Christmas Box 2012 with Shipping Update

*Update:

This is the same post as before with some shipping information.

I just received an email from a friend that said the US post office has boxes for international shipping that can be sent for a flat rate regardless of weight.  

If anyone else has found a good shipping option, feel free to email/comment, and I'll post it here as well.

And please, free feel to tell others about this opportunity!

Each time I go over to visit Clementina, I think "Christmas Boxes".  In the ministry here, it is very easy to gather a big crowd.  If you offer free food, clothing, gifts etc...you'll have half the town show up.  We know the gospel is the power of God unto salvation.  It is far more valuable than any tangible treasure here on earth.  But it isn't precious to those who don't see their need.  

The people here do have physical needs.  And most of them will do or say anything if they think they can get something free.  So we have to be careful.  We could easily fill up a building the size of a gymnasium each Sunday if we were giving away food, money or clothing.  But we desire to minister to people's deepest needs.  Those of their heart.  They carry burdens of sin, need forgiveness, have never known true love, joy or peace.  They need the Lord Jesus Christ!   And we want the focus of our ministry to always be that to which God has called us...the preaching of the gospel! 

We have, of course, had countless opportunities to help out in physical ways as well while being here.  

We love the people here and when you love you can't help but to give.

And when I think of Clementina and her household of sons/daughters/grandchildren...

how I couldn't even talk to her or get a smile or a wave until the Lord put it on my heart to bring her some cinnamon rolls...

And then when I took over the Christmas Boxes last year...

And something changed...

I was welcome in their home.

And to now be able to tell them that God has a priceless gift for them that will never end.

For 5 years now, by the love and generosity of so many people, we have been able to give many children in our town and surrounding villages a Christmas Box.

I can't begin to tell you how many times I have heard a mother tell me that it is the only gift that her child gets for Christmas.

And we would love to do it again this year as well.

For those of you swho would like to participate, I will include all the information at the bottom of this post.

Normally, we post about this much sooner, so there is not much time left.

Part of the reason for the delay in posting is we were really hoping to be able to have a USA shipping address to give you to send the boxes as we have been able for 3 of the years.

In previous years, we have driven to the border, picked up the boxes in our van or trailer, and driven them back.  

But as much as we would love to, we will not be able to make a trip north this year.

We know that shipping to our address here in Mexico is expensive and that the cost of shipping may make it difficult for some to participate who would want to.

The shipping will probably cost more than it costs to put the box together.

But we still want to give you the opportunity to give as you have done so often before.

And as always, EVERY box we receive, whether it be 10 boxes or 200 boxes, we will personally put into the hands of a boy or girl here.

In the precious name of Jesus, we will tell them someone far away thought about them and wanted to bless them.

And we will continue to share the gospel of Jesus Christ and pray for their precious souls and the souls of their families as well.

There isn't much time left.  Christmas is only 2 months away, and while I'm not sure about other countries, I know it takes about 2 weeks for a package to get to us from the USA.

As always, I will do my best to take a picture of each child so you can see the boy or girl with your gift in their hand.  They love to have their pictures taken anyways, and maybe if you see them, you can pray for them as well.

Isn't the Lord so good?  Isn't it wonderful we can bring the name of someone we don't even personally know before Him and He WILL hear and WILL answer?

Thank you in advance for giving.

And before I forget...

Here is the information we post each year...

For the past four Christmases, we have been able to bless a number of children in our town and the surrounding villages with a special gift from many of you. What a joy it has been to not only give these children a shoe box or bag filled with wonderful treats, but by being a blessing in this way to their families, have an open door to share with them about the One who gave us the greatest gift of all! 

This Christmas, we would again like to reach out to the families of our town by giving their children a Christmas Box. We want to not only show them the love of the Saviour through this tangible way, but tell them the wonderous gospel that so many have still never heard.

Each time we have done this, it has been a tremendous blessing to the people. We've been able to hand out between 50 and 200 boxes each year!  Every box that we receive is placed into the hands of a Mexican boy or girl. For many of them, it will be the only Christmas gift they will receive.

 We will pass out whatever boxes we receive and the more the better! And we would love to have your help! It is truly more blessed to give than receive! If this is something in which you would like to have a part, here are some guidelines:

*Boxes should be shoebox size (you could either send a real shoebox or send a plastic container with a lid that is approximately the same size; the advantage of the plastic container is that the child/family can use it for something later)

*For Shipping Purposes, some people prefer to send a bag. Each year we handed out backpacks, paper gift bags (which were protected by being wrapped in plastic wrap so they wouldn't break open in shipping), and cloth hand bags as well. When we were up north, our girls were given some cloth hand bags for their birthdays that were purchased at the dollar store.

