I recently wrote this for submission to "The Evangel", our Florida Divisional Magazine for The Salvation Army and thought I would share the amazing story of this project with you all!!!!

“Shoebox Greetings” Project Report

Captain Marion Durham

            “Shoebox Greetings” usually are cards sent from one friend to another.  However, recently the Home Leagues in the Florida Division were part of an unusual “Shoebox Greetings” project as they participated in the giving of gifts to the women officers of the Brazilian Territory.

            At Florida Women’s Retreat, “High Heels In High Places…Walking Worthy In Way Cute Shoes,” the Home Leagues each brought a shoebox filled with goodies such as perfume, lotion, a watch, jewelry, etc.  The items were placed in a quart-size ziplock bag to be hand-delivered to the women officers in Brazil by Lt. Colonel Martha Jewett and Captain Marion Durham, special guests for “The Congresso Feminino”—a women’s congress on Morena Island in Brazil the following week.

            Much care was given by the Home Leagues in selecting the gifts.  Each officer was prayed for individually as well as the upcoming spiritual retreat for the women of The Salvation Army in Brazil.  Every Florida Home League was encouraged to include a personal note, photograph and encouragement for their assigned officer.  There are 73 women serving in Brazil as officers or in the Training College as cadets.

            Major Kathy Hobgood, creator of the project and Women’s Ministries Secretary for Florida, was concerned about all of the gifts making it through customs.  A special letter was written on Salvation Army letterhead and prepared in both English and Portuguese, by Captain Dwayne Durham, who was traveling with his wife.  He also had the letter officially notarized.  When asked about the upcoming trip, Captain Marion asked everyone for prayer in getting the bags into the country without any problems, taxes or duties.

            Upon arrival at customs in the airport, Lt. Colonel Jewett and Captains Durham continued to pray as it came time to go through official channels.  Three times they tried to get into the correct lane for people entering the country and three times they were told to go through another line.  “I think the official believes we are from the airlines because of our uniform,” said Captain Marion Durham.  Lt. Colonel Jewett tried to explain that they were not from Delta airlines, but again they were told to into a different line.

            Another official opened up a roped section and ushered the three uniformed Salvation Army officers to another section.  A third person looked at their paperwork and waved them right past the other airline passengers who were getting bags x-rayed and opened for inspection.

            “It was as if the Holy Spirit opened up a special line just for us.  Talk about the uniform opening doors!” said Captain Marion Durham.  “We got on the other side of customs and we just couldn’t believe what God had done!  No one ever even looked inside our suitcases!  At all!”

            The answers to prayer continued throughout the Congress and when the gifts were given to the officers, it was a beautiful experience.  The zip lock bags were put in Hallmark gift bags brought by Captains Durham in their luggage which they then labeled for each Brazilian officer.

            Following the first session of the weekend, the officers and cadets were taken into a nearby room where the bags had been placed.  Captains were asked to go on one side of the room and Majors on the other.  Cadets and the one Lt. Colonel and Commissioner in the territory remained in the center while translators assisted Captains Durham and Lt. Colonel Martha Jewett in passing out the gifts in a personal manner. 

            “We didn’t bring them all this way in our suitcases just let them have them without special love,” indicated Captain Marion Durham.

            Lt. Colonel Jewett explained the project and how the Home Leagues had prepared the gifts and prayed for each officer individually.  Florida’s Divisional Headquarters also had purchased a set of uniform loops for each woman and through Major Robert Bagley and the Southern Territorial Trade Department, new neck pins were made for the women.  The pins were crafted in the shape of a large red shield and said “The Salvation Army” in Portuguese.  The ladies cheered at the news as new loops can be costly to purchase and their territory’s uniform minute states that a neck pin must be worn at all times.  When Major Kathy Hobgood had the pins made, she did not know of this regulation.  It must have been a God-inspired idea!!!

