Yep, I was caught off guard by it too. But yes, we celebrated Christmas by putting on a program reaching out to the Chinese community in a small town in Malaysia. And it was awesome.
The whole month of Malaysia was a cultural rollercoaster. My team and I spent the first 2 weeks working with an Indian family, then we did some work with the indigenous Malay people, then we ended the month with a Chinese family. It was a well-rounded sort of month, to say the least. I got to try many different foods and experience things like; Bollywood dancing, Malaysian tea, and Chinese cheers.
Now, back to Christmas…
Our team arrived in a new town on Christmas Eve, and we were to work with a new family for Christmas Eve and Christmas day. The family we got to work with was amazing, to put it mildly. They welcomed us with open arms, hearts, and doors. We prepared a Christmas program with them, and then we were invited to their home for a Christmas Eve dinner. This dinner consisted of traditional Chinese dishes, as well as, shepherd’s pie & bread pudding. The wife wanted us to feel at home, so she learned how to make mashed potatoes for us. Blessed? I think so! We ended the night by singing carols and making up silly dances. My cheeks and stomach were hurting from all the laughter. It was fantastic.
Christmas day we were kept busy. It started with an early breakfast, followed by rehearsal for the Christmas program. We then joined the family in handing out invitations to people all throughout the town (while wearing Santa hats & reindeer ears, of course). The afternoon was spent decorating a conference room in preparation for the program.
The Christmas program consisted of skits, Christmas carols, a candle-light dance by the children, the Gospel being shared, new believers entering the Kingdom!, and a free dinner for all who attended.
It was a Christmas I will never forget. I got to sing fun songs, be a part of an impactful drama, play with sweet children, hold little babies, and fellowship with some wonderful people.
Sure, it was sad to miss out on the festivities back home, but I was where God needed me. And He blessed me so much this holiday season. I wouldn’t trade the Christmas I spent in Malaysia, and it is one I will never forget. I was surrounded by my brothers and sisters in Christ, I got to see new ones join the family, and I laughed till I cried. It was a beautiful Christmas, and Jesus really was the reason for the season.
He really is worth leaving old traditions behind in order to experience and create new ones.
I truly hope you had a Merry Christmas as well. God Bless you!
