The Christmas season in India was different, but great! A week before Christmas, we went to a Christmas Carnival where the kids got to make Christmas crafts, help decorate a tree, ride horses, get their hands and arms decorated with henna and paint, jump in a bouncy house, and even talk to Santa! That evening, we had a Christmas show on the roof of Joy, and the kids in each house got to perform in songs, dances, and even a skit. We all wore our beautiful sarees for the occasion!
On Christmas Eve, Liora went out to dinner at a very nice Italian restaurant, courtesy of Alexa’s boyfriend, Kevin (thanks, Kevin!) Then a few of us ventured to a Christmas Eve service where some of our squadmates are doing ministry this month. The service was scheduled to start at 9:30 pm, which in India apparently means more like 10:30 pm. They place was amazingly decorated with lights and garlands, and Santa was even there! We helped one of our squadmates whip up some no-bake cookies, then headed out because we knew we’d be up early with our girls the next morning.
We spent Christmas morning with the 18 little girls ages 2-12 that we live with. Each girl got to open up 2 or 3 gifts. One of the women who works here handed the gifts out one by one, grandly announcing the child’s name as she drew out a gift. All the girls would clap and cheer for their friends as they opened gifts. All the school-age girls received a backpack, and they all got new clothes and usually a toy. One of the girls I’m closest to, five-year-old Eloise, got a large baby doll dressed in pink clothes with a pink hat. When I asked her what she had named her doll, she responded without hesitation, “Jesus!”
After watching the girls open their gifts, some of us went to church, where we sang a couple of Christmas songs and worship songs (well, we clapped, the worship songs were in the local language), and listened to the message. At the end of the service, they brought out a Christmas Cake and we sang “Happy Birthday” to Jesus.
Later, at home, out team had our Secret Santa gift exchange. My Secret Santa, Ashley, got me an embroidered pink pillowcase from the craft market we went to, chocolate chip cookies, Nutella, tape in a pink dispenser, and some art supplies, including oil pastels! I also got to open the Christmas gift from my mom that I’ve been carrying around for the past four months, and it turned out to be a very cool bracelet!
In the evening, I went to dinner with some of my squadmates at a weird restaurant/club place. Being very anti-hungry because I’d eaten a ton of chicken fried rice for lunch, I ordered a grilled chicken sandwich. It was nice spending time with friends, even though it wasn’t typical Christmas dinner!
When we got home from the restaurant, I got to video chat with my family! They were getting ready to eat breakfast, and I’d just come home from dinner – the 10.5 hour time difference is very interesting! We talked for a long time, and my sister and brother even gave me gifts! I’m looking forward to wearing the shirt and the necklace in 8 months!
So, I survived Christmas away from home. Honestly, it was probably harder for my family than it was for me. Let me explain. When everything is the same as it’s traditionally been, except that one person is missing, that person’s absence is felt. I know this because of the year when my sister was in Guatemala and the rest of us were home. But when Christmas isn’t anything like you’ve been used to in your life, you just take it as one more new experience to add on to your growing list of experiences. I celebrated Christmas in India, with my henna and my saree, with a group of sweet, happy girls who don’t have parents, without a tree, without a candlelight Christmas Eve Service or a nativity set or snow.
And it was still Christmas.
And it will always still be Christmas, because of Jesus. Wherever there are people that follow Jesus, that believe in Emmanuel, God with us, there will always be Christmas.
Michele is two. As a baby, she had surgery to move her intestines from outside of her body to the inside, where they belong. Although her speech seems to be somewhat delayed, in every other way she is a typical happy two year old who likes to play with everything. Her favorite thing to do is play with shaving cream! Everyone who meets Michele is immediately struck by her curiosity and her adorableness. She’s one of my one-on-ones this month. In an hour, we usually do all the things – read a book, color, play with playdough, play with musical instruments, blow bubbles, build with blocks- you name it. Currently, her monthly sponsorship commitments total $215/month. If you’re interested in sponsoring Michele so she can reach the $300/month goal, shoot me an e-mail at [email protected]
Merry Christmas!
