Wrapped with love

Alan Barber couldn’t help but offer a big smile when he arrived at Breath of Life church Monday afternoon, his arms full of green and red shoeboxes.

Those boxes are bound to bring joy and equally big smiles to children Barber doesn’t know, but is pleased to help.

“We’re so blessed. Around the world, so many people are suffering,” he said. “They go without. God blesses us so we can bless others. That’s the primary purpose.”

Barber delivered about 15 Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes filled with small gifts, toys, school supplies and hygiene items from Maranatha Fellowship in Kalaheo, where he is a pastor.

“It does something to you in here when you’re able to do a little bit of something to help someone else,” he said, touching his chest.

OCC area coordinators Mike and Christina Ensman said 2,723 shoeboxes were donated to the program this year, topping last year’s 2,450.

Kauai churches, businesses, community organizations and individuals contributed to the drive operated through Samaritan’s Purse that since 1993 has collected and delivered more than 124 million shoebox gifts to children in more than 150 countries.

“We’re pleased beyond belief,” Mike Ensman said.

Monday was the final day to contribute, so the Ensmans were among a handful of volunteers at Breath of Life, an OCC collection center, on hand to receive and thank those for their gift boxes.

They said Operation Christmas Child is a way to show the love of Jesus “in a tangible way.”

The shoeboxes go to poor children who have little of their own.

“Most of them never had a present in their life, so we’re able to give them something concrete they can use,” Mike said.

Gifts inside the boxes include a range of items, like candy, pencils, toothbrushes, stuffed animals, socks, soap, notebooks, dolls and toy cars.

These are items some of the children in places like Peru, Mongolia and Indonesia might never otherwise own.

Mike Ensman said some children think the toothpaste is candy. He told the story of one child who received pencils and paper in his shoebox, and shared them with his classmates, who had been using one stub of a pencil.

“It blessed the whole school,” he said.

In May, the Ensmans went to Colombia to distribute OCC shoeboxes. Both said the opportunity to watch hundreds of delighted, thrilled children opening their presents was an experience they will never forget.

“It was so amazing to just see the children open up the shoeboxes and pull out the items and just hug the stuffed animals,” Mike said. “It was exactly like the video, the love and the joy.”

While shipping costs on average about $7 a box, this Matson agreed to ship, for free, shoeboxes from the Hawaiian Islands to the processing center in California — a gift worth about $40,000.

“That comes out to 5,700 additional children who will receive a shoebox,” said Mike Ensman.

Kelly Sato with Calvary Chapel North Shore Church arrived Monday with some of the 200 shoeboxes its members contributed this year.

She’s a strong supporter of OCC because “100 percent of what you put into a shoebox goes to that child.”

She has heard the stories of how a simple, small shoebox has been a big influence on the life of a child, she said. It has given them new faith that has seen them through the darkest of times.

“The way it touches people’s lives is just amazing,” Sato said. “This is a way that is not very expensive but incredibly impactful.”

The Ensmans, who are volunteers, have given hundreds of hours to Operation Christmas Children each year for the past five. But despite the commitment, they have no plans to give up being area coordinators. They love knowing — and seeing — how those shoeboxes filled with gifts are changing lives of children for the better, providing happiness and hope. So they will continue to give it their hearts.

“I can’t envision stepping away right now. It’s such a fulfilling thing to do,” Mike said.

Christina nodded in agreement and smiled.

“It’s overwhelming how many people want to pack shoeboxes,” she said.