Merry Christmas to all you beautiful people over in the US of A! I hope that you woke up to Santa landing on your roof this morning or perhaps to the smell of breakfast cooking and family by your side or even a delicate snowfall out your window!
Christmas has already ended over here on the other side of the world in Cambodia. Yes, there was no snow or even hopes of snow, but it was still Christmas! Christmas!…the day that Jesus Christ was born! And let me just say that it was probably one of my favorite Christmases ever!!! I am sad that I am not home with my family this Christmas season, but I can honestly say that God has blessed me so much today! Being on the World Race without much of my normal everyday amenities that I have back in the States gave me a greater appreciation for why we truly celebrate Christmas…
For one, I realized that if I were at home it would be the exact same Christmas traditions with my family, etc. I would have been in the same routine. I would have been more concentrated and overwhelmed with joy about the feeling of Christmas rather than filled with joy about the real meaning of Christmas. I know that sounds very cliche, but seriously… We celebrate this day because Jesus was born. Jesus Christ came into this world to live and die for US. He didn’t have to, but He came. The King came to not be born in a nice palace but rather a place where animals ate out of (..disgusting).
Thankfully God knew that I would spend this Christmas in Cambodia on the World Race and learn to find my true JOY in the Truth that Jesus Christ was born this day for US!…because of His immense LOVE for us!
This Christmas, God poured His love out over me. He even made it possible for me to have a big sleepover with some amazing lifelong friends who love Jesus and have given up their lives back at home to follow Him around the world this year. I was able to wake up in the morning and eat a delicious breakfast full of banana pancakes & bacon. I was able to open my stocking [made out of t-shirts we bought at the market] this morning to find chocolate, candy canes & encouraging notes! I was able to celebrate Christmas with half of my [Q] squad and fellowship with them and sing an abundance of Christmas carols! I was even able to celebrate Christmas evening at our ministry contact’s house who so lovingly invited us over for dinner with his family, where we enjoyed turkey, stuffing, beef stew, cranberry sauce, potatoes & more!!! I can honestly say [and almost hate to admit, ha!] that my stomach hurts as I write this because I am so full of delicious foods from today. Praise the LORD for this day!
And to make it even better, here is a small Christmas video that I made just for YOU! :]
Thank you for encouraging me, loving me and supporting me in all ways possible!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
Love, Carmen
