“Mary!” she exclaimed as she drew her close. “Dear Mary! What are you doing here?”

“Elisabeth!” Mary hugged her and at the sound of Mary’s greeting, Elisabeth gasped and clutched her stomach.

In a loud voice, she exclaimed, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear.”

Mary’s eyes widened in shock. Elisabeth knows? How could she know?

“But why am I so favoured, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” Elisabeth asked, cupping Mary’s cheek with her hand. “As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. You are blessed my child, because you have believed everything the Lord has told you.” 

One of the neatest traditions about Christmas is Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas Child. Our church supports this program every year and I know many parents use it as a learning experience for their children. When my kids were little, each child was able to pick a box and send it to a child who was their age. We went out shopping and they each chose the gifts to put in the box and would send letters or drawings they made. When the day came to collect the boxes at church, each child was excited to take their box up to the front of the church and leave it in the collection. It was something to see all those boxes at the front of the church and to know that they were going to a needy child.

But have you heard about Packing Parties? This is something you can do with your neighbours or friends that could become the start of a new tradition for you. Here's how it works:

• Determine a location, date, the number of guests to invite, and a shoebox collection goal.
  
• Ask guests to bring appropriate items to fill shoebox gifts as well as the $7 donation for each box.
• Ask guests to bring empty shoeboxes, ask local shoe stores for empty boxes, or order Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes at SamaritansPurse.ca. if you are in the States go to www.samaritanspurse.org
• Ask guests to bring photos of themselves, or plan to take personal photos at the party. Include them, along with a personal note, in each of the gift-filled shoeboxes.
• Gather snacks and get creative! Try international foods from countries where shoeboxes are delivered. Show the “How to Pack a Shoebox - The New Kid” video from the DVD, or an impact story (see video below)
• Set up party stations for wrapping boxes (wrap the lids separately), filling boxes with gift items, and writing letters. Pack each box with at least one special toy such as a doll or car, as well as a variety of school supplies and hygiene items. Boxes should be at least two-thirds full.
• Remind all attendees to bring a $7 donation for each shoebox packed to help cover all related project costs. Donations can be made online or by cheque payable to Samaritan’s Purse.