What are the odd????? With God there are not Odds just miracles.

Ok this is not a craft, but a story that I would like to share. My daughter Deborah was one of the SPY team that went with Samaritan's Purse/Operation Christmas Child on a distribution trip to the Philippines in July 2013. She came home with MANY shoebox stories. I would like to share one with you.

   Once the shoeboxes are distributed the children are asked to pray over their boxes, thanking God for those that have packed the boxes, those that have delivered the boxes and to pray for the contents of the box.
   One young lady (10-14) prayed over her box. Then it came time for the count down 10, 9, 8 ,7 6,5,4,3,2,1 Open your box. She opened her box, screamed at the top of her lungs, threw the box on the floor. At this one of the NLT (national leadership team) members came to her and asked what was wrong with her box. She said she had prayed for a specific item and that item was in her box.
   Yes, God knew her desires, HE spoke to some one in the United State, that person heard his call, they packed what God laid on their heart, that box was then processed into the correct carton, onto the correct truck, into the correct packing crate, shipped to the Philippines, that carton was then chosen to be held until July, when a team of Youth would come to the Philippines, and they would pick the correct carton, choose the correct shoebox, a young lady would pray for that one item.
    And YES God placed that item in her hand. I guess you are wondering what that item was. Well what are the chances that someone would pack a KEN Barbie Doll in a 10-14 girls box?????

I do not serve a God of CHANCES I serve a GOD  of  Miracles. That young lady got her KEN Barbie Doll. Praise GOD. Pack what God lays on your heart, you never know when it may be an answer to someone's prayer.

Ok this post is for Cricut owners. I own a cricut and  use it to make memory card games, and fishing games. Yesterday I found a jig saw puzzle JPG that I can use to cut out jog saw puzzles for shoeboxes. I will use the program Sure Cuts A lot and my printer and of course my cricut to cut. I am not promoting anything here just using the resources I have available.

Here is the jig saw puzzle cutting JPG.

I will then take a picture. Such as the one below. This will make 2 on one 8 1/2 X 11 card stock.

I will print out the picture them place on my cricut mat. Place the puzzle cut file in inkscape, and save it as a plain svg. open the puzzle svg in Sure Cuts A lot. Then I will cut the puzzle, I will place this in a zip lock baggie, with the smaller picture so they will know what they are trying to make it look like.

Learn to draw booklet

Ok I hope I can get this posted so it will make sense.

The follow pages can be printed out on any printer. 

 

If you are not sure how to print then let me help. On your computer (if you are running windows) under the start button click on all programs, there is (a folder accessories) click, then go to word pad (should be close the bottom just before the folders),

click on word pad,

 

Word pad is open, go to page setup

Here you will make the following changes.

Change portrait  to landscape

uncheck print page numbers

and change all margins to .5

 

Now go to my blog on the internet

you will right click on each picture and copy

then go back to word pad

right click and paste

Right click on the picture and go to resize and

change % to 375 that should make it about right.

Then print the page.

 

Remember that you must ONLY double print the first 2 pages below (one of front of page one page on back) you will put the page back through your printer.

The rest are just printed once.

 You will need to lay them out as follows.

1) How to draw cover.

2) followed by all the rest of the pages except the double print

3) last page will be double print page. This will be the center of your book.

4) now fold them all in half and staple together at the fold. Making a book.

 

 I will be putting these in the older aged shoeboxes.

Please let me know what you think of this booklet.

 

 

PAGE 1 OF BACK TO BACK PRINT

PAGE 2 OF BACK TO BACK PRINT

 

 

FROM HERE DOWN YOU WILL SINGLE PRINT

Why I pack what I pack in my shoeboxes. A list of items and why?????

In this post I will list items that I put in my shoeboxes and why I place these items in a shoebox.

1) Prayer, I pray over every item I make and every shoebox I pack. Pray is essential to this and every ministry/project. Not only to I pray for the child but I also pray for the village/community, country, salvation for those who have not yet received, health and safety for those who will process and deliver. This is just the short list. PRAYER is the MOST IMPORTANT ITEM!!!!!!

