It’s been nearly one year since we
left all of the comforts of home back in Hawaii. It seems getting out of our comfort zone is
exactly what God had called us to. Now
this Christmas it’s time to stop and rejoice in the gifts all around us, simple
things like family, friends, health, hot showers, toilet paper, electricity,
food in our stomachs, clean drinking water that comes straight from the tap,
dry shelter, and washers/dryers.The greatest gift of all has been
the opportunity to share God’s love around the world and learn so much from so
many different cultures…
Those sentiments came from Beth and Brian Woods, who returned from the World Race around a month ago. We’ve painted a lot of word pictures of what next Christmas
could be like on the mission field; now we get to see how our current Racers spent this Christmas.
could be like on the mission field; now we get to see how our current Racers spent this Christmas.
Kelsie Funk actually was in Cambodia for this Christmas; she
and her team were in a village where they:
and her team were in a village where they:
…realized pretty soon that Cambodia
was a place much like where Jesus was born.Bethlehem was most likely a dusty,
farming village that probably wasn’t even that cold. So although it was really hard for all of us to
be gone in a place so different than home, it was really cool experiencing that
new place that was a lot more like where Jesus was born.
It was also great to be able to
explain to the people the similarity/connection they had with Jesus’
birthplace. So often, people in these
countries think Christianity is a white man’s religion, so that was an awesome
bridge-gapper.While this was probably the most
different Christmas I will ever experience, it was so amazing!…
Read more about how amazing this Christmas was for Kelsie.
Amy Learn made one simple wish for Christmas before heading
into Cambodia:
into Cambodia:
God, all I want for Christmas are
children to love.
Read how God granted her wish, and how God use Amy to grant
someone else’s…
Also in Cambodia, Ashley Bronkema was teaching English and
experienced a Christmas miracle:
By
this time of the month, I pretty much know the answers of the regular
students. But Friday, one girl, Jasmine,
caught me off guard. She answered,
“Yes,” when I asked if she was a Christian. I knew she was a Buddhist which sparked many follow up questions.She then proceeded to tell me that
after the Bible study on Thursday night she went home and decided after hearing
about Jesus for a month or so, she wanted to become a Christian…
On a different continent, in Central America to be precise,
Julie Wivholm and her teammates along with another team, spent the day before
Christmas Eve at church – somewhat typical, right? Just add in the Panamanian jungle and these
steps:
Julie Wivholm and her teammates along with another team, spent the day before
Christmas Eve at church – somewhat typical, right? Just add in the Panamanian jungle and these
steps:
1.
Unpack bag and decide what to take when you go
to the jungle for a night…2.
Take truck out to a river.3.
Meet people who will take us up the river to the
tribe.4.
Balance while sitting in a wobbly, wet canoe.5.
Take pictures and video so people back home will
believe you.6.
Hike up to a house for lunch.
Go to Julie’s blog for the rest of the list.
Finally, also in Central America, Angie Blattner, her teammates
and another team really dug deep into the spirit of the holiday the day before
Christmas Eve:
When
