Russia (MNN) — Thousands of shoes have been collected for the Buckner Orphan Care International’s Shoes for Orphan Souls program. Thousands were sent to St. Petersburg, Russia months ago. The team there now to distribute the shoes has run into a problem.
Buckner Orphan Care International’s Amy Norton says the container is still in customs. “The Moscow Humanitarian Aid Committee has to meet and actually sign a certificate approving every container that comes in to Russia. Unfortunately they didn’t meet in July, August or September.”
Norton says all the paperwork is in order, they’re just waiting for a signature. She hopes the shoes will be released by the end of the week.
Not all is lost, however. As they do every year, Buckner donors purchased fur-lined boots for the kids. “We sent the money over and actually purchase the boots in country, so the kids can have water proof, warm, fur-lined boots — the kind they need for minus-40 degree winters.”
As the team hands out the boots, Norton says the team is teaching about Christ and the kids are, “Learning that there is a hope in their Heavenly Father. And, these are kids that have never had a team come in before. So, it’s been a really unique experience hopefully (it’s) opening a door here with bringing the shoes in and being able to share Christ with the kids.”
The warm boots program is a regular part of Buckner’s work in Russia. Norton says it only costs 30-dollars to buy a pair of boots in Russia. Click here to purchase boots on-line.
In the meantime, pray the container will be released.
