Watch the story of how Operation Christmas Child changed the life of a boy in Peru. And read a story of how The Greatest Journey discipleship materials are bringing lots of Peruvian children to faith in Jesus Christ.

Our office in the United Kingdom put together the following video detailing the vital need for clean water around the world, and how Samaritan’s Purse is helping. Click here to find out how the U.S. office is responding to the crisis.

A ministry partner in Kurdistan blogs about delivering shoe box gifts to a remote village.

We recently learned of a village in a remote valley that just recently became linked with the road system with the help of bulldozers and dump trucks.

Apparently, the people have lived in this valley for generations with little attention from the outside world. We were descending on this quaint hamlet to distribute gift-filled show boxes from Operation Christmas Child.

As we were making our way to the village, there were times when we all wondered if our vehicles would be able to handle the “road.”

As we pulled up, the whole village emerged from their homes and gathered to greet us. A member of our group stepped up on the back of one of the pickup trucks and shared about God and how these small gifts were a simple demonstration of His compassion and concern for them.

And then, the event that everyone was waiting for—the gift distribution! The children all lined up ready to receive a tangible gift of love from our gracious Heavenly Father.

The bus was filled to overflowing with 78 people—men and women, boys and girls.

They were among the tens of thousands who fled north to escape the violence during Sudan’s long-running civil war. Now, with South Sudan becoming an independent nation, they finally felt safe to come home.

The parents wanted to raise their children in the places they grew up, in their own country with fresh opportunities.

They sold practically everything they owned to afford the tickets for the bus. Nine days ago, they had left Khartoum for what would become a perilous journey. On the third day, they were robbed by nomads who took almost all of their food and water. They thought they were going to be killed.

Now, with only a few more hours to go before reaching their home village, more disaster struck. They drove off the road, and became stuck in the mud. The heavily laden bus could not be moved. It was too large, weighed too much, to be pushed out or even towed by small trucks passing by.

A team from Samaritan’s Purse drove by and saw their predicament. Our staff hurried back to base and returned with a big four-wheel drive truck. They attached a chain, and pulled the bus out of the ditch.

Soon, the 78 people were back on the road, and on their way to a new life filled with hope and promise.