Christmas songs blared from my laptop, filling the tiny church with choruses of “Oh Beautiful Star of Bethlehem” (I still can’t believe NO ONE ON MY SQUAD HAS EVER HEARD THIS ONE!), “Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer,” “Jingle Bells,” and “I’ll Be Home for Christmas.” Admittedly, it’s quite the eclectic playlist. My teammates and I danced and sang merrily, scurrying around like busy church mice as we went about our day’s ministry project – clean and decorate the sanctuary.
Laura and Shelli commenced to hanging stockings, Monica mopped the pulpit, Karen and Liz worked on tree décor, Kirby swept on and around the pews and somewhere along the way I found myself, mop and broom in hand, cleaning in the pastor’s study.
Our host church, Tadika Methodist, just hired Rev. Dr. A.E. Joseph a short time before we arrived in Tanjung Malim, so he hasn’t had much time to move into his office. Plenty of other creatures, however, had mind to settle there for the winter!
I couldn’t help laughing at myself as I danced around the room, sweeping, dusting, mopping and singing, “All I Want for Christmas is You!” at the top of my lungs. At any moment I half expected the birds chattering outside the window to join the melodious occasion. There were definitely mice available to join in as well – I didn’t see any, but I swept up loads of “evidence” proving their existence. At one point, I stood to stretch, wiped my brow and thought to myself, “All I need is the hair rag and I could pass for Cinderella.”
Events of that afternoon are a far cry from my “usual” Christmas preparations. In a typical Christmas season, I’m liable to be found caught up in any myriad of hustle and bustle – working on Christmas programs at Church, scheduling time to celebrate with family/friends that I haven’t seen for a while, last minute shopping, “helping” (or taste testing) Ma’s Christmas candy, decorating the house with Mom in style worthy of OPRYLAND… I really do love everything about my “good old fashioned, Kentucky” Christmases.
This holiday season has certainly been different. “Just Love” is housed in a bungalow-style, tree house parsonage above our host church’s fellowship hall. “Friendly” raccoons, rats and lizards feast on our groceries, while mosquitoes just feast on us. We flush our toilets by pouring buckets (emphasis on the PLURAL) of water down them after each visit. Language barriers make just about EVERY transaction interesting. We often don’t know what our ministry will look like or where we will be going from day-to-day. And still, under circumstance that not-so-long-ago I would have labeled “formidable,” this Christmas season has been fantastic!
We’ve spent almost everyday fellowshipping with different church members, having been graciously invited to share meals (and air conditioning!), share stories, and share love with one another! Our new friends have supplied us with a Christmas tree and other various decorations (even seven stockings!) to help make our house feel more like home. We have been Christmas caroling (NOT IN ENGLISH!), but our Malay and Tamil speaking friends have made attempts to sing along to our English versions, as well. Within our team, we drew “Secret Santa” names, and all month we’ve found small ways to bless one another (notes and candy go far with me!) Sincerely, my heart overflows with TRUE JOY! And when I really think about it, as much of a “Cinderella Christmas” as I may feel like I’m experiencing, it’s got nothing on the First Christmas.
A baby born in a stable, literally feet away from farm animals, the child of teenagers, with a bounty already on his head, destined to become Savior for a world that wouldn’t always love Him… NOW THOSE ARE FORMIDABLE CIRCUMSTANCES!
But do we know what THAT baby means for you and me!?!? The simple fact that He was born means we have a Father who is willing to do ANYTHING to keep us close to Him – ANYTHING including assuming the form of man to come to Earth and reclaim us! ANYTHING including accepting the cruelest treatment man can deal out. ANYTHING including assuming blame for every sin that ever would be committed. ANYTHING like paying penalty of death for those sins…
…and ultimately, ANYTHING including defeating death, rising from the grave, ascending to Heaven to reclaim a seat at the right hand of the Father and INVITING YOU AND ME TO ACCEPT AN ALL EXPENSES PAID TRIP TO JOIN HIM FOREVER IN PARADISE!!! Now that’s my kind of gift!
Sounds like A Cinderella Christmas to me!
Be Blessed! (And Merry Christmas!)
-Ashlee
