This holiday weekend my teammates and I went to our hosts village.
We have been staying in a home they are using as a missionary house. It is pretty close to a local market and a new church that they are building.
But the 25+ people that are living here with us wanted to go home and be with their families for Christmas weekend, so we packed up a few things and were off to the village for Christmas.
We were welcomed with a big dance party and all of our new family, with a couple of new members to add to the family tree.
Christmas Eve started off with a rocking church service. We spent the rest of the day just resting and planning for the evening service. When nighttime came around I was feeling really exhausted.
I sat down under the stars in an old wooden chair. I was just admiring the sky and all the noises that surrounded me. Children laughing, chickens clucking, murmurs of a foreign language, and of course drums.
Then one of my little buddies sat down beside me. His name is Jeremy.
On a normal day Jeremy would be out with the crowd getting down…with his pants falling off. Without a doubt that’s where he would have been if there wasn’t some other divine plan for that evening.
Jeremy was very tired. I’ve never seen this kid tired this whole month. I motioned for him to sit in my lap…and he did it…voluntarily. I wish I could introduce you to Jeremy so you could know how rare this behavior is because I don’t think that would have ever happened if he hadn’t of been so stinking tired.
I accepted it though because 1) I love snuggling with babies and 2) I was freezing and he was some extra body warmth for me.
As I sat there holding one of my new favorite kids I just looked up at the stars. I started thinking about how blessed I was to be doing this crazy Kingdom work with the Lord. I started thinking about how it was Christmas Eve and how at that time I would be at my Nanny and Papa’s house celebrating with my whole family. I wasn’t super sad really I was just thinking about my family and how much fun I was having and how next years Christmas is going to be even sweeter because I will be reunited with my family and sharing stories about this Christmas away from home.
Then the Holy Spirit stopped my thinking. I closed my eyes and just listened. I felt Jeremy’s little body in my arms and then, for that moment, the Holy Spirit placed my favorite person in the whole world in my arms. My niece and goddaughter Teagan was sleeping soundly in my arms. I didn’t dare move a muscle.
The whole moment was probably a total of 5 seconds…but for those 5 seconds the Lord gave me the greatest gift I could ask for this Christmas. Teagan was resting soundly in my arms and I was just about the happiest person ever.
I came back to reality and Jeremy was still sleeping in my arms but I was overwhelmed with such joy and peace. Not only did the Lord give me the greatest gift of all time when He sent us His Son…but He also gave me a little unexpected moment with my favorite person ever that Christmas Eve night.
The Lord loves showing me how much love He has for me and He has the same love for you too!
In what ways has the Lord showed you great love today?
God sometimes surprises us with unexpected gifts and blessings! It’s so much fun living life with Him, isn’t it!?
I hope everyone had an incredible Christmas Day! We head off to Ghana this week and I am so excited for this next adventure with the Lord! Keep my squad in your thoughts and prayers as we travel!
Thanks for everything! Love y’all!
Blessings,
Niki