*Some years we had  people send a large quantity of an item(s) to be handed out with or in addition to the boxes(we've received Spanish New Testaments, Spanish Christmas Coloring Books, Stuffed Animals, Blankets/quilts, hats). If you are interested in sending something like that, just email us and let us know! :)

*Boxes should be sent to:

Daniel and Jaynee Lockwood

APDO #8

Col. Centro

Cd. Insurgentes, BCS

CP23700  MEXICO

*We would like to have all the boxes ready to give out a week before Christmas. Please have all boxes sent with enough time for us to pick them up by the 14th. 

*If you would like to specify "Christmas Box for a Boy" or "Christmas Box for a Girl", please mark that somewhere on the package.  We will be handing them out to children of all ages, so variety is welcome!

Now for the fun part! Ideas of what to include in the boxes!

If you are on a tight budget and would like to give, please know that anything will be appreciated.  The children here do not have much at all and even small treats mean so much.  If you have a dollar store or the like in your area, that would be a great place to go!

*Toys: a small stuffed animal, a ball, a yo-yo, whistle, picture book, a puzzle, a game, play dough, coloring book etc...

*School Supplies: pencils, pencil box, crayons, felt markers, stickers, notebook, erasers, pencil sharpener, glue etc...
*Toiletries:  soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, comb or brush, wash cloth, floss, etc...

*Other: American Candy, scarf, a personal letter* or picture drawn for the child, comb or brush, toothbrush, craft, stickers, etc...

Here are things to NOT include:

*Chocolate or any other food that could melt, make a mess or spoil

(Of course, M and M's melt in your mouth and not in your....box, right?) :)

*Medicine

*Items that could easily break

*Anything liquid that could spill (bubbles, shampoo, ect...)

*Anything that could be dangerous for a small child (marbles, sharp items ect...)

If you have any further questions, feel free to email us (email address at the very bottom of the right side bar). Of course, we plan on taking lots of pictures of the children opening their boxes and will post some on the blog. Wouldn’t it be fun to see a picture of a child opening the box that YOU sent? :)

*Spanish phrases that you could include in a personal note if you would like:

Dios le bendiga– God Bless you

Jesus te ama– Jesus loves you

Feliz Navidad– Merry Christmas

Dios te ama– God loves you

Estoy orando por ti– I am praying for you

Con amor de - With love from  

Christmas Box 2012!!

Each time I go over to visit Clementina, I think "Christmas Boxes".  In the ministry here, it is very easy to gather a big crowd.  If you offer free food, clothing, gifts etc...you'll have half the town show up.  We know the gospel is the power of God unto salvation.  It is far more valuable than any tangible treasure here on earth.  But it isn't precious to those who don't see their need.  

The people here do have physical needs.  And most of them will do or say anything if they think they can get something free.  So we have to be careful.  We could easily fill up a building the size of a gymnasium each Sunday if we were giving away food, money or clothing.  But we desire to minister to people's deepest needs.  Those of their heart.  They carry burdens of sin, need forgiveness, have never known true love, joy or peace.  They need the Lord Jesus Christ!   And we want the focus of our ministry to always be that to which God has called us...the preaching of the gospel! 

We have, of course, had countless opportunities to help out in physical ways as well while being here.  

We love the people here and when you love you can't help but to give.

And when I think of Clementina and her household of sons/daughters/grandchildren...

how I couldn't even talk to her or get a smile or a wave until the Lord put it on my heart to bring her some cinnamon rolls...

And then when I took over the Christmas Boxes last year...

And something changed...

I was welcome in their home.

And to now be able to tell them that God has a priceless gift for them that will never end.

For 5 years now, by the love and generosity of so many people, we have been able to give many children in our town and surrounding villages a Christmas Box.

I can't begin to tell you how many times I have heard a mother tell me that it is the only gift that her child gets for Christmas.

And we would love to do it again this year as well.

For those of you swho would like to participate, I will include all the information at the bottom of this post.

Normally, we post about this much sooner, so there is not much time left.

Part of the reason for the delay in posting is we were really hoping to be able to have a USA shipping address to give you to send the boxes as we have been able for 3 of the years.

In previous years, we have driven to the border, picked up the boxes in our van or trailer, and driven them back.  

But as much as we would love to, we will not be able to make a trip north this year.

We know that shipping to our address here in Mexico is expensive and that the cost of shipping may make it difficult for some to participate who would want to.

The shipping will probably cost more than it costs to put the box together.

But we still want to give you the opportunity to give as you have done so often before.

