'It All Started with a Shoe Box'

A South Carolina mom writes about how Operation Christmas Child impacted her family in a unique way

By Holly Johnson

“We’ve never not done shoe boxes,” my 14-year-old daughter, Bailey, said in response to a question about how long we’ve participated in Operation Christmas Child.

I had to smile. Of course we haven’t always participated, but it probably seems that way to her. We began packing shoe boxes in 2001. I told my daughter and her twin brother about the idea, and then offered them each $20 to spend however they wished.

Since age seven, Bailey in particular, has enjoyed picking out colorful items, carefully wrapping every box, and lovingly arranging each individual gift in the boxes. She has also made sure all the boxes had a family picture, a handwritten note, and a self-addressed envelope for the child to receive.

In 2005, we received a reply letter from a little girl named Joshlena in India. She was 5 years old and wished to become friends with my daughter, who was 10. Bailey has always loved making friends, and the idea of being a pen pal to someone so far away was very exciting.

For three years, their long-distance friendship blossomed as they wrote each other several times a year. We chuckled at one letter in which Joshlena asked when we were coming to India!

Then Bailey received a letter in June of 2008 that changed everything.

I saw her eyes light up as she read it. It said that Joshlena was coming to America!

I knew we would have to find a way for these girls to talk by phone. But the phone number enclosed was incorrect.

Then I remembered receiving updates from “Christ for India,” which we discovered was the mission organization that Joshlena’s family had founded.

After finding the organization on the Internet, I e-mailed their office in Dallas, explaining the situation. Imagine my surprise when the e-mail was returned with a phone call from Joshlena’s uncle. He said Joshlena was in Texas, having traveled on her first, and possibly only, trip to America. She was traveling with her grandmother to visit U.S. churches who had sponsored Christ for India’s work.

Her uncle encouraged us to come for a visit. My husband and I immediately began discussing the logistics involved in getting Bailey and me to Texas. At that time, we had four children at home, the youngest was two, and I home-schooled the older three. That would mean a lot of hard work for my husband.

Then, I received an even more amazing phone call. Joshlena’s grandmother, Mary Titus, insisted that I couldn’t possibly leave my children. She and Joshlena would come here! How amazing!

My father offered us his frequent flyer miles, and we purchased tickets for Joshlena and her grandmother. My heart raced. How would we, just ordinary folks from the low country of South Carolina, entertain guests from another culture?

Bailey was equally nervous and excited. Would Joshlena like her? Would they be able to understand each other? And when we found them at the airport, my nervousness increased. Ms. Titus could have been my exact opposite! Our height, skin color, dress, and accent were very different, but we trusted in God to work out the differences, and He did!

Those three days were wonderful. Joshlena experienced a lot of firsts—first trip to America, first sleepover with American friends, first time on a trampoline, and her first boat ride.

We visited other home-schoolers and ate a big meal with our extended families, but mostly, we enjoyed connecting with each another. While the children played, Ms. Titus and I talked. She shared her life story—the sacrifices she and her husband made to attain an American education, and the hardships they faced when they realized God was calling them back to India to begin a mission. After her husband died, Ms. Titus began overseeing the mission’s junior college, hospital, public school, seminary, and church-planting ministry. She shared videos of the work, prayed together with us every night, and gave us many gifts as thanks for our hospitality. She quickly won the love, respect, and devotion of every member of our family.

This trip was originally supposed to be for the two pen pals, but God had bigger plans. He knew we all needed this experience. I’ve never believed in mere coincidences; they are simply God’s tools. What are the chances of us meeting this particular family from India? Speaking to them in person? Having them come to our house?

We still correspond with Joshlena and her family regularly. Last Christmas, Bailey received a handmade Indian outfit from the Titus family. We also received a surprise phone call from Joshlena’s father. He was in the U.S. and wanted to talk with Bailey and me over the phone. He reiterated what Joshlena had asked in her letter: “When are you coming to India?”

I no longer chuckle at that idea. I just sit back and wait to see what God has planned.