Christmas in Calgary

This year we celebrated an early Christmas. We didn't have to dream of a white Christmas. Calgary's winter blizzard had blown in the weekend before our arrival. The temperature was North Pole cold at -15C , and -28C with the wind chill. Driving from the airport to the hotel we saw Santa's reindeer gearing up for their around the world trip as they meandered in a snow laden field. Our Christmas tree was brightly decorated and placed in the hotel foyer. Christmas lunch was a delicious Moxie's chicken burger enjoyed in a hurry before we reported for our Christmas elves' duty.

We knew a few of the elves volunteering at the Christmas warehouse; shoe box co-ordinators from other Operation Christmas Child collection centres in the greater Vancouver area. There was no shortage of gifts. There were thousands, and not one was for us. As Christmas carols and songs filled the warehouse, we sorted shoe boxes and taped them shut ready for their long trip to Central and South American children.

As elves, we inspected the shoe boxes for candy that was not hard-boiled. We removed offending candy that could melt or breakdown into a powder form resembling narcotics. Toys that might leak, melt or bring offence (war toys, playing cards) to the receiving country were also removed. Most shoe boxes were well and fully packed but, where needed, additional items such as paper and pens, knitted dolls and toys were added. Samaritan's Purse honours the intent of the donor and, except for when the shoe box is under packed and/or offending items are removed, the shoe box is sent on as it is received.

We worked hard - two shifts the first day and two the next. We returned to our hotel room tired, with home-made Borscht soup in our tummies, and pleased with our Christmas elves effort. I rewarded my tired muscles with a soothing soak in the tub. M stretched out on the bed and watched 'Law and Order'.

On our last shift I skipped my coffee break so that I could maximise my time and seal as many shoe boxes as possible before we had to hang up our elves' hats and head back to Vancouver on the 4:15pm flight.

My memory of my first quick in and out trip to Calgary is the city's skyline from the aeroplane, bone-chilling-I'm-glad-we-live-in-Vancouver cold, an over-heated hotel, seeing more shoe boxes than snowflakes and relief that we weren't stranded by the next winter blizzard that was showing its presence on our drive out to the airport.

But most of all is the great sense of satisfaction that, in a small way, we too are making a difference to a little someone somewhere else in this world.