And as always, EVERY box we receive, whether it be 10 boxes or 200 boxes, we will personally put into the hands of a boy or girl here.

In the precious name of Jesus, we will tell them someone far away thought about them and wanted to bless them.

And we will continue to share the gospel of Jesus Christ and pray for their precious souls and the souls of their families as well.

There isn't much time left.  Christmas is only 2 months away, and while I'm not sure about other countries, I know it takes about 2 weeks for a package to get to us from the USA.

As always, I will do my best to take a picture of each child so you can see the boy or girl with your gift in their hand.  They love to have their pictures taken anyways, and maybe if you see them, you can pray for them as well.

Isn't the Lord so good?  Isn't it wonderful we can bring the name of someone we don't even personally know before Him and He WILL hear and WILL answer?

Thank you in advance for giving.

And before I forget...

Here is the information we post each year...

For the past four Christmases, we have been able to bless a number of children in our town and the surrounding villages with a special gift from many of you. What a joy it has been to not only give these children a shoe box or bag filled with wonderful treats, but by being a blessing in this way to their families, have an open door to share with them about the One who gave us the greatest gift of all! 

This Christmas, we would again like to reach out to the families of our town by giving their children a Christmas Box. We want to not only show them the love of the Saviour through this tangible way, but tell them the wonderous gospel that so many have still never heard.

Each time we have done this, it has been a tremendous blessing to the people. We've been able to hand out between 50 and 200 boxes each year!  Every box that we receive is placed into the hands of a Mexican boy or girl. For many of them, it will be the only Christmas gift they will receive.

 We will pass out whatever boxes we receive and the more the better! And we would love to have your help! It is truly more blessed to give than receive! If this is something in which you would like to have a part, here are some guidelines:

*Boxes should be shoebox size (you could either send a real shoebox or send a plastic container with a lid that is approximately the same size; the advantage of the plastic container is that the child/family can use it for something later)

*For Shipping Purposes, some people prefer to send a bag. Each year we handed out backpacks, paper gift bags (which were protected by being wrapped in plastic wrap so they wouldn't break open in shipping), and cloth hand bags as well. When we were up north, our girls were given some cloth hand bags for their birthdays that were purchased at the dollar store.

*Some years we had  people send a large quantity of an item(s) to be handed out with or in addition to the boxes(we've received Spanish New Testaments, Spanish Christmas Coloring Books, Stuffed Animals, Blankets/quilts, hats). If you are interested in sending something like that, just email us and let us know! :)

*Boxes should be sent to:

Daniel and Jaynee Lockwood

APDO #8

Col. Centro

Cd. Insurgentes, BCS

CP23700  MEXICO

*We would like to have all the boxes ready to give out a week before Christmas. Please have all boxes sent with enough time for us to pick them up by the 14th. 

*If you would like to specify "Christmas Box for a Boy" or "Christmas Box for a Girl", please mark that somewhere on the package.  We will be handing them out to children of all ages, so variety is welcome!

Now for the fun part! Ideas of what to include in the boxes!

If you are on a tight budget and would like to give, please know that anything will be appreciated.  The children here do not have much at all and even small treats mean so much.  If you have a dollar store or the like in your area, that would be a great place to go!

*Toys: a small stuffed animal, a ball, a yo-yo, whistle, picture book, a puzzle, a game, play dough, coloring book etc...

*School Supplies: pencils, pencil box, crayons, felt markers, stickers, notebook, erasers, pencil sharpener, glue etc...
*Toiletries:  soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, comb or brush, wash cloth, floss, etc...

*Other: American Candy, scarf, a personal letter* or picture drawn for the child, comb or brush, toothbrush, craft, stickers, etc...

Here are things to NOT include:

*Chocolate or any other food that could melt, make a mess or spoil

(Of course, M and M's melt in your mouth and not in your....box, right?) :)

*Medicine

*Items that could easily break

*Anything liquid that could spill (bubbles, shampoo, ect...)

*Anything that could be dangerous for a small child (marbles, sharp items ect...)

If you have any further questions, feel free to email us (email address at the very bottom of the right side bar). Of course, we plan on taking lots of pictures of the children opening their boxes and will post some on the blog. Wouldn’t it be fun to see a picture of a child opening the box that YOU sent? :)

*Spanish phrases that you could include in a personal note if you would like:

Dios le bendiga– God Bless you

Jesus te ama– Jesus loves you

Feliz Navidad– Merry Christmas

Dios te ama– God loves you

Estoy orando por ti– I am praying for you

Con amor de - With love from  

Today

I haven't written very much here lately.  Why?  

Busy?   Yes.

Is everything okay?  Yes.