2) stuffed animal: I love to place a small stuffed animal in every shoebox. Many of these countries are war torn. Every child needs some thing they can love and hold on to when things are not so pleasant.

3) School supplies: This is a way to allow the child a pathway to a better future. Many countries will not allow a child to attend school if they can not provide their own supplies. In many of these countries the cost of school supplies is more that a family will make in a week.

4) Color: Bright colors, the atmosphere is many of the places these children are is dark and very dreary. Bright colors will brighten their world.

5) Hard candy/gum. This item reminds me of the sweet love of JESUS that is there for ALL of us.

6) Tooth brush/tooth paste. Everyone needs their very own. I have heard stories of children having to share a toothbrush among 30-40 orphans.

7) I like to place a wash cloth. Can you imagine if you never had one, just how excited you would be?????

8) small toys Like the ones I have posted here. I like to make as much stuff as I can this allows me to pray over the child more.

9)   games I like games that can be shared.

10) coloring books>>>>> some thing for the crayons.

 I also like to pray while I am packing and letting God tell me what to put in a box. Then when you hear a story about a child praying for something that is a little odd. Girl praying for a Ken Barbie Doll, a little boy wanting a monkey, a young man wanting tools so he can help build his family a home, hair clips, shoes. You know God has guided that person, to place that item, in that box, for that child. Then God takes that box and makes sure it gets to the right country, to the right distribution, to the right child. That is how MY GOD WORKS!!!!!!! and I get to help!!!!!!!!

Why I do what I do.

Ok this is a post that has no pattern in it. It will explain why I pack shoeboxes and why I have such a passion for this ministry.

1) I am doing what God has commanded me to do.
 Along with their shoebox every child will also receives a small booklet that is an introduction to Jesus and the Bible. Then after they have opened the box they have the choice to take a 12 week discipleship training course (" The Greatest Journey"). Upon completing the course they will get a certificate, and a New Testament with Psalms and Proverbs.
            Matthew 28:19
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
2) I will never be able to reach so many by myself. There is no way I could reach so many souls. One shoebox will have some kind of an impact on as many as 10 people not just the child but their family, village, school, country.

3) It is a family affair. My Daughter (Deborah), Son (David), Husband (David) and my mother are all year around volunteers. My Sister and her dear friend (my "adopted" sister) also help when they come to visit. Time is never spent any better a way that working for the Lord.

4) The team that I work with (Bridgeport/Clarksburg WV Area Team) is amazing. They are like a family. What else can I say. They have come together for a cause and they work together like a well oiled machine, that prays, praises and stands in amazement of what God is doing.

5) I can serve!!!!!!!! God can use me as I am!!!!!!!!! I can't sing!!!!!!!LOL Seriously, I have look for and tried so many ministries. This is one where I can be me, do things I love to do, Pray for all I am worth, and just stand back and watch God work.


6)

This little girl. She is the precious little one that God picked for Deborah to give her box to on her trip to the Philippines. Her name is Anna, she lives at Vision of Hope in Manila. Please pray for her and the rest of the Children all around the world that get shoeboxes.

 

How else can I, an over the hill woman, in West Virginia, who has several physical problems reach out to someone in a country across the world? This is why I pack shoeboxes. Praise GOD HE can use ME!!!!!!!

Blocks for Shoeboxes

Ok here is one I have not made yet. Just seems so easy, yet would be so much fun to play with. I would put these in a younger boys box. Make sure the are bright colors. They could make a whole new world for themselves. Don't forget to add a couple cars. LOL

Paper Dolls !!!!!!!!!

