We're leaving the Philippines tonight. It's a sad thought.
I've really loved my time here in Manila and the time my team was in MalayBalay.
Since I've been in Manila I've spent some time with the Josie's Angels, some young girls living in a group home because their home situation isn't good. They are each so special and beautiful and I count myself blessed to have met them.
I'm hoping to someday come back and see them again. And that's not something I've said many times on the Race.
But now I must face forward and continue on to Thailand. I'm wondering what it will be like. Since we've been here in the Philippines for six weeks it has begun to feel almost homey. I know how to get around Manila fairly well. The culture, food, money, climate, and transportation are all familiar to me.
It almost feels strange to be moving on again to go to a completely new place where I must learn all these things again.
We'll be getting there just in time for Christmas too.
This has felt like the strangest Christmas to me. I see all the lights and decarations covering this city, but it's not cold, it's hot and humid.
I go to the malls and see all the sales and shopping, but I'm not buying any presents.
I've been to several Christmas parties where I hear the Christmas story, I've eaten the Christmas cookies, and had hot chocolate, and sang carols at the top of my lungs while I go down the street, but my family isn't there for any of it.
So it all feels a bit strange. What do you get when you take the presents and the time with family out of Christmas? Because those are honestly the main things I look forward to, giving gifts and being with family.
What's left?
Jesus.
Not just the good feelings and the little nativity baby Jesus, but the real one. The one who loves me enough to give up everything and come deal with the crap (and let me tell you, after all my travels I know the world is full of it).
When I see a little kid who sleeps on the street and is just dirty, and I hug him full on and pick him up anyway because he is a precious child of the Father. Maybe that's a little bit like Jesus.
I've come to the conclusion that all you really need to have Christmas is Jesus. The other stuff is good, but sometimes it can just be a distraction.
So I'm going to spend this Christmas season with Jesus. I know I have a long way to go, but I want to be just like Him when I grow up.
