An Operation Christmas Child ministry partner sees God transform the lives of people who used to follow other religions when he shares Good News through shoebox gifts.
Just outside of a major tourist city in Cambodia, people struggle to make ends meet. Makara* and her family live in a one-room house, on a tract of land shared by many other members of their family who work in the nearby fields.
Makara was hard at work last year when her daughter, Tola*, attended an Operation Christmas Child outreach event where she heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ presented in a kid-friendly way and unexpectedly received a shoebox brimming with gifts from afar. When she got home, there was something different about her daughter.
Tola is one of over 232 million children around the world who have received a gift-filled shoebox given in Jesus’ Name.
“When she came back from church, she was happy,” Makara said. “More than usual. She was more joyful. Something changed in her.”
As a mother, seeing her child so happy was more than she could ask for—she encouraged her to continue going to the church for The Greatest Journey follow-up discipleship classes, since it seemed to be the source of the happiness.
It was there that Tola learned through 12 exciting Bible lessons how to follow Jesus, and accepted Him as her Lord and Savior!
“I told my parents that I learned how to pray at church, and I also danced for my mom,” Tola said. “I remember learning about Genesis, where it says God created the heavens and the earth.”
Tola said of her lessons in The Greatest Journey, “I remember learning about Genesis where it says God created the heaven and the earth.”
One Pastor’s Effort Makes all the Difference
Listening to this smiling, laughing little girl, chattering away about Jesus, Pastor Kosal* would hardly recognize her if he hadn’t seen the transformation himself.
“She used to be someone who was shy, who was more on the fearful side, and now she is so bold and so courageous to speak,” Pastor Kosal said. “We are thankful and grateful to God, and we praise Him for what he’s doing in her life.”
Tola (center) joins Pastor Kosal (right) in prayer at a community event.
Makara has heard about Jesus her entire life, but no one had ever taken the time to explain who He is and the love He has for her until Pastor Kosal traveled hours just to share this life-saving foundation of the Gospel with the family.
“Unlike others, he regularly came to teach us at our home, and then some of my family members would join,” Makara said. “I want to say thank you to Jesus and thank you that Tola was able to learn about Him. And I pray that Jesus would help Tola to have wisdom and to guide her.”
Pastor Kosal goes out of his way to reach the remote villages and different districts, even when it’s less than convenient, with a less than receptive audience. But Operation Christmas Child has allowed him to make a connection with this particular community.
He became a ministry partner with Operation Christmas Child in 2023 and did his first outreach event in this community in 2024. Many adults in Cambodia have hearts hardened toward the Gospel after years of practicing other religions, which is why reaching their children at an early age is so important. He explained that it’s so much more than just giving the gifts and making them happy; the Gospel-change in these children is enough to make their parents curious.
Tola shares a lesson from The Greatest Journey discipleship course with her mother, who is intrigued by the faith that has transformed her daughter’s life.
“I feel very thankful and very grateful, especially to all the families that pack the shoeboxes because it’s through the shoeboxes that I’ve been able to see the joy on children’s faces and see them receive things that they never would’ve received before in their lives,” Pastor Kosal said. “We’re seeing this community be touched, and the Lord bless so many families.”
Transformation Begins
When he first arrived in this village, Tola’s parents were never ones to come near the Bible study or join in; they wanted nothing to do with the Christians. To become a Christian would mean facing opposition, the worst of which doesn’t come from those around them, but is inside themselves.
“Hearing about it is not an issue, but the believing and the inward fight spiritually is what is the hardest,” Pastor Kosal said. “It is very much a cultural issue but it goes as far as the religious things that they believe in.”
Tola continues to share Jesus Christ with her mother, at times using The Greatest Gift Gospel booklet she received with her shoebox gift.
Sharing Jesus in this context and in this community takes persistence, time, and sacrifice—as believers, he says, it is essential that we don’t grow tired or weary of pursuing the goal of sharing the hope of eternity with everyone.
“We know that even if one single person chooses to believe there is rejoicing in Heaven, and so we believe that every single soul on earth is so important to the Lord.”
“In the Bible, the [Great] Commission is to go out to other places and baptize people in Jesus’ Name,” Pastor Kosal said. “We know that even if one single person chooses to believe there is rejoicing in Heaven, and so we believe that every single soul on earth is so important to the Lord, and that helps to encourage us.”
Unexplainable Joy Consumes the Community
Although Makara doesn’t believe in Jesus yet, she believes that Tola’s prayers are being heard. At night, she’ll even add in a request herself, praying that God would help her to love her family better, give Tola wisdom, and help her raise her daughter in the way she should go.
“I’m not really sure what’s going on, but I’m excited about what’s happening in Tola and that she became so bold and so courageous,” Makara said. “I’m really happy that she is able to go to church, but I don’t know why I feel joyful like this. I feel excited!”
Tola’s joy is contagious as she watches her mother’s interest in Jesus grow. Her biggest prayer, whispered from the very depths of her heart, isn’t for school or more clothes, it’s for her parents.
As her mother watches, Tola prays to the Lord Jesus Christ, asking Him to lead her parents to Himself, the only Savior of the world.
“I want my mom and dad to also pray,” Tola said. “Praying makes us wiser, prayer helps us to remember [God’s ways]. I feel safe when I pray. Jesus is the one who helped me to know how to pray.”
Tola isn’t giving up on them, and neither is Pastor Kosal. With the help of Samaritan’s Purse and Operation Christmas Child, he is confident this community will be forever changed.
“We believe that the Gospel and Jesus are the light in the midst of darkness, and once that light comes into these children’s lives, there’s no more space for darkness, there’s no more space for fear. And that’s what we want them to hold onto,” Pastor Kosal said.
Please pray for Tola to continue to grow deeper in her faith in Jesus Christ and that Makara would join her in following Him. Pray also for Pastor Kosal to be strengthened in his efforts to bring the Gospel to families and communities steeped in other religions.
National Collection Week is coming Nov. 17-24! Please pray about filling shoeboxes with fun items for children in need around the world. They will bless entire families and communities with the Good News of God’s love!
God is using Samaritan’s Purse and our Operation Christmas Child project to not only bless children around the world, but also families and communities with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
*Name changed for security
