Delivering Gifts in the Dominican Republic

The week after Christmas, I received a last minute phone call from my dad asking me to join him on an Operation Christmas Child distribution in the Dominican Republic and Haiti. On the first part of the trip my dad was joined by Sean Hannity and his family. On the second half of the trip he was joined by Greta Van Susteren and her husband, John Coale. I was extremely tired from the holidays and getting ready to move out of my house, but how can I turn down an Operation Christmas Child trip with my dad?  So, I joined them on the second half, and I am so glad I did.

I can honestly say, this trip was one of my favorite Operation Christmas Child trips.  Each setting was small and intimate, and we were able to spend a little extra time with the kids.  Often on these trips, children can be timid, shy and reserved and not sure how to except this act of love, which is understandably so.  These children were so excited and and were eager to interact and show us what was in their box.

A little girl inside an orphanage we went to visit.

Looking through a box with a girl in the orphanage

Dad opening boxes with a few of the girls.
This little girl stole my heart. She was so excited about her box.
An inside look at one of the rooms in the girl's orphanage.
Once the event was over, the girls hurried to their rooms. It was inside their own safe element, where they felt comfortable to scatter all their toys out.
We also did a distribution in Santo Domingo's largest hospital. This little boy was not feeling well, but he was still so thrilled for his new toys.
After the distributions, we went to visit a few historical landmarks of Santo Domingo with Greta Van Susteren and John Coale.
Also, in town with Operation Christmas Child was Scotty McCreery and his wonderful family.

More Haiti pictures to come.

To see more pictures from the trip, check out Samaritan’s Purse and Greta Van Susteren.