“My interest in how things—and people—can be restored to new life probably started with that toy car.”
As a recipient of a shoebox gift in Romania at the young age of two, my memories of that time are understandably vague. However, the story of how I received my beloved toy car has been recounted to me countless times by my older sister. It’s a story that begins with a simple shoebox and unfolds into a narrative of unexpected joy and lasting impact.
I absolutely adored that toy car. It became my constant companion, a treasure unlike anything I had known before. Growing up in Romania in the mid-1990s, during a period of economic hardship following the fall of communism, even basic necessities were scarce. A simple orange, received by my father as a holiday gift from his workplace, was considered a significant Christmas present. Our family, despite my parents’ professions as an engineer and a teacher, struggled to make ends meet. Daily meals often consisted of just soup, with meat being a rare and cherished addition to our plates only once a week.
Survival was the primary focus of our lives. It was against this backdrop of scarcity and uncertainty that I received an Operation Christmas Child shoebox. This simple act of kindness, this tangible expression of God’s love, stood in stark contrast to the harsh realities of my young life. The shoebox, and especially the Toy In Car it contained, became more than just a gift; it was a seed of hope, planting the first inklings of the Gospel in my heart.
My parents had recently started attending the local church where my sister and I received these shoebox gifts. The distribution event was a significant community outreach, and they witnessed firsthand how the church was extending its hand to everyone, believers and non-believers alike. The tangible demonstration of Christ’s love through these shoeboxes left a profound impression on my parents and deeply influenced their own faith journeys.
A year later, our family immigrated to the United States. I was raised in a Christian home and was deeply involved in church from a young age. At the age of ten, I made the conscious decision to commit my life to God.
Over time, my original toy car, a simple toy in car that meant so much, was lost. Perhaps it was misplaced during our move or simply succumbed to the wear and tear of childhood play. Yet, the memory of it, and what it represented, remains vivid.
Initially, my affection for the toy car stemmed from the simple joy of ownership. It was mine, and it was special. But as I grew older, my fascination shifted from simply playing with it to understanding how it worked. Looking back, I realize that this little toy car, this unassuming toy in car, sparked a curiosity within me – an early interest in understanding mechanisms, in taking things apart and putting them back together, ideally in an improved form.
Even as a child, I was drawn to science and the inner workings of things. Toys were my first exploration, but soon I graduated to taking apart broken computers, driven by an innate desire to fix and understand.
This early curiosity, ignited in part by a simple toy in car, has shaped my academic and professional path. Currently, I am studying biomedical engineering at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee. My field of study is essentially about creating solutions – developing devices like prostheses and artificial organ implants – to improve people’s lives and well-being.
I’ve come to understand that any profession can be a platform to express God’s love and share hope. Our lives, and the paths we are guided down, can serve as a testament to His influence and purpose.
My goal now is to utilize my skills and knowledge to create things that help people, all in the name of Jesus.
The toy car I received as a shoebox gift serves as a powerful illustration of how God can utilize the most ordinary things to profoundly impact lives. For a young boy in Romania facing hardship, that simple toy in car was more than just a plaything; it was a symbol of God’s love, a seed of hope planted during a difficult chapter in my family’s life.
Thank you to everyone who packs shoeboxes for children around the world. Especially for those who thoughtfully choose gifts for young children, like that perfect toy in car, because, as my story shows, the Lord can take your generosity and plant seeds of the Gospel in their hearts, just as He did in mine.
A child’s cherished toy car from a shoebox gift, symbolizing hope and the start of a journey in biomedical engineering.
