Can one simple act of generosity change a child’s life and spark faith and purpose for an entire family?

In this inspiring episode of the Collide Kids Podcast, host Christen Clark sits down with Izabella McMillon to share her incredible true story of growing up in communist Romania, finding faith in secret, and receiving an Operation Christmas Child shoebox that transformed her life forever. Together, they explore the power of Christian parenting, raising Christian kids, and how participating in Operation Christmas Child can be a means of discipleship for your family. 

• [00:05:04] Izabella shares what life was like under communism in Romania
• [00:09:17] The miraculous moment Izabella discovers a hidden Bible in her home
• [00:13:00] How an underground church impacted Izabella’s faith
• [00:25:13] Practical tips for families on packing shoeboxes

Resources:

• samaritanspurse.org/occ
• Website: collidekidspodcast.com
• Instagram: @collidekidspod

For more stories of Operation Christmas Child, listen to episodes #187, #145, #105, and #52.

Clip Finder: 

Life Under Rationing: "And one of my most vivid and fun memories from my childhood is running on the streets and getting in line and standing in line to get something at the grocery store. I know that might sound really strange to a lot of our listeners, but standing in lines, for us, that meant that we would get something we didn't have."
— Izabella Mcmillon [00:05:57 → 00:06:15]

Growing Up Under Communism: "So what communism tried to do is to make sure we didn't stand out as individuals."
— Izabella Mcmillon [00:08:13 → 00:08:18]

The Unexpected Power of Reading Scripture Without Understanding  
Quote: "We kept reading these stories because I believe that when we read God's word, even when we don't fully understand it, he starts working in us."
— Izabella Mcmillon [00:12:51 → 00:12:59]

Faith Under Threat  
"And even when someone like my brother and I came as newcomers, he didn't know if we were innocent newcomers or we were spies who were built in by the government. So he had to be very careful to protect all the children who were there."
— Izabella Mcmillon [00:15:14 → 00:15:28]

Childhood Memories Without Electricity: "So the only way that mom and dad would let us go outside to play is if it snowed outside because then it wasn't pitch dark and there was something for us to do."
— Izabella Mcmillon [00:18:00 → 00:18:10]

 How to Participate in National Collection Week for Operation Christmas Child 
Quote: "From now on until the 24th of November, we are in National Collection Week. So if you even go on the website samaritanspurse.org occ you just type in your zip code and you can find the closest drop of location to you and you can drop off your shoeboxes."
— Izabella Mcmillon [00:35:55 → 00:36:11]

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