What’s Christmas like on the race? It’s honestly just like the rest of your life. It’s what you make of it. It’s easy to sulk in the sorrows of missing home, but if you choose to make the holiday memorable, it can end up being really cool. Plus, you will have all of the stories for your next Christmas at home!
I have two teammates that breathe Christmas everywhere. On November first, the Christmas music started. As soon as we arrived to our location in December, we had a tree. Shortly after the tree, we had stockings, and snowflakes, and paper chains, and lights and THE WORKS! It’s been really awesome, but it’s also taken a lot of effort (mostly on their behalf!). We have watched Christmas movies together, decorated Christmas cookies, and exchanged gifts with secret Santa and dirty Santa (or white elephant for you northerners). We also had an amazing Christmas dinner! It’s not been home, but it’s definitely been fun and memorable.
But, the coolest part of Christmas for me happened today. This morning we helped Uniquely Knit with their Christmas program. There were around 30 kids and some parents. We played games, sang songs, and shared the true meaning of Christmas.
When you’re halfway around the world and away from your family on Christmas, the only part that matters… the only part of Christmas that you can cling to is the birth of Christ. To share the gospel with 30+ people who may have never heard the name “Jesus” before and then teach them “Joy to the World” is arguably the best Christmas memory I will ever have. Afterward, several of the kids accepted the greatest Christmas gift they could ever receive, the gift of salvation.
As much as I miss my family, nothing could ever bring me more joy than someone accepting Christ. Tears filled my eyes as the reality of what we were able to do sank in. Today, on Christmas Eve, lives were changed. In a country where 94% of the population is Muslim, we were able to proclaim, Joy to the world! The Lord is come! Let earth receive her king! Let every heart prepare him room, and heaven and nature sing. Amen and amen.
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