            Each officer was called by name and then given their bags with a special hug and love from the Florida Division via Captains Durham and Lt. Colonel Jewett.  Many photographs were taken and across language barriers, names and stories were exchanged. It was a beautiful time and memories were made.   The camaraderie was a beautiful sight and it was certainly evident that God has blessed “The Shoebox Greetings Project.”

Martha and I with the bags

Here they are in the ziplocks and marked for their officer

See the bags on the table behind us?  Here's Martha and her translator, Major Jung explaining the surprise gifts to the officers.  That's Commissioner Janet standing next to me.

Majors on one side (pictured) and Captains on the other

Here I am hugging and loving on Captain Philippa Chagas, giving her the gift.

My Home League had the wonderful woman, Major Veronica Jung, Territorial Personnel Secretary for Brazil.  Single lady and one "smart cookie" if you ask me.  And quite a linguist.

"High Heels in High Places...Walking Worthy in Way Cute Shoes!"

Just a quick report on a great weekend.  As usual, I had a big list of things to do, bring, teach, etc. at Women's Camp, I mean Women's Retreat!  My first here in Florida.  It was held at The Rosen Centre in Orlando.  In some ways I missed having it at "camp", but I so enjoyed my room alone.  Quiet time.  Cool sheets. Cable tv and no one in the bathroom but me.  Wink!  Oh, and no one snored!  Or turned the lights on at 4:30am, like what has happened to me at other women's camps.

Had a much bigger delegations originally signed up, but for various and valid reasons, most of them cancelled.  That was disappointing, but since I had to do a presentation on Brazil, teach a workshop and process/organize the gifts from our division's Home League's for the female officers in Brazil, it turned out to be for the good.  I was busy!  Oh, and Songsters too.  That was no big deal, just took up some time and if I had to "babysit" some of my group, it would have been difficult.

Major Kathy Hobgood went all out for the women and you could tell it was all done with detail and love!  We sure are going to miss her here in Florida.  And Eddie too!  I was teasing him, calling him, Lt. Colonel Hobgood.  He "scoffed" to say the least.

I loved spending time with my peeps---Pam and Frances.  It was good to have some girl time with them, even if it was a busy weekend.  See the photos for shots of us at one of my favorite restaurants, "Cafe Tu Tu Tango", having tapas or appetizer portions/desserts.  It was good!  Especially since I never had dinner on Friday night because we got there a bit late, missing registration, having to just check in the hotel, get ready for the night meeting, drop off grab bags,  shoebox greetings, etc.

All of the meetings were good...danced like a crazy woman Saturday night at Cinderella's Ball.

But Sunday morning was so wonderful.  The room was decorated by Major Amy Kelly like the "King's Chambers" and as part of Songsters, we sang, "How Beautiful" and "Come Into the King's Chambers" and it was wonderful.  Worshipful.  Had a really sweet time of prayer with Mrs. Jewett at the altar, praying for our upcoming trip to Brazil.  I can't believe we leave a week from tomorrow!  I loved the meeting and the Lord really touched me to "sanctify myself" for the trip.  I think it's in 1 or 2 Peter when the scripture tells leaders to "sanctify themselves for their sake" that is the "flock under their care."

All and all, despite the work, it was a lovely weekend and I am so grateful to everyone involved.  Tomorrow I'm going to show the pictures in my regular Home League time and show the ladies who cancelled what they missed!!!

Kids---busy afternoon with them.  Poor Mary Beth got her little feelings hurt when one of her friends didn't want to come over and play and another one couldn't come over to play.  Jeremiah was having homework troubles.  And I was trying to help them both. 

Women really are multi-taskers---I had their troubles, laundry, dinner and vacuuming all going at the same time!  And we had a good dinner and made it on time to T-Ball at 6:00pm!  Whew!

Skyped Mom and Dad tonight about details for the trip.  Exciting days!  And then I worked on some other details for Wednesday's Civic Annual Appreciation Dinner.

So, it's 10:30pm, going to bed...tomorrow is another day!