It was a Christmas conundrum. What to do when you've packed up 200 Christmas shoeboxes on two different dates, and then you're confronted with December's icy roads and school closings each day you're scheduled to deliver these heart-warming gifts? You pack the vehicles one more time in mid-January and celebrate “Christmas Day again”.

The Enemy Swim Day School Community Coordinator surprised the children in their classrooms on January 20 with an unexpected Christmas encore. For nine years, North Highland UMC in Aberdeen, SD, has been coordinating the Dakotas Conference and Spirit Lake Ministry Shoebox Gifts that are sent to Enemy Swim Day School in Waubay, South Dakota. North Highland is supported by many area churches including: Faulkton, Bath, Claremont, Brookings, Conde, Cresbard, Tolstoy, Britton, Eureka, Milbank Central, Frederick/Leola, Milbank Riverview, Ortonville MN, Redfield, and Webster. Photos: Smiles abound as the school kids receive Christmas gifts, no matter the month.

This is so much more than a shoebox delivery—it is relationship building and sharing the love of Christ. Members of North Highland UMC have nurtured relationships with the students and staff at the school, and children happily welcome the familiar faces each year.

Volunteers give great attention to make sure the gifts taken into each classroom are very equal and similar. All of the shoebox gifts that come to North Highland are emptied and repacked according to classroom numbers. The many hours of extra work are entered into with great care and enthusiasm as gifts are sorted and counted and hats, gloves and socks are sized. Anyone who has experience with young children knows the importance of “equal gifts”.

As the gifts are opened in each classroom, the visitors engage with the children, and offer supportive "oohs" and "ahhs." After the morning of gift-giving is complete, the church members enjoy hospitality, lunch and conversation to learn about the wonderful work of education, character-building and cultural strength/identity-giving that occurs daily at the school. Photo: Volunteers from Aberdeen North Highlands UMC enjoyed their Christmas in January as much as the kids.

This year the school’s drum group showed their appreciation by singing and drumming a prayer of thanks. This endeavor begins with little gifts wrapped up in shoeboxes, and ends with spirits and hearts warmed beyond measure.

The relationship-building extends throughout the year as staff from Enemy Swim occasionally come to worship with the faith community at North Highland UMC, and share their stories of success and hope.

Photos courtesy of Aberdeen North Highlands UMC.

Warmth of the Spirit from Dakotas UMC on Vimeo.