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ANR
Dear Editor:
I am writing to thank Aurora-area residents for sharing the true meaning of Christmas with children in need this past holiday season.
Generosity throughout contributed to a successful shoebox gift collection season at drop-off locations for the Samaritan’s Purse project Operation Christmas Child. Across the U.S., the project collected over 9.3 million shoebox gifts in 2022. Combined with those collected from partnering countries in 2022, the ministry is now sending nearly 10.6 million shoebox gifts to children worldwide.
Through shoeboxes — packed with fun toys, school supplies, and hygiene items — Aurora-area volunteers brought joy to children in need around the world. Each gift-filled shoebox is a tangible expression of God’s love, and it is often the first gift these children have ever received. Through the continued generosity of donors since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has collected and delivered more than 209 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in more than 170 countries and territories. This year, Samaritan’s Purse delivered its milestone 200 millionth shoebox, which was packed on a countrywide tour and then hand-delivered to a young girl in Ukraine.
Across Nebraska, shoebox packers often shop for deals on shoebox items throughout the year, and many serve at a deeper level by becoming a year-round volunteer. Information about ways area participants can get involved year-round can also be found at samaritanspurse.org/occ or by calling 816-622-8316.
Although local drop‑off locations for gifts are closed until Nov. 13-20, 2023, anyone can still be a part of this life-changing project by conveniently packing a shoebox gift online in just a few simple clicks at samaritanspurse.org/buildonline.
These simple gifts, packed with love, send a message to children worldwide that they are loved and not forgotten.
Casey Goodwin.
Samaritan’s Purse
Decisions have consequences
Dear Editor:
In I Chronicles 21, King David is incited by Satan to count the people of Israel. It takes some godly discernment to understand what is happening here, but this action displeased God. David said to Joab, “Go, number Israel from Beersheba to Dan, and bring me a report.” Joab tried to dissuade the king, “But the king’s word prevailed against Joab.”
Because God was displeased with David, He gave David three choices of punishment to choose from. Of the choices, David chose to fall under pestilence from God for three days. David’s sin ultimately cost Israel much pain and heartache. David’s decision to number Israel, do what man wanted and not God’s will, cost the people of Israel 70,000 lives. David didn’t pay with his life for his decision, it was the people who paid the price.
Leaders can make decisions that have great impact upon the people they serve. When I think about this in terms of recent history, I think of Fauci who lead a campaign to vaccinate everyone. He wanted all to be counted amongst the vaccinated. This was not by God’s directive, but by the wisdom of man. The cost of this decision has been enormous. Like David, it did not cost Fauci his life, but potentially tens of thousands and even hundreds of thousands have suffered and died as a result of this man’s decisions.
We are only beginning to crack the lid on the risks this vaccine held and were not revealed to the people. Reports are surfacing of what Pfizer and Moderna knew, but were kept from the public. The rush to vaccinate, and the emergency declaration, which precluded the medical field from being able to use early preventative treatments, was ultimately a devastating path.
History is going to write a much different story than was portrayed to the American people. I’m afraid our fate is not much better than the one experienced by Israel. A leader’s decision cost a nation untold heartache.
Greg Epp,
Giltner
