Ask any Filipino. Christmas starts when the “brrr” months begin. Septembrrr, to be precise. On September 1st, I can guarantee you that you will hear the season’s first playing of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” at any supermarket you go to. The season then escalates until more Christmas lights, Christmas decorations, Christmas songs, and Christmas spirit than you could ever imagine possible embellish the Philippine Islands. Would you believe that some places even have artificial snow? Granted, it’s made out of tinsel rather than ice-cold crystals, but at least they try.
Although we won’t be spending Christmas Day here (more on this later), it has been exciting to be in a place where the Christmas season is actually celebrated. I am admittedly missing the possibility of a White Christmas at home, but I’m grateful to at least be in a place where people recognize that Jesus is the reason for the season, and where Christians are free to celebrate the birth of Christ. Originally, we were supposed to be in Cambodia on Christmas Day, and while that would certainly have been a Christmas to remember, I’m not sure how much it would seem like Christmas in a predominantly Buddhist country. I must admit that here in Manila, where Christmas lights and music abound, the sheer heat and humidity has sometimes made it difficult to really believe that Christmas is here.
Tonight, we’ll be heading to Thailand to begin our month of Manistry. For those who don’t know, Manistry Month is when all of the men of the squad serve together at one location, while the women are dispersed to other ministries. I will be heading to Phuket with a team of fourteen girls, partnering with SHE Ministries, where we will be working with young women who are recovering victims from human trafficking, or who have chosen to leave a life of prostitution and pursue new opportunities for their livelihood. I’m not sure what Christmas will be like in Thailand, but I’m still eager to be able to share the hope that Christ brings with those we meet while we’re there.
Because we will all be at different locations on Christmas Day, our squad decided to celebrate Christmas together a little earlier. This past Saturday, we all dressed in our Christmas finest…aka, the World Race wardrobe that most of us are sick of at this point… and celebrated with music, skits, cookies, hot chocolate, and all of the fun fixings of a good ol’ fashioned Christmas party. We even had presents, in the form of White Elephant gifts that were passed around. Truth be told, most of the gifts were things we wanted to get rid of from our packs: leftover doxycycline (anti-malaria pills), multi-vitamins, the toiletry kits we received from Qatar Airways, a mostly-eaten jar of peanut butter… alas, it is true that most of these items will remain here in Manila (or, in the case of the peanut butter, I hope it ended up in the trash), but as the Good Book says, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
All that to say, in case I don’t manage to get a blog up, Merry Christmas blessings to each of you! Thank you for your faithful prayers, your words of encouragement, and your continued love and support throughout this journey. I pray that the Greatest Gift of all, Jesus, would bless you this Christmas. May you know and experience the Love of God in a way that you have never imagined possible. He really does love you, you know!
Maligayang Pasko at
Pagpalain Ka Ng Dios!
(in Tagalog: Merry Christmas, and may God bless you!)
