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HUNTINGDON -- Elizabeth Groff's story does not have a happy beginning.
She was born and raised in Eastern Ukraine, grew up in a broken family and ended up in an orphanage when she was only seven-years-old. She was devastated by the tragedies in her family and felt very alone.
While Groff was in the orphanage, she received an Operation Christmas Child shoebox gift. Because of the gift, she began to have hope that God would not leave her at rock bottom, but that He would meet her there, and become her family.
At the age of 13, Groff was adopted into an American family. A graduate of Virginia Tech, where she enjoyed getting people involved in her Shoebox Club on campus, Groff went on to receive her master's degree in Public Health and now works in the healthcare field. And, of course, she continues to encourage people to pack shoebox gifts.
Groff will be at The Oasis of Love Church, 10991 Station Rd. in Huntingdon on Saturday, April 22 at 5 p.m. to share the second part of her story.
For the first time in many years, Groff returned to her home country, joining Samaritan's Purse President Franklin Graham on Jan. 25 to celebrate and deliver the 200-millionth Operation Christmas Child shoebox gift to the war-torn country.
The milestone event, marking 30 years since the Samaritan's Purse project started in 1993, also marks nearly one year since the invasion of Ukraine last winter. And it's been nearly a year since Samaritan's Purse responded with relief, sending more than 40 DC-8 airlifts to provide the devastated country with emergency food, medical care, and relief supplies.
January's DC-8 airlift carried more supplies and personnel to assist in Operation Christmas Child's continued work in the country. And, in addition, the flight also carried dozens prayerfully-packed shoebox gifts, including the 200-millionth, which Groff was excited to deliver, herself, to a young girl in need.
She remembers receiving her own shoebox gift as a child during a time she described as "rock bottom."
"I was alone. I felt lost. That is where Jesus met me. He didn't leave me there," she said. "He showed me that He loved and cared for me through a simple gift, through a shoebox. These children are receiving the news of the Greatest Gift of All, the eternal love and hope of Jesus. I think about when I received my box and how it changed my life. That's my prayer for these children. I want them to know Jesus and remember this special day for the rest of their lives."
Graham and Groff, joined by news anchor Greta Van Susteren, greeted the 75 children gathered in one of our many Ukrainian partner churches. Franklin was able to remind the children of God's love for them.
"Did you know that the Bible tells us that God loves us, and that everyone is special to Him?" Graham told the children. "God knows your name. He knows how many hairs that you have on your head. He knows everything about your life -- and He loves you! And the Bible tells us that God loves us so much that He sent His Son from Heaven to this earth to save us."
Local teachers and pastors also walked the children through the Gospel using The Greatest Gift booklet, introducing them to Jesus Christ. Then Van Susteren counted down -- in Ukrainian.
As the children began opening their boxes, Groff walked the milestone shoebox to 8-year-old Natalya, an orphan. The shoebox had traveled across the United States with Groff, who made stops at ministry centers and at local churches to place specially selected items inside.
"This gift is for you from God," Groff told the little girl, whose eyes brightened with surprise at the special attention. She immediately zeroed in on the bright-yellow wind-up flashlight included among the items. "He has picked everything in it especially for you."
Samaritan's Purse will distribute more than 400,000 more Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts throughout Ukraine this year and at least 120,000 Ukrainian children will participate in The Greatest Journey, the 12-lesson discipleship program for shoebox recipients.
For more information on Samaritan's Purse, visit www.samaritanspurse.org.