Spending Christmas in Harbu Chulule was one of the sweetest times I’ve had with my squad. The holiday was celebrated differently compared to what I’m used to, but the new traditions I experienced made it a Christmas I will never forget. Through this time the one thing that I realized was that despite not having the same traditions or the materialistic things that surround the holiday, there was no lack of Joy on this holiday. One of my squad mates brought up how crazy it was that we all said yes to this journey at the same time. This was our family and we were all brought together in perfect timing. We could never imagine what life would be like not meeting each other. Our party planning committee worked so hard to make this a day that we could look back on with fond memories. I can confidently say they succeeded in making it a Christmas I will always be able to look back on as a day of new family and new traditions.
The week leading up to Christmas, we would have a Christmas movie going in the living room each night. We also decorated the space by hanging Christmas lights, garlands, water coloring a Christmas tree to hang on the wall decorated by ornaments colored by the kids, and hanging socks up as stockings. When Christmas Eve rolled around, we spent the afternoon watching more Christmas movies until the first ever Ethiopia Christmas Eve talent show! I laughed so much that night and felt so swept up in those beautiful moments of sitting with my squad and just really embracing Christmas in Ethiopia. We had dancing acts (MP3 and 3.2), skits (Esther), and spoken word (Unity) all hosted by Connor. As if the night couldn’t get better, we all got up on the couches and watched the “Polar Express” while drinking hot chocolate all the way from Guatemala. I went to bed that night so excited for the next day’s festivities!
I was woken up bright and early by a group of my squad mates singing Christmas songs. It kind of startled me, but I definitely appreciated the enthusiasm. My sweet teammate, Ellie, sat presents out for us and I had set out Christmas letters given to me before I left for the Race on the floor. My teammates all exchanged gifts and we headed to the main building for breakfast. There was a delicious breakfast prepared for us consisting of Chocolate donuts, cinnamon rolls, bananas, nutella bread, and coffee! The tables were put in a long line adorned with garland. My team sat together laughing and wishing each other Merry Christmas. We were given little stockings by our Squad leaders with candy canes and chaptstick. Along the wall were our socks we had put up filled with little notes by everyone on the squad. After breakfast we all got together in the living room and opened all the notes in our stockings while singing Christmas songs. It was just as fun opening the notes in our stockings and singing together on the floor than opening actual presents. We proceeded to having a white elephant exchange. It started out playful, but got pretty cut throat. It was so fun seeing the creative gifts everyone put in for the exchange and seeing Connor’s fruit cake actually get locked as a gift.
Now leading up to Christmas we also formed powder puff team’s coached by the boys. We had practices to prepare us for the big tournament Christmas day. As the exchange ended, we all got dressed up in our team’s color, had a last minute practice, and prepared for kickoff at 3. My team’s color was black and we were the “Little Jesus’” coached by Grant. We played against Mason’s team and put up a good fight, but unfortunately lost the game. The football game literally made the day for me. It was so much fun having practices and just being part of a team again! We had games until dinner and then afterwards had a bonfire. We sat around singing Christmas songs and it really hit me where I was. All of my family was back home just waking up for their Christmas and I was in Africa in the middle of nowhere under the most beautiful stars sitting around a fire. How many people get to experience that? The Lord had been preparing this moment my whole entire life and brought together every person on W squad for this moment. Despite this completely different atmosphere, there was no lack of joy or Christmas spirit. As the night ended I was just so extremely thankful for where I was and who was surrounding me. They were the people who made each day precious and worthwhile. Whenever I thought about my future, I never expected myself to be hiking volcanoes, experiencing Thanksgiving in Guatemala, to be living in the middle of Ethiopia, to look up at the most beautiful constellations each night, and to have one of the most special Christmas’ ever with people from all over the country. I would never trade any of this for anything else and I’m so grateful to be able to hold these memories for the rest of my life.
