A musical instrument communicates to a young musician the depth of God's care for him.

Emmanuel grew up in Uganda where his father led a ministry. All seemed right with the world until, on a trip to the United Kingdom, his father had visa issues and was unable to return home. His mother stepped in to lead the ministry and try to support her family financially, but food became scarce for the family.

During this difficult time, Emmanuel received an Operation Christmas Child shoebox gift. The first thing he noticed when he opened the box was the smell of new items. Tucked amid all the fun toys was an item that especially touched his heart—a harmonica! As a musician, Emmanuel learned of God’s love for him through this instrument. He felt like God was saying, “Emmanuel, I love you. I know you. Your name is written in the palm of My hand.”

To shoebox packers, Emmanuel says, “You will never know what a shoebox means to people like me in Africa. It's a big gift that comes in a small package.”