Below is a letter received from India about a child who received a shoe box.
From India, 2008:
In the village of Nagireddy Pally, 180 students received shoe box gifts at a Muslim school. Most of the parents of the children are domestic workers and field laborers who earn about a dollar a day. They cannot afford to buy gifts for their sons and daughters.
Ten-year-old Fatima is one of eight children in her family. She helps take care of her siblings and helps her mother wash dishes and clothes. Her father works in the nearby rice paddies.
Her eyes lit up when she opened her shoe box. In fact, she was so thrilled that she put her hand to her mouth in awe. Inside were notebook paper and art supplies, a red purse, candy, socks, and her favorite—a jump rope.
Fatima wants to be a teacher when she grows up. She was grateful for the notebook paper and pens and pencils.
“I give thanks to the children in America for these gifts,” she said. “I will study hard.”
Although the Gospel message could not be openly shared at the school, the joy that shone on the faces of the students spoke volumes about God’s love. Yes, the toys and school items were wonderful gifts, but just knowing that Christian families packed these gifts especially for them has made a lasting impact and opened the door to share about Jesus.
“This is a very great thing the children in the United States are doing,” said one teacher. “Our children have seen the importance of giving. We want to follow this example.”
