It’s December 24th. Today they celebrate Christmas in Nicaragua. I step outside of my door and look at the Christmas tree standing in front of me. Instead of seeing children huddled around the tree with presents in hand, I see children spread out across the property holding rakes, brooms and trashcans. Even though it’s Christmas, no one gets a day off from chores at Cicrin.
We all keep saying that it doesn’t feel like Christmas, but what is Christmas supposed to feel like? Does it have to be cold outside, do you have to open presents around a tree, do you have to eat until you’re about to bust? Although we all know that Christmas is about so much more than these superficial things, I think this is the first Christmas that we're actually practicing what is preached.
Our day was spent working in the garden with Antonio, laughing in the kitchen with Robert and Delilah, dancing around with Sujen and Julieta, playing games with Gustavo, Yesel and Jose, and just celebrating Jesus through our relationships with these people.
Some new Christmas traditions we picked up were:
1. Eating goat for Christmas dinner
2. Breaking a pinata after dinner (most importantly: you must dance while swinging)
Christmas traditions we imparted on them:
1. A cookie decorating party complete with sugar cookies, sprinkles, icing and chocolate candies
2. Christmas caroling door to door at the orphanage (there's nothing like 12 Americans singing "Frosty the Snowman" to a bunch of Nicaraguans while wearing rain jackets and headlamps)
Christmas dinner around the tree
Dog pile after the pinata was broken
Helen (Cicrin's director) and Julieta (one of the girls Helen is adopting)
giving each kid their one present
HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM TEAM KALEO
Our 3 month stint in Central America will come to a close on January 4th. It has been three months filled with personal growth, eye opening experiences and relationship building. Please pray for safe travels to Thailand and that the Lord will prepare our hearts for what He has in store for us there.
