MERRY CHRISTMAS
from Jesus’ Hometown!
I remember preparing for the race and thinking how blessed I was going to be to spend Christmas in Israel. With all the changes so far to our route and the scheduling this year, there were moments that I wondered whether I would actually get here. I wondered whether I’d ever really be in His hometown to celebrate His birthday.
But here I am, days from Christmas, and it still hasn’t sunk in. There’s no Christmas music playing in the stores, the street lamps are decorated with Menorahs instead of Santas, and the pressure of the “holiday season” doesn’t exist here. There’s no expectation of gifts, no overindulging in unnecessary calories and no parties to plan. Being on this technology ban has cut out Christmas movies, music and other luxuries to set the mood and start the season…
So we are left with the silent reality of our Messiah’s birth.
I am left to appreciate “the reason for the season” in His homeland.
I am left to celebrate the birth of Christ without the commercialization and distractions America often renders this occasion.
It all seems a little bizarre and beyond comprehension at this point. I’m not sure I’ll fully understand this privilege until retrospect… until I can look back and see the whole picture. As of now, it just feels like life. Today feels like another day on the path He’s set before me. It feels right. It feels normal- whatever that is anymore. It feels like exactly where I am supposed to be, surrounded by exactly who He intended me to be with. But it doesn’t feel like a Christmas I’ve ever known.
So do I miss home? YES!
Do I miss pumpkin spice lattes and baking with my roommates? GOSH YES!
Do I wish I could be at ‘Family Christmas’ with some of my best friends? OH GOODNESS, you have no idea!
So I will mourn the absence of a few Christmas novelties and deeply miss loved ones, but I wouldn’t trade being here for any thing. Not even for my mom’s famous green chile enchiladas ☺
Merry Christmas Everyone!!
I love and miss you all very much!
P.S. If you have a burning desire to give me a gift this year and are SO bummed that I can’t be around this Christmas to receive one… Don’t fear! I still have around $2,000 to raise in order to be fully funded. So in lieu of a gift, feel free to give a tax-deductible donation by clicking here:
Or you can send a friend to my site by clicking here:
They can read about what we’ve been up to and consider joining us through prayer or giving towards that $2,000 ☺
I got to live with April, Julia, and
Grant again for a week! We lived at a Sudanese refugee shelte
r
in Arad with Team Sophia while our team waited to travel up north to Galilee. 14 people in a 2 bedroom Apt with 1 bathroom ☺
Soaking in the gorgeous view at the
Sea of Galilee! So much happened here in the bible…
This is a tree from the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus was betrayed by Judas and arrested. I love trees, and I especially loved this one… it was ancient, majestic and a little bit sad. If only trees could talk, I would have so many questions…
