Moldova
More than 41,000 shoebox gifts packed in the UK in 2024 are now bringing joy to children in Moldova!
Location:
Eastern Europe, northeast of Romania
Population:
3,599,528, with 14.8% under the age of 15 (source – CIA The World Factbook)
Flag:
We thank God for the thousands of children who have received shoeboxes here since Operation Christmas Child began outreach events. While we are not able to provide pictures or information on the specific child who received your individual shoebox, we hope you will be encouraged and inspired by the photos and stories below.
Children Receiving Shoebox Gifts In Moldova
The children at this local school outreach event were delighted to receive their shoebox gifts.
Happy scenes from Moldova!
This girl was delighted to receive a teddy, knitted hat, school supplies and more inside her shoebox gift.
This sweet pair show their favourite items.
This little girl was delighted with her new notebook
This teenage girl was beamed as she received her shoebox gift.
Ana's Shoebox
Meet Ana! She is from a village in Moldova where there is extreme poverty. Ana had been wanting a baby doll, mentioning it many times around her house. Recently, when shoebox gifts were distributed in her area, Ana opened the lid to find the exact baby doll she had been longing for! Surprised, she picked up the doll and hugged it tight to her chest.
Reaching Out To Local Schools
One local partner shared:
“During the Christmas holidays, we held two outreach events with children and teachers from a local school. At the events there was a children's choir and a Christmas musical production. There were 71 children at the first event and 60 at the second. Many of these children were keen to come back for The Greatest Journey Bible lessons. They came with their parents and heard the Good News of Jesus the Saviour. Thank you, Samaritan's Purse, for the service you perform. May the Lord bless you.”
Shoeboxes for Refugee Families
Local church partners have been thrilled to distribute many shoebox gifts to children who have been forced to flee from their home in Ukraine.
An outreach event at a school for deaf and hearing impaired children.
"Greetings, this is our first time participating in this project and we want to express our gratitude. We held two outreach events for around 80 children. There was a fun programme of games, delicious food, performances by children, a word about the true meaning of Christmas and the distribution of gifts.
The children were very happy about the gifts and their contents. For one child, receiving a sports bottle brought great happiness; while for another it was the sewing kit.
We also had the opportunity to meet some parents and subsequently invited the children to The Greatest Journey. Thank you very much for this opportunity. God bless you."
- Local Church Partner
An outreach event at a school for deaf and hearing impaired children
An outreach event with a Taekwondo group
An outreach event with a Taekwondo group
"We hosted over 60 children from Ukraine. Each one of them received a special gift and heard of God’s boundless love. We enjoyed being able to bring smiles to their faces, as at least for a moment they forgot about the pain. Thank you for these gifts full of beautiful surprises. What an honour to be a blessing to others."
- Local Church Partner in Moldova
What Happens After the Shoebox?
After receiving their shoebox gift, children enrol in The Greatest Journey—12 fun and interactive Bible lessons—where they get the chance to discover who Jesus is, begin their journey of faith, and receive a New Testament in their own language. Watch the video below to see how The Greatest Journey is changing lives in Mongolia.
Note: The Greatest Journey is offered free of charge, without obligation, and with the consent of the child’s parent or guardian.
Learn More About The Greatest Journey
