One year ago, this was my life:
Christmas morning (please notice the kids at the windows and door)
Living on a river island, hanging out with and teaching kids English, taking naps by the river, and celebrating Christmas with my team.
When we first started our month in Cambodia, on the island, I was not excited; by the end, it was so hard to say good-bye to everyone. Now, I would love to go back there, to see the kids, to find out how they are doing.
At the beginning of the month, we weren’t sure what it was going to be like to celebrate Christmas there. How could it feel like Christmas with these people we had only known for a few months, with no family and with no snow (try, sweltering heat instead)? But Christmas was awesome. The days leading up to it included making paper snowflakes, decorating our room and tents and creating wrapping paper from the red, green and white paper in our room. Christmas Eve we sang carols and spent time together talking; Pastor Gideon even joined us for a while.
Christmas. Surge 12:9 style.
Honestly, this year it doesn’t feel like Christmas at all, to me. I don’t know why that is. I am with family, I’m not with strangers, no, there isn’t snow, but it is cold and there are Christmas lights and decorations everywhere. I’m thinking it’s because my heart isn’t really here. Don’t get me wrong, I am excited to see family and spend time with them, but I want to be somewhere else; I don’t know exactly where that is yet, but I will in time.
Thinking about all this, reminds me how God has given me so many opportunities and provided so much in my life. Just because the race is over, just because I am Back from Japan, doesn’t mean God will stop taking care of me. He has a plan and I can’t wait to see it start unfolding in this next season of my life.
With Emily, Christmas Eve 2007. Our traditional with tree pic.
I hope that everyone has a wonderful time with family and friends.
Merry Christmas!
much love
