Merry Christmas from Thailand! It may not feel like any past Christmas I’ve known, but the same spirit of joy surrounds us and fills our hearts. It’s been a long week, a hard week, and a great week. We told the story of Jesus’s birth in skit form at least twenty times and sang “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” twice as much. We went Christmas caroling for hours singing a mixture of Thai and English in a very out-of-tone fashion. We’ve decorated our home and the church with homemade crafts and multicolored garland. The trees are up and gifts are hidden. It’s finally beginning to feel like Christmas.
Traditions are great and all, but I’m realizing it’s okay to make new ones. The weather is nothing close to cold. The closest thing to snow we have is ice cream and getting to sing “I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas.” Ham and turkey is pretty much unheard of so our Christmas feast is kind of a mystery. There’s no such thing as a real Christmas tree in Thailand so fake will have to do. So Christmas will look a little different, but the love we have for each other and the joy that radiates from each gathering makes this holiday one for the books.
Enjoy this moment, this day of celebration with the people around you. Don’t be afraid to make room for new traditions or change things up, because they give us room to grow.
Merry Christmas!
*****UPDATES*****
We head to Malawi, Africa on Jan. 2nd. Thailand has been so good, but I’m excited to experience Africa! I’m SOOO close to being fully funded, only $1,000 more! Thank you for all the prayer and support, I wouldn’t be here without you.