 

Ok not sure how well this will work. One lady (bless her heart) on our team does these lovely paper dolls. We print them out on cardstock, she cuts then out, then she laminates them, then she recuts them again. Then she places small pieces of Velcro on the dolls and the clothes. She then takes 5X8 manila envelops and decorates them with stickers, old cards, and inspirational says and pictures (they are beautiful). Then she laminates the envelope. Puts 1 set of each of the dolls in and the special young lady will have a set of dolls she can play with and the envelope that she can use to share the Love Of JESUS!!!!!

Tic Tac Toe THREE in a row!!!!!!!

 

Ok here is another easy Shoebox Filler. I love this because it can be shared, who knows when God will have a child that gets a shoebox share with a child that does not get a shoebox and this will allow the child that got the shoebox an opportunity to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

 

 

What you will need:

Felt either sheets or Yardage (I get yardage) check the Remnant Section 

Sharpie Marker (permanent)

Something for marker (I use fun foam)

Zip close Plastic Baggies

 

1) cut the felt into square just a tad bit smaller than the baggies

2) Mark the board on the felt square with the sharpie

3) Cut the fun foam into 1 inch squares (I use either my rotary cutter or a big paper cutter). You will need 5 of 2 different colors.

4) place all in the baggie. Tic Tac Toe  Three in a Row!!!!!!

 

Have a funny story to tell this morning.

As many of you may know, the area team that I am involved with it hosting a Motorcycle Ride this weekend. Well this morning on my morning ride to work a motorcycle pulled us beside me and I turned to Deborah and said" here I am with not flyer to give this guy." About that time I looked at the guy well he had this skeleton mask thing on his face and he just about scared me to death. Would love to have him on the ride but hope he leaves the mask at home. LOL

Fishing Game for Boys

Ok I don't have a picture of this one yet.

I found the idea online.

Here is what I used as inspiration

Mine are a lot larger they are shoebox size. I don't have any of these cute little tins. But I do have a cricut, I am not telling you to run out an buy one. But I cut the fish out or card stock, use the watered down craft glue to glue two of them together, you will place a paper clip between the fish, this will allow you to catch the fish. I used a dowel rod ( I got them in a package that are 8 inches long at WalMart. I tied and glued a length of yard on the rod, then on the end of the string I got round magnets (WalMart) and glued 2 of them together with the string between them. Happy Fishing.

 

First Idea for Shoeboxes

Ok these are super easy to make.

 

You will need:

the Large size craft sticks

craft glue

paint brush

pictures for the puzzle

some thing to cut them apart I use an old blade in my rotary cutter, you could use an exacto knife (I would probably cut myself).

 

I print out pictures from the internet.
I just Google and click on the image search option.

 

I print the pictures on white card stock, you could use old greeting cards or even pictures from magazines.

Once you have the picture I do several at a time.

 

Take your craft glue and water it down you want this pretty thin. I keep mine in a Styrofoam bowl and then if I have any left slide it in a zip close plastic bag for later.

 

You will "paint" the back of the picture and place the craft sticks across the back of the picture. These will dry pretty fast.

 

I so several at a time, usually 8-10. Once I have "painted" and placed the sticks. I place them to the side. As soon as I get finished with the last one I go to the first one and cut it apart. Then I place them in a plastic baggie.

 

You may think these are simple to do but depending on the picture they can be pretty tough. I found a pictures of an wall board with animals. I did these for older boys. This one is pretty tough.

 

First of many I hope

     If you are at this little blog, well then you are either lost or you suffer from the same disorder that I and my immediate family suffer from. It is OSD or Obsessive Shoebox Disorder. This all started a few years back when my daughter Deborah wanted to get a youth project started at our church Middleville Baptist Church. Well we attended a meeting for Operation Christmas Child (OCC). She literally sat the entire meeting jumping up and down in her chairs whispering " I have to do this MOM".  To cut to the chase she joined as a year around volunteer, I followed, then her father, her older brother and her Grandma (my mother).
     Well I have started this blog with just one thing in mind. I want to equip more people to pack more shoeboxes. I will do this with simple craft ideas. These will follow. So welcome aboard and PACK MORE SHOEBOXES!!!!!