"Before we travelled out to Romania  I had heard stories and seen pictures of what we might expect and had thought that I was prepared. This was not the case, as to be there and hear, smell, see is a truly amazing experience. To meet with these children and sometimes their parents, if they had any, was an emotional rollercoaster ride I shall never forget. I was totally unprepared.

One child that made me feel that way was a small girl of about 8 or 9 being treated in the Oncology Unit of a hospital in Cluj Napoca. The room measuring no more than 4m x 2m had 3 beds crammed into this small space and this little girl's eyes lit up as I walked towards her and before I could say a word she said "My name's Angelina, what's your name?" in near perfect English and with a big smile. This totally threw me off guard and made me feel so inadequate. She was a truly courageous young girl. " 

The experience and story of Paul Jeanes

I have only been involved with Samaritan's Purse for about a year after Simon asked me to consider being involved with writing songs and resources for the schools CD for 2004. It was therefore a huge privilege to be asked to be part of a distribution team travelling to Cluj , Romania to work alongside Ecce Homo as some of the shoe boxes were delivered to the children there. Having my own children, and working in an infant school, I have prepared lots of shoe boxes over the last ten years and have often wondered who would receive them and what they would enjoy from the gifts I had placed in the boxes. This year was no exception. The children and I shopped for the contents for three boxes (one from each of my children), with a view to the age and gender of the child they wanted to receive the box. When we got home we realised we had bought far too many bits and pieces and decided to make up an extra box. This new box was very distinctive with an unusual lid and I wondered whether it would be accepted at the warehouse. The items were packed in and all the boxes were presented for blessing at our church Shoe box Sunday service.

In Romania it was wonderful watching children as they took their boxes from us, their faces said it all really. They were excited and so grateful to us for coming from England to give the boxes to them. Their generosity of spirit alongside their material poverty was a challenge as I considered my own generosity and comparative riches.  As some of them opened the boxes with us I realised that it was not so much what was put in the boxes but that someone had cared enough to do it. Occasionally we had to give boxes packed for one age to someone from the next age group but it didn't seem to matter to the children. They were delighted with the thought and care as well as the gifts that they received. It was such a special time to share with them, and although some of their desperate situations will stay with me for my lifetime, the challenge will motivate me to continue to care for the poor and needy. And my most special experience? Imagine my complete surprise and delight to be able to hand over that very same 'extra' box to a teenage girl in Cluj. Very humbling!

Report by Wendy Rayner

In the ward in the oncology unit at Cluj " General Hospital ", I met a little lad of about 6 called Gabriel who had spent over 2 years in and out of hospital having various treatments.  He was really thin and both he and his Mum looked tired and he showed no expression at all until we handed him a box.  As soon as he opened it, his face lit up. A wonderful smile which transformed him completely - suddenly he was "Angel Gabriel".  I also picture him with a lolly in the shape of a penguin which he unwrapped and started eating.  There were two of them in the box and he kept the bigger one unwrapped for his sister.  I think we also left an extra box for her.  I think this picture sums up for me the impact of the shoe box on a child, especially one who must have such a hard time for most of his young life.

Story of Stephen Shurville