Stories From Moldova

A Family’s Joy

Artiom (2) and Stas (8) both have conditions which limit their mobility and require frequent hospital visits. Operation Christmas Child local ministry partners recently visited the boys and 30 other children, at a mobility rehabilitation centre in Moldova. They reported that the shoebox gifts brought great happiness and joy to the children and they and their families enjoyed hearing the Good News of the Christmas story.

Eugenia (Artiom and Stas’s mother) said that boys’ medical costs meant she had not been able to buy them any presents, and she described the shoebox gifts as “sent from heaven”.

Sharing Hope With The Next Generation

Doina, Tudor and Felicia received shoebox gifts as children and are now working to share God’s love with the next generation by volunteering with Operation Christmas Child.

“I received a shoebox when I was about seven years old. It was Christmas. Everywhere was covered with snow, and it was very cold. But we children were so happy because we had an unexpected present. I grew up in a poor family, so every little toy was a reason to be happy! My Samaritan’s Purse shoebox was the first example in my life of real Christian love being demonstrated by unknown people, and I often remembered that shoebox! In my church I now work with children, and I love to show them God’s love as it was shown to me though a shoebox.” – Doina

“When I was eight years old, I received a shoebox at my church on Christmas Day. For children in Moldova, it is a big joy to receive gifts. For us, as a church, it is a huge support and we are very grateful for that. I want to encourage other young boys and girls not to lose hope and to motivate them to learn more about Jesus.” – Tudor

“I received a shoebox when I was a child and I still remember its contents. For a long time I used that shoebox for keeping all my personal treasures! As I grew older, I saw the joy of the children receiving the shoeboxes and I wanted to be a part of the Church Operation Christmas Child team myself. A few years later, after much prayer, I was offered a role in the regional team. It was wonderful! Since then, I have learned a lot and I pray that God would continue to give me and the team new opportunities to serve Him.” – Felicia

A Much Hoped For Gift

One Christmas time, Anastacia from the Republic of Moldova wrote in her diary that she wanted a pink piggy cuddly toy with glittery eyes. Her mother explained that they did not have enough money to buy such a toy, but that one day Anastacia and her siblings were invited to a Christmas party at a local church where they each received a shoebox gift.

When Anastacia opened her shoebox, she could not believe her eyes: A pink pig with big glittery eyes was looking back at her. She started to cry with joy!

Her mother thanked the Operation Christmas Child team for the beautiful shoeboxes, full of gifts she could never have dreamed of buying for her children. Full of gratitude she said: ‘Truly God knows what we need and what we want, today’s shoeboxes are proof.’