Is there anything happening?  Yes.

Even being busy, I've always been able to fit in a few minutes here or there to update/share.

But the last few months have been a time of keeping things and pondering them in my heart.

It's been a time of growth in every way.

A time so hard yet so sweet just as when Jesus saved me.

I do know that many of you that read here do pray for our family.  You do care for us and the ministry here.

Forgive me for not keeping you better updated these last few months.

I do want to do better.  I have always loved sharing what the Lord has done/is doing in our lives and the lives of the people here.  If he can use me to encourage another here, I am humbled.

But this past year, he has opened my heart so much more to the ministry here.

The needs stare me in the face and burn within my heart.  So many need the gospel.  So many so new in their faith.  So precious and sweet.  

So many friends, neighbors, children I weekly visit, so many come our our door, so many come to our church.  So many without hope and without Christ.

My ministry is my home...my husband and children.  And when time allows, we minister to the people here together.  And the work is endless.  The fields are white unto harvest and the laborers are few.

This is only a work of the Lord.  If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature.  

God has made me/is making me new.

I would be content to stay in my home cooking/cleaning/washing/teaching/sewing/serving all day long.

I was content to do little and let others do much.

I am shy.  I am awkward.  I struggle with Spanish.

But Lord, if you can use me, here I am.

And He won't let me go.  My heart has been opened.   The burden of my husband's heart not only toward his family but toward the people here has become mine.

Most days you will find me at home doing what I always do...teaching, cooking, cleaning, washing, training, loving, playing, laughing, making our home a home.

But those days are full of prayer, tears, and love for the people here.

Late nights staying up with my hubby talking about our days, the children, our concerns, our joys, and the ministry.

This afternoon, after school, I took a couple plates of homemade cinnamon rolls to Clementina.

Anyone remember the grandmother that I talked about during last years Christmas shoebox ministry?  That's her name...Clementina.
She needs Christ.  She lets me come and witness.  She listens.  She doesn't understand still.  Her Spanish is poor like mine.  She speaks a dialect.  But last week when Daniel and I went to see her, she cried.  

Some of her grandchildren hate us.  But we love them.  And Jesus loves and wants to save them.

We have to go.

I went to see Jaquelin (age 16).  She got saved and baptized last year, but hasn't been at church for weeks.

Just to love her, encourage her in the Lord, hear how the Lord has been working in her heart.

I then went over a few streets to see Guillermina and her new baby.  And then to see Cristina who is due to have her 3rd little one in December.

Our church bought property this fall.  After 7 years and 5 different locations, we finally have a place of our own.  

We are getting ready to move out there.  Planning to tear down our platform and the walls of the Sunday school rooms we built at our current location and use them to put up some sort of structure where we can meet.

It was our church's idea for us to move out there.  There is nothing there, but they want to go by faith.

I remember when we first moved to our property here in our little travel trailer.  It didn't even fit us all.  The 3 oldest boys had their "bedroom" in the van.  Daniel said someday we would build a real house. 

We had no idea how.  But the Lord provided and there is hardly a day that goes by still that I don't think how grateful I am for our home.

I know the cold season is coming and there are many mothers with little babies in our church.  But I know the Lord knows are every need and He will provide.  

So much work to do.  So much JOY in serving Jesus!  

I wish you could all be here to see it all.

But I'm thankful that the Lord has you just where he has you. 

So much JOY to serve Jesus just where you are.  So many need Him!

Thank you so much for praying.  Please, please, keep praying!

Blue Skies

Thank you all so much for praying.  The storm has passed over and didn't hit us near as hard as was expected.  By the time it hit land it was only a category 1 hurricane and hit us more like a tropical storm.
We've had no running water since last night and our water tank is empty.  Daniel suspects that the city well pump went out during the storm.  Needless to say, everything around here is a bit of a mess...14 people with lots of mud from the rain, laundry, dishes, unable to bathe or flush the toilet or clean much of anything.  We still have over 10 gallons of purified drinking water and so at least our teeth are clean :)
 We'll be going over to the church today to see how everything over there looks.  We were over there on Monday when the rains had first started, and it was a mess as the roof leaks everywhere...pulpit soaked, piano soaked, pews, floor.  Praying for a few good days of hot weather to dry everything out.
We are so thankful the Lord spared our town of a hard hit and are so thankful for those who continue to lift our family and ministry up in prayer.  

Hurricane Paul

Another hurricane is headed toward our area.  The last hurricane that hit (Jimena- 2009) devestated our town.  Please pray for safety and protection for our family, our church, and the people of our town.  

Thankful to be in the hands of the One who controls the winds and waves.