okay so i’m gonna talk about my first ever christmas away from home, also my first ever christmas in africa, and also how floored i am by the insane gift of Jesus!!
so! christmas in africa!!! i awoke to a bright sun in a room filled with my beautiful sisters. despite the distance, i felt at home.
we decided to have a mega sleepover in our living room on christmas eve. we all gathered our sleeping pads and snuggled up real close. we spent our night feasting on Nigerian food cooked by our lovely host’s friend, decorating christmas cookies, and watching It’s a Wonderful Life. A joyful night!!!
being so far from my family was not easy. i found myself daydreaming about my cozy little house in New Braunfels, about my christmases spent surrounded by my sweet parents and brothers. as i found myself in my head, i realized the incredible gift right in front of me that I was ignoring. i am in Africa!! surrounded by people who i love, and who love me!! i will probably never get another chance to have this experience again. so why the heck not be present & embrace it?? As I came to the realization of the huge obvious gift I was completely missing, I couldn’t help but think about all of the little gifts I take for granted every day. The fact that we are even able to wake up is a gift from the Lord, and this season has reminded me of just how sweet the gift of Jesus is.
so on christmas day, we started out by going to church! here in Jeffrey’s Bay, we have been going to Victory Church! it’s a super cute little church that’s only a 40 minute walk from our house. we are absolutely loving it and have met such sweet people there. we attended on Sunday and praised the Lord for the gift of His Son. It was such a sweet star to a day dedicated to remembering our Saviors birth. Then, we went home and had an amazing brunch prepared by some of my lovely squamates. We shared in conversation about how thankful we were for the lives we have been blessed with. Following brunch, we exchanged our secret santa gifts! we all got each other a small gift and a letter. It was so fun. Then, we exchanged our team presents. Buying presents has never been my strong suit, but being that we all know each other so well, it was so much fun this year! my team exchanged such sweet and thoughtful gifts, and we couldn’t help but feel so lucky to have each other. They made me feel so loved.
The rest of the day was spent resting in community. We enjoyed each other’s company and chatted about christmas memories all day. At night, Warrior Princesses, the other team in J Bay, got to come over! It was so sweet to spend some time with some of my best friends and talk about what the Lord is doing in our hearts and lives. We ended the night with what we call a Sunset Ball. Every night at sunset, me and a few other girls run full speed onto the field behind our house, and dance and sing and worship as the sun goes down. It is probably one of my favorite activities that we’ve started here in SA.
As the sun set on our beautiful African Christmas, I felt the true Joy of the Lord in my soul. I always find myself completely in awe as I think about the way our Savior came to this earth. Our God is so deserving of our unending praise. Lately He is teaching me that all things fall into place when we fall into His arms. The you that you are when you are broken in His arms, screaming out praises to Him, is the most beautiful you you will ever be. It is the you He created you to be. You were made to melt in His hands in worship. He delights so much in the way we praise Him. When you feel so far from Him that you cannot worship Him, remember the baby Jesus that came down to earth for one thing: to set us free. To die the death of a criminal so that we may be in relationship with Him. He is so good. His love doesn’t make sense!!! Keep this in mind as you enter the new year!! You have been given the greatest gift of all time, the opportunity to know Jesus intimately!!
Thank you for your continued support. I only have $483 to raise by January 22nd!! I am so thankful or the ways the Lord has continuously shown me where he wants me through His people. Please be praying that I would be constantly remembering the goodness of our Father as I enter the new year, and that I would seek Him daily.
I would love to be praying for you guys! Leave your prayer requests in the comments, or email me! My email is [email protected]! I hope to hear from you ((: love y’all!
-Paige
