Christian organization’s gift giving project inspires woman to share her story

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- Operation Christmas Child helps bring joy to children in need and has inspired a former gift receiver to become a spokesperson for the project as an adult.

The project was created by Samaritan's Purse, an international relief organization that has sent shoeboxes of gifts and the gospel of Jesus Christ to those in need all around the world.

One of those children was Ekaterina Haselden, who is now a spokesperson for Operation Christmas Child and shares her story with others.

As a child in the former Soviet Union, Haselden had her struggles but also had faith in God. She recalls her father being imprisoned and her mother's abandonment as moments that created a childhood with trials and tribulations.

Haselden and her sister were put into multiple orphanages as children and she said one of those orphanages was full of abuse.

"That orphanage was a cruel place, caregivers were really mean," Haselden said. "...They would do torturous things."

Haselden said she would often question if things would ever get better until one day, Operation Christmas Child arrived and changed her life.

"They spoke of Jesus and of his love. They showed us (a) Jesus film and him dying on the cross, they gave us Bibles. They spent time with us." Haselden said.

Haselden recalls she received a shoebox with gifts such as a coloring book, crayons and a bar of soap.

She said she felt then that God answered her prayers. Haselden and her sister were adopted and moved to the United States soon after that.