said, “Even if you don’t eat, even if you don’t have stuff, Edouard, remember that you have God.”

I was involved in the group Good News Club. That Wednesday was amazing. We were coming to have fun, to laugh, to joke, to do all of that, and we received a box. We opened it.

Inside of the box was a toothbrush. I didn’t have toothbrush when I was growing up. We used charcoals and salt to brush our teeth. Having it for the first time was just a miracle. This is the “wow”, was wrapped like this. I didn’t know what is inside. Carefully– this is my yo-yo. This is (EMPHATICALLY) my yo-yo.

Every day, every night, with the neighborhood, we always play. Someone cares. God, He cares so much. He have to use someone, somewhere around the world to pack my box.

Edouard:

I came to United States because of my background, being a track athlete. I was involved in the church in my local town, and one time, I saw the boxes I received when I was 14, and I was so excited.

I didn’t have words. I was just like, “What is this? Where did this come from? It’s reality here? People, it’s you guys are doing this, for real?” And they say, “Yes.” I say, “I received one when I was 14”, and everybody was so happy. Everybody was looking at me like, “Yes! You are in our church!” Seeing God, connecting me being 14 and coming to the United States, and they see the two elements just connected as a perfect picture, show me that I’m in the right spot. I’m in the right place, serving the Lord.

Daniel is my son. Daniel is the version of Edouard in Senegal, but in United States. Talking to him is the opportunity like my dad told me. No matter what you struggle with, remember, you have a God that love you. Daniel packs boxes, and he like to say, also, his dad received one.

Edouard:

In the corner of this universe, you have a kid that is waiting for you to pack a box for them. It’s not just a shoebox that you are packing. You are changing lives.

Samaritan’s Purse is a nondenominational evangelical Christian organization providing spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world. Since 1970, Samaritan’s Purse has helped meet the needs of people who are victims of war, poverty, natural disasters, disease, and famine with the purpose of sharing God’s love through His Son, Jesus Christ. The organization serves the Church worldwide to promote the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The mission of Operation Christmas Child is to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way to children in need around the world. Through this project, Samaritan’s Purse partners with the local church worldwide to share the Good News of Jesus Christ and make disciples of the nations.

CONTACT: Kaitlyn Lahm, news@samaritan.org

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CONTACT: Kaitlyn Lahm, news@samaritan.org