MACA students volunteer with Operation Christmas Child

On December 2, students from Mountain Area Christian Academy joined hundreds of other volunteers at the Operation Christmas Child Atlanta Processing Center to facilitate the packing of thousands of shoeboxes destined for children in India. Franklin Graham, President of Samaritan’s Purse, began this project several years ago. Eleven students and four chaperones from the school inspected and packed for shipment hundreds of the donated boxes, which came from individuals throughout the United States. This project was a joint effort of the school and the Youth Group from Grace Presbyterian Church of Blairsville, Georgia.

The participating students from Mountain Area Christian Academy are members of a Servanthood Class at the school. Taken from the admonition found in Matthew 20:28, the mission of the class is to teach the students the biblical position on serving others. Students are involved in daily serving – as teacher aides, office aides, library aides, janitorial workers, and cafeteria helpers. In addition to daily projects, the students have done landscaping at the Women’s Enrichment Center, Blairsville, and are presently working on a Second Wind Dream project at the Union County Nursing Home.

The landscaping project involved planting dozens of

shrubs and spreading chips for the newly constructed facility. The students spent an entire day digging holes, placing, watering, and covering the plants. When finished with the landscaping, students helped organize and clean rooms at the center in preparation for an upcoming open house.

The Second Wind Dreams project at the Union County Nursing Home involves the students interviewing residents chosen by the staff of the nursing home and determining what unfulfilled wishes or dreams the resident might have. The students are in the process of compiling ideas for granting at least one of the wishes for the two residents chosen.