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2007 Christmas Box Trip

2007 Christmas Box Trip


Chris Graham's Distribution Diary

A week of taking Christmas smiles from Salisbury to Bulgaria.

Gurkovo (Hope Orphanage)
 

Once again this year we were able to distribute boxes at Gurkova (Hope) Orphanage, which supports children aged 2-5. They treated us to a wonderfully enthusiastic singing performance before, to much excitement, we handed out their boxes.

It was amazing to be there to experience the joy in the eyes of these children as they discovered what treats had been given to them, and all the team took great delight in playing with the kids and their newly acquired toys.

Gurkovo Village
 

After leaving the children with their gifts, we continued to distribute in the village of Gurkovo, one of the poorest villages that we had come across. With the help of the local mayor we were able to deliver boxes to several elderly people in real hardship and poverty.

This was one of the most touching experiences for us all, and we were overwhelmed by the heartfelt gratitude that was expressed by those we delivered to. Each person we gave a gift to could not comprehend why they had been remembered by us, whilst everyone around them had forgotten they existed.

For each of us it proved to be a fantastic and teary-eyed reminder of why we take Christmas Boxes out and of the great impact that such a relatively small gift can make.

Roman Special School and Home

For the first time we were able to distribute boxes at Roman school and home, an hours drive away. Many of the children here suffer from mental and physical disabilities, and have been abandoned by their parents.

It was fantastic to be able to bless the children and staff with the presents that we brought, and they were so obviously appreciative of what we could give them.

Razliv Orphanage and School

This was a distribution with a difference. We visited Razliv Orphanage and School with a significantly larger team than normal - accompanying us was the whole of the Balkan basketball team, our local professional club.

The kids were of course delighted, and having received their presents from the hands of these players they then successfully challenged them in a Razliv vs Balkan game.

It was really encouraging to see the players interacting so naturally with the kids, and there was a real spirit of fun and enjoyment there that was so unusual for the place.

Botevgrad Gypsy Community
 

Our return to Botevgrad Gypsy Community this year turned out to be a fantastic distribution, with a smooth process and very British-style queuing!

It was chilly day, and was a stark reminder of the importance of the hats, gloves and scarves that are in the boxes. It was great to see some of the kids coming back out, kitted with their new clothes and munching on their sweets.

The smiles on the children's faces was a sight to behold!

Scravena schools and village
 

As always it was great to be in our 'home' village distributing to children and adults. We were treated to numerous song and dance routines wherever we went, giving all our distributions an even greater festive atmosphere.

Many of the elderly people in the village proved to be just as excited as the children about our arrival and imminent distribution of presents - indeed some were so eager that we struggled to get into the room to give out the boxes! Nevertheless, when we eventually managed to gain access to the gifts, the words of gratitude that were expressed when we gave them out were really encouraging.

We were also able to take boxes to the homes of the elderly or disabled who could not come to us, and once again the overwhelming thanks that were expressed was incredibly moving. They would not let us leave without giving us a gift in return, no matter how little they could afford.

Scravena Gypsy Community
 

It was great to be able to go back into this community that we have worked so extensively with to distribute boxes and to spend time with them and catch up with old friends.

We were invited into their homes to open their gifts with them and their children, which was a real privilege.

Vrachesh and Litikovo
 
These villages were also new delivery sites for The Trussell Trust, and it was a great pleasure to be able to distribute to children here.

Lipnitza Orphanage/School
 

It was great going back to Lipnitza to see so many familiar faces and friends, and as always they had prepared a fantastic presentation for us that encapsulated both Bulgarian and British traditions - including several welcoming lines in English which was amazing to hear!

The kids were immensely excited to have us there with them, and undertook their performance with great noise and enthusiasm and no little skill. We all ended up dancing around the hallways with them, to the great amusement and fun of all... The children then proceeded to open their gifts with us, which was great to be involved with.

We also left presents for staff and their children, as it's easy to forget that they are very poorly paid and would struggle to make Christmas a time of joy without the gifts.

Novagene Schools and Village
 

Our visit to Novachene involved distributions at the school, kindergarten, and finally at the pensioners club. Once again we were enthusiastically welcomed wherever we went, and were given fantastic hospitality including some interesting traditional Christmas cuisine.

The presentations that were given to us by the kids were again superb, however, a real treat for us was the repertoire of the ladies at the pensioners club.

They took great pleasure in regaling us with songs and poems, and were then delighted when Rich and Chris returned the favour with a verse of 'Away in a Manger'. Whilst the quality may not have matched that of our hosts, it was nevertheless roundly applauded!

Churches
 

We also distributed boxes to churches in Scravena and Botevgrad, including 2 Orthodox churches and the local Methodist church.

It was great to be able to bless them with the boxes that we had brought, and they were full of gratitude that we had taken time to deliver to them.

What difference could a Christmas Shoebox possibly make in alleviating the poverty that these people live in? How could such a small gift change lives?

Your shoeboxes did make a difference because they weren't just filled with gifts; they were packed with love. All the personal things that went in - the photographs, Christmas cards, letters - were treasured.

It did not matter that they were in a different language, because they spoke in a common tongue of love and concern. Hope was rekindled as long-forgotten people were remembered.

Your Christmas Box made someone feel important and treasured, and brought them joy this Christmas.