Gift Ideas for O.C.C

The following is a list of information that may be helpful while packing your shoeboxes are planning a group packing party.  Please let us know if we can be of further assistance.  Together we believe will we have reached 1 million children through Operation Christmas Child after this year!  Collection Week here at The Lighthouse November 12-17

September: School Supplies
October: Toys
November: Other

Gift Ideas -
Toys
small cars, balls, dolls, stuffed animals, kazoos, harmonicas, yo-yos, jump ropes, small Etch A Sketch, toys that light up or make noise (with extra batteries), Slinky, etc.
School Supplies
pens, pencils and sharpener, crayons and markers, stamps and ink pad sets, writing pads or paper, solar calculators, coloring and picture books, etc
Hygiene Items
toothbrush, toothpaste, mild bar soap (in a plastic bag), comb, washcloth, etc.
Other
Hard candy and lollipops (please double bag all candy), mints, gum, T-shirts, socks, ball caps, sunglasses, hair clips, toy jewelry, watches, flashlights (with extra batteries)
A Personal Note
In a separate envelope, you may enclose a note to the child and a photo of yourself or your family.  (If you include your name and address, the child may write back)
DO NOT INCLUDE
Used or damaged items; war-related items such as toy guns, knives or military figures; chocolate or food; liquids or lotions; medications or vitamins; breakable items such as snow globes or glass

Love isn't supposed to hurt - Christi Paul

What a powerful story.  Christi's raw emotions as she walks through one of the toughest times of her life, make you feel what she's going through.  Her journey through verbal and emotional abuse, with an alcoholic husband, has a lesson for everyone.  "Everything we experience - every loss, every torment, every numbing pain - has something to teach us."  I haven't personally been in her situation, yet I felt the book spoke directly to me many times.  God is with us.  He never leaves us.  He will bring good from the bad, blessings from the pain, and opportunity from the failures.  The last part of the book is interactive.  Christi lists many of the questions she had to work through as part of her healing.  In Christi's words, "Whatever needs to be done, God has equipped you to handle it.  This is a new day.  This is a new chance.  This is a new choice you get to make - and God's got your back through it all."

Oops - TJ and the Time Stumblers

TJ and her sidekicks are back in #3 of the series by Bill Meyer.  This time TJ learns about the importance of thinking and speaking well of people.  When everyones' thoughts become known through a malfunction of Tuna and Herby's 23rd century gizmos, things get ugly.  However, they become even worse when those thoughts become reality.  TJ is embarrassed when her thoughts are know.  Yet she still has issues believing that everyone is created by and loved by God no matter what.  Her catastrophe of thoughts turn people into chicken-cats, a snake, a giant baby, a puppet and more.  Silly read with a good message.  Fun for your preteen, especially if they've read the previous TJ and the Time Stumblers.

AAARG- TJ and Time Stumblers

Picking up where "New Kid Catastrophes" left off we once again follow 7th grader, TJ and her 23rd century sidekicks Tuna and Herby.  Full of humorous character names like May K Buck and Ms. Grumpaton, not to mention Hester Breakahart, Naomi Simpletwirp, Mr. Beaker, Stephanie Suchasnob, or Emma Prinzes making another appearance, the reader laughs and is entertained.  This story deals with cheating and it's consequences.  TJ learns (or does she) the importance of honesty, regardless of if it is easy.  Chad Steel has his own battle with making the right choices.  Part of TJ's lesson is learning that we all struggle with the same issues, but we still are responsible for making the right choices.  Good read for you preteen or young teen.

Promise me this - Cathy Gohlke

Great read!  I really enjoyed this historical fiction book.  Placing together the events in history; the Titanic, World War I and the influenza pandemic into one story was fascinating.  I've read many stories about them as separate events, but it was unique to follow the same characters throughout that period of time.  Well written and thought provoking.  Each person was so different, yet each was realistically developed.  You could feel their struggles and understand their responses.  Fear, love, hate, guilt, anger, disappointment, etc. etc.  The reader experienced a full gamut of emotions. 

Safely Home - Randy Alcorn

A thought provoking novel on what it really means to be a Christian.  Would we be willing to endure hardships, torture, or even death for Jesus?  Could we honestly say our relationship with Him is that important?  Though Ben had led Quan to Christ during their college days at Harvard, their present day lives 20 years later were very different.  Quan lives in persecuted China.  Ben has a prestigious job at a company that has factories in China.  When Ben is sent to do marketing research in China his life intersects with Quan.  Alcorn develops the story with unique glimpses of those in heaven, including martyrs in Quan's family, looking down on the current day events.  Quan's life is nothing that Ben imagined it would be when they left Harvard.  Quan's devotion to Yesu has shaped his life into something Ben cannot comprehend.  Will Ben rediscover Christ?  Will Quan go to prison?  Will the human rights issues in China change Ben and his business practices?  An excellent look into the persecuted church by following the Li family and Ben.  Worth your time.

Winning Balance - Shawn Johnson

Olympic medalist Shawn Johnson's book "Winning Balance" takes an honest look at the life of an elite gymnast.  I enjoyed Shawn's transparency about the emotional her journey has taken her on.  Starting with an energetic little girl who's parents were told had no talent, to winning 4 medals in the 08 Games, Shawn shared her life.  Living out her dreams and trying to ride out the emotions of hope, defeat, questions and longing.  She struggled with the "now what" questions we all face.  When we've been driven to achieve one thing and then it's done, you wonder what to do next.  Her parents quest to keep her life balanced has taught her the important lesson of being true herself.  A fast read that was well timed with the completion of the 2012 Games.