CREATIVE MISSIONS GIFTS

 

It is not Christmas. But plans are already underway in the Moffitt family for another project this coming December. Since 2001, Marc and Jeanne, along with their five children, spouses, and grandchildren have been preparing a family Christmas gift as a missions project.

The idea began with a plea from Missionary Ron Brewer who was collecting money to provide underwear for Russian orphan children. The entire family began setting money aside so they could help fund that project as a Christmas gift. Since that time they have assisted a missionary in Bolivia whose husband stranded her on the field. They paid for a wheelchair for a boy in Russia. Projects in both North and South America, Africa, the Middle East, the Caribbean, and the Philippines have been the recipients of their joint endeavor.

“We collect money all year,” said one of the grandchildren. “Then after Thanksgiving dinner we throw it all on the floor and count it to see how much we have.”

Last year the money from the floor was enough to purchase a used car for a missionary in the Philippines. Two grandparents, five children, five spouses and twenty-seven grandchildren had been generous.

One of the sons has created an interactive map. Tap any number on the world map and you can see where the missions gift went that year. Twenty-three numbers. Twenty-three gifts. And plans are now underway for twenty-four.