My Gift
Please use where most needed
Why I’m Involved With Operation Christmas Child. Pastor Sophea’s Story.
Posted on: July 8, 2011
Category: Where Most Needed
Category: Where Most Needed
Sophea Sem from Cambodia visited Australia last month to share firsthand accounts of how shoe boxes from Australia and New Zealand are changing lives in his country.
Sophea, (pronounced ‘sopeeya’), is the Senior Pastor of the vibrant young New Life Christian Fellowship in Phnom Penh Thmey. He also heads up the National Leadership Team in Cambodia, a group of local pastors who organise the distribution of Operation Christmas Child shoe box gifts.
Speaking to pastors and leaders, volunteers, churches and media in Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania, Sophea told of his experience at his first ever shoe box distribution…
“On this particular day the distribution was in Kompong Spue province. More than 100 children attended the distribution and I noticed they were all half naked. I was shocked to realise how much need there was.
“I noticed in the crowd one small boy, about 4 years old who was completely naked. I went over to him and asked him why he came there with no clothes on. He said he only had one set of clothes and his mother had washed them so they would be clean for him to wear to school the next day. My heart was very sad for this little boy who had to come to the distribution with no clothes on.
“When the shoe boxes were given out, the children were overjoyed to discover they had not just one gift, but a box filled with toys, clothes, shoes, school supplies and personal items like a toothbrush or hairbrush.
“What really touched my heart was when the little boy with no clothes on opened his box and inside was some underwear and a pair of shorts. He had come naked and he went home clothed. He was so happy! The Bible talks about this very thing in Matthew 25:36 saying, ‘I was naked and you clothed Me…”.
When I saw the little boy go home clothed just because some people in Australia and New Zealand used what they had to make a difference, tears fell from my eyes and I knew I was to be involved with Operation Christmas Child in Cambodia.
When I think how many hands touch a shoe box before it is put into the hands of a child I am amazed. I want to say a very big thank you to the people of Australia and New Zealand who pack shoe boxes and send them to the children of Cambodia.”
God know what each one of us needs and supplies us accordingly.
I heard Pastor Sophea speak when he was here.What a wonderful young man. I am a “box inspector” in SA. I am a pensioner and no longer have much cash to give but I have health and time. When I worked I had no time except to fill a box or two each year Now I can “inspect” over 30 boxes each day I am rostered and it is a delight to see the love and care people put into their gifts. Thanks Smaritans Purse. I just love being part of it and wish I could do more.
Father Pedro who is a christian worker in the village of Akamasoa is trying very hard to help the people who are facing great poverty there to survive mosquito diseeases such as malaria, to provide some sanitation to them and building houses for the growing orphans. I have become aware of your shoe box gifts as well as aware of the need to send medicines to Madagascar via Father Jan Chrzczonowicz” , of the French aumonerie in Sydney. Can you pls advise if it is possible for your organisation to help us organise a way to ship medicines and some gifts to those poor malagasy people. I recently participated to the shoe box gift donation and would like to command you and your staff for such a great idea. FYI Hereunder details of Father Pedro who is the christian worker helping the people in the village of Akamasoa. Father Pedro was convinced that homeless people, deprived from everything, could not find dignity and autonomy if they did not become themselves the protagonists of their recovery. For this reason, the families sheltered in the villages of the association have to commit to daily work and send their children to school. In exchange, Akamasoa provides them services which will help them to reinsert into society:
Jobs for the construction of brick houses, making of craft objects, agriculture, carpentry, mechanics and welding;
2,000 social dwellings;
4 primary and secondary schools;
1 higher-education institution;
5 kindergartens which accommodate nearly 8,000 children from the province of Antananarivo;
6 pharmacies
Father Pedro is visiting Sydney this week and he can be contacted via Father Jan if you need more information about his charity work. Thank you for your consideration. I am just a little drop in the water. Thank you
Desiree Thomson
0419 235 260.