Paula Swenson was the winner of last year’s Threads/Operation Christmas Child “Send Me"” contest. She recently traveled to Ecuador as part of shoe box distribution trip, and wrote about her trip.

I saw and experienced many things while I was in Ecuador. This was my first trip out of the country. I saw the streets filled with signs that I couldn’t read, the countryside, the gracious Ecuadorian people, the homes, and how life was different there. I heard how some worked for just $2 a day.

I saw the faces of beautiful children. On our first day at the work project site, I was surrounded by a bunch of them as they wanted to look at my camera. At the second distribution, as I was handing two little girls their boxes, they kissed my cheek. I think that it was meant as a “thank you!” At two of the distributions, I got to be the one who passed out candy to the kids. On the last distribution, I was surrounded by lots of children who held out their hands eagerly anticipating a piece of candy.

Our last distribution was like the icing on the cake. It was special for me because our translator read my letter that I wrote and also because I got to experience my girl opening the box that I had made.

I will never forget when I handed out my last box at our final distribution on Thursday. My box was for the oldest girl category of 10-14 years old. The girl I gave it to was named Lady Dianna. I will never forget sitting with Lady Dianna while she was opening her box. I will never forget the smile that appeared on her face when she saw something as simple as a comb in her box.

I tremendously enjoyed the week in Ecuador. I enjoyed getting to know different people, the praise and worship time/ team devotions we had every morning, and seeing the special guest, Mincaye, one of the original Waorani tribesmen portrayed in the movie “End of the Spear.” I also enjoyed hanging out on the bus rides with our group.

I first want to thank the Lord for choosing me out of many people to go on this awesome trip with Operation Christmas Child. I know He has a great plan for my life, and it is so great to see how He is using these opportunities to mold me into the person He wants me to be. I have always had a heart for the orphans in Africa, and now after returning from Ecuador, I can’t wait to go out of the country again, to love and serve the orphans in Uganda.

Secondly, I would like to thank Threads for hosting this incredible “Send Me” contest. I have always wondered what it would be like to actually go in person and deliver the shoe boxes. Thank you, Threads, for giving me this opportunity.

Samaritan's Purse , An Unforgettable Experience

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