Merry Christmas From Malaysia

In World Race fashion, we had to change locations 2 days before the event.  We really didn’t know if anyone would come to our dinner and if they would bring food to share. We had no idea what the children’s program would look like expect we were to act out the nativity scene.   We were given different “visions” from our contacts of how they wanted the program to look every day; at one point we were about to plan a program including cowboys and Indians.  We used curtains and blankets as costumes and made a stable out of wood from a torn down house. With a lot of laughs and patience the planning continued and everything came into place.

I got to put my years of working at the preschool to use as I was put in charge of decorating the church.  I had my team making paper chains that wrap around the block at least a couple of times, paper snowflakes that we hung from the ceiling with ribbon, a family of snowman and candy canes that felt like we were putting puzzles together.   The church was transformed into a winter wonderland. 
In our kitchen that consisted of two-burners we cooked an amazing feast. We had people making pulled chicken with a chili/sweet sauce that turned the chicken purple, mash potatoes with gravy, pineapple stuffing and a veggie salad. It smelled like Christmas in our house.

On Christmas Eve we arrived at the church and waited for over an hour and a half for people to finally show up. In the pouring rain a group of 30+ people arrived with enough food to serve an army.  Laughter filled the air and soon people gathered around to hear us sing songs.
We had planned some traditional and non-traditional Christmas songs to sing to the group, but of course it wasn’t enough.  We soon entertain them with some TRUE AMERICAN SONGS like “take me out to the ball game” and “home, home on the range.”  We concluded our impromptu cantata with some praise and worship songs.  It was a night none on us will ever forget.   

On Christmas Day we arrived at the church again and got into our costumes to perform to 100 kids and their parents the Christmas Story from Luke 2.  I have never seen a better looking Mary, Joseph, Shepherds, Gabriel and angels in my life.
  Afterwards we taught the group of kids some fun songs and got them moving around. Then we got to just enjoy the company of all the kids as the children’s director had everything under control.  At the end of the event we smiled for hundreds of pictures and passed out goody bag full of treats to all the kids as they went home.

In the afternoon, my team got together and we exchanged our home-made Secret Santa gifts.  Again being in the middle of the jungle, our materials and ideas were limited but truly for this Christmas it was the THOUGHT THAT COUNTED.  We laughed and hugged and ended the gift giving with watching the movie “it’s a wonderful life” 
The night ended with an amazing dinner with our contacts and their family in a fun little restaurant.

I will be honest and say this month has been harder than most.  Homesickness hit me hard as I missed my family terribly.  I thought about what they were doing back at home and how I was missing our little Christmas traditions. I missed the cold and snow and the comfort of Colorado.  I found myself looking at pictures and praying that God would heal my heart.
God reminded me that wherever I am, He is right there with me.  He showed me that this Christmas I got to experience what most people will never experience.  I got to have a true celebration of Jesus’ birth because I got to rely on Him to help me celebrate.  I am very grateful for my team as we grew as a family during this beloved holiday.  I am thankful for contacts who tried hard to make sure we enjoyed our Christmas day. I am very thankful for the time difference and internet so I could Skype in with my family on Christmas night. 
At the end of the day, I went to bed feeling loved and very thankful that I got to celebrate the birth of my Living Savior!

What more can I ask for!!!!