A Happy Merry Christmas
The team celebrated Christmas a little bit different this
year. Instead of the atypical candle light church service on Christmas eve we
sat around and sang any and every Christmas carol that could come to mind.
Pastor Gideon even came and joined us. We opened one gift from Mandi and then
called it a night.
Then we got up on Christmas day and exchanged presents from
our secret Santas. I got Oreo’s, Mentos, and nail polish from Bethany. Also I
got some very nice cards and little things from everyone on the team.
Then we spent the rest of the day helping decorate for the
churches Christmas celebration the next day. We sat and made yards and yards of
paper chains. We sat for so long
and made so many that our bodies literally hurt.
Then Mandi and I were able to go and visit one of the youths
homes and mango farms. We came back with 4 free mangos and a strong desire to
move to Cambodia, live in a hut and have a mango farm.
Then I got to finish off my Happy Merry Christmas with a phone
call from the family. Which was of course too short. It was good to talk to
them though.
It didn’t all end there though. The church celebrated Christmas
on the 26th, which they started at 6 am and finished at 10 pm, so it
was quite a long day.
A team came in from Hong Kong and joined us for church and
then did a presentation in the afternoon. The children did a Nativity play
during church a couple of extra special Christmas things. After church we had
lunch with the town.
Then in the afternoon the church hosted a youth event. Where
they could come and just hang out. For this I had to prepare a 10 min. little
sermon about what Christmas is, I entitled it the Greatest Gift of All. The House
of Joy youth danced to a song and there was a play, and then they had an
American idol contest. It was crazy but a lot of fun for all of the youth.
I have never celebrated Christmas like this before! It was
awesome to be a part of House of Joy’s Christmas and I will never forget it.
