HONDURAS — Ivanna, a 12-year-old girl in Honduras, shares how receiving an Operation Christmas Child shoebox gift gave her hope and introduced her to Christ’s love.

Ivanna Ramos – Shoebox Recipient:

I liked how God created the Heavens and the Earth. Like it was for a purpose. God’s purpose for us in Heaven. He wants us to be beside Him. Sometimes I feel alone because of the problems. And it feels like God is not with me, but that is when God is the nearest. Right now I’m just with my mom, because my dad left. There are five of us living in the same house. At home, there were always arguments and fighting. We always had problems for no reason. And God could reach me, and I felt something powerful in my heart. And I give thanks to God.

Julia Lagos – Pastor:

We see the needs in the families, broken families. Families where the children often suffer. And our goal as a church is to reach those people.

Ivanna:

I was nine years old when I got my shoebox gift from the church. This had a big impact on me because I saw the inspiration and the love that went into making the shoebox gifts. I was most impressed by the joy in the church, and the joy I felt when I got the shoebox gift. Because I think that you made them with a lot of love. And to see if those boxes could bring some miracle. So I started to pray, and I asked God to help me follow in His footsteps because I was in a lost path.

Julia:

He used that gift to bring her to the Lord’s feet.

Ivanna:

God healed my sins some time ago, and I can’t go back. And every time I read the Word of the Lord, I think about how Jesus sacrificed Himself for us. I love sharing the Bible, and what’s good to God. I read with my little brother, Jalils. I hope that one day he will be a pastor. I pray for my family. I want to see them steady and stable, just like a soldier of God.

Julia:

She would ask us to pray with her so her mom would let her come to service. She is a girl who yearns to be in the house of the Lord.

Ivanna:

I was born again with a healthy life. I felt the glory and virtue of God by my side. My only strength comes from God and Jesus. He is our savior.

Julia:

On occasion I have invited her mom to come to church as well. She was reluctant at first, but after seeing Ivanna’s testimony, I know that God is working and now she tells me that one day she will come with her daughter to church.

Ivanna:

I tell people, and I tell my friends, to seek God.

Julia:

I have always believed that God works through the younger generations. Today, we must teach them so that tomorrow they will be the bearers of the Word of the Lord.

Ivanna:

I see that God is creating a good future for me. I think God will give me power and wisdom to preach and to teach children the difference between right and wrong. That’s what I think is the purpose of God.

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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