I spent last Christmas in Da Nang, Viet Nam. I could have never fathomed being in another country and away from my family for Christmas, especially in Viet Nam. I grew up going to grandma’s house for Christmas every year. Some of my fondest memories of the holidays are at grandma’s house. However, if I were to compare Christmas memories, nothing thus far can beat Viet Nam. This Christmas I was in Manila, Philippines. December 26, 2012 I was sitting on my motorbike at the top of a mountain gazing at the amazing oceanic creation pleading with God. I was pleading because that morning God told me I wasn’t going to be home for the next Christmas either. This was particularly frustrating because 6 weeks before, my maternal grandfather went home to be with Yahweh. His passing was a reality check which had only been a theory up until then. God could call any of my family members home at anytime without regard to where I am in the world. This made missing Christmas at grandma’s a challenging thought. At the time I thought I would be back in Viet Nam for this Christmas but clearly God had other plans of which I had no understanding or knowledge of. Monday December 30, 2013 I wake up knowing my family had a weekend of Christmas’ in Minnesota which was coming to an end as I ate my leftover lamb burger (I know, odd meal first thing in the morning).
I am not a particularly sentimental person, anyone who knows me would probably have a fun story for you about that, but one of the biggest loves of my life is family. I don’t get homesick and I don’t miss America and all of its conveniences/distractions. When I am home, I thoroughly love being home even with all the conveniences and distractions. When I am in the Philippines, Malaysia, Tanzania, Viet Nam or anywhere else, I am home there. I have had the mixed blessing of having to process through a death from the other side of the world with no communication, family or understanding of why I was chosen for such an experience. It is very possible I still don’t fully understand what happened last year. But one thing I do know is how much more I appreciate the moments I get to spend with my family, especially the ones who made me who I am today. I never thought I would be communicating something which every holiday movie makes a point of referencing. Don’t take time with your family for granted, take every opportunity to spend as much time with them as you can because you never know when you’ll miss out because of bad weather, illness, work, the Philippines or a loved one being called home. I might be communicating this poorly but I hope the meaning is understood. Sitting in a Cambodian gas station coffee shop and finding out your loved one died through a Facebook post is a terribly confusing feeling, one I hope most people never have to experience.
This year I spent Christmas alone; no teammates, no Filipino friends, no family, no grandma’s house, not even a stray dog. Well, that is not entirely accurate. God has a lot of mercy and grace for this sinner, and it still blows my mind. In Viet Nam last year I spent Christmas with people who are so important to my life I don’t think anyone could ever understand. Through Gods insane plans I ended up in the same city as one of those people. Though with Manila traffic, same city can mean a lot of things. For example, a jeep ride, a van ride, a train ride, a walk, a taxi ride, a motorbike ride and 3 hours later my brother Andrew and I were able to spend another Christmas together in a different country.
One year from being bomb dropped with missing another Christmas and I still don’t know how to describe what my life is like or how God has done every irrational thing so amazingly well my life gets better every time I wake up. Today didn’t have any motorbikes or mountain tops nor did it have oceans or grandma’s house. Today had a chicken who needed feeding, a garden which needed planting and a dead yard which needed burning. I imagine this was a very different day than what most of you had, but it is my life.
“I have seen what they do, but I will heal them anyway! I will lead them. I will comfort those who mourn, bringing words of praise to their lips. May they have abundent peace, both near and far,” says the Lord, who held them: Isaiah 57:18-19. Our Lord is our healer and our strength. He leads us and loves us unconditionally. He has the ability to bring ultimate peace and comfort. This year has been nothing short of incredible; incredibly amazing, incredibly challenging, incredibly sad and an incredible blessing. I pray all of your years have been nothing short of a blessing and I continue to pray this holiday season to found you all well.
As He leads me,
Jason
