Coming Into the Light

Angelita, 13, didn’t want to attend an Operation Christmas Child outreach event at her church in San Pedro las Huertas, Guatemala. She didn’t realise that God would use the occasion to begin transforming her troubled life through a gift-filled shoebox.

Angelita thought she was too old to attend the celebration and didn’t want to be around a bunch of kids. Her younger brother, Giovany, begged to go, but there was no one to take him. Angelita’s mom worked and her dad had long ago abandoned the family.

“My mom told me I had to take him, but I didn’t want to,” she said. “And I didn’t want to hear anything about the Lord.”

A Life of Darkness

Although Angelita grew up attending church and believed “that God was good and could solve all of our problems,” the void left by her absentee father was just too big of a hole to fill. “I would cry for my father. I felt empty and lonely,” she said. “My group of friends felt the same way. Life didn’t make sense. I started drinking and using drugs. It initially felt good but then they made me feel worse. I felt like I was worth nothing.”

Angelita also dealt with reoccurring dark dreams that fuelled her destructive behaviour. She began to believe that she wouldn’t live to see her 15th birthday.

Guatemala is home to ancient Mayan ruins, breath-taking volcanic landscapes, pristine rainforests, and picturesque towns. But also residing throughout the country are pockets that are far more sinister where witchcraft is all too common.

“There is witchcraft is this area. It is very real,” Angelita said. “My family has been a target of it.”

Marta, Angelita’s mother, was initially unaware of her daughter’s struggles. She knew Angelita was becoming more angry and rebellious, but she didn’t realise the full extent of her problems until one day she received a call from Angelita’s school. “She had taken some pills and passed out,” Marta said. “She then started skipping school and going to a park with her friends who were also drinking and doing drugs.”

Marta began praying for her daughter and asked their pastor and his wife to also pray for her. During a visit, the couple invited Angelita and Giovany to attend an Operation Christmas Child outreach event at church.

A Surprising Gift

Although Angelita didn’t want to go to the festivities, she reluctantly took her brother and was surprised by what she encountered. Middle schoolers like herself welcomed her, and the event was upbeat and fun. But what most amazed her was receiving a gift-filled shoebox.

“I was surprised to receive a gift,” she said. “When I opened my box and looked inside, I didn’t feel alone anymore. I felt appreciated and thought that maybe God did love me.”

Of all the goodies she received, including a notebook, stuffed animal, and a sewing kit, her favourite was several colourful bracelets.

“She kept showing off the bracelets,” Marta said. “Her face would just light up. It was then that she started to believe that her heavenly Father loved her. He gives good gifts.”

Angelita and Giovany were invited to attend The Greatest Journey discipleship course. During the classes, Angelita began to become more interested in God and soon realised how much Jesus loved her. She then readily gave her life to Christ. She soon stopped hanging around her previous friends and stopped drinking and doing drugs—and the distributing dreams disappeared.

“I am overjoyed to see my daughter so happy,” Marta said. “God bless the people who pack shoeboxes. Thank you for your great hearts in sending a gift to someone you don’t know. It fills children’s hearts with happiness. I’ve seen it in their faces. I’ve seen it in Angelita’s face.”

Never Alone

Angelita’s life has been totally transformed by the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

“I’ve learned that God never forsakes us. Sometimes we turn our backs on Him, but He never turns His back on us,” she said. “I now never feel alone. Jesus saved me from many things. Thanks to Him I am still alive. He is the One who can fill any void.”

Of Special Note: When Operation Christmas Child staff visited Angelita this past May, they didn’t realize upon their arrival that it was her birthday. She turned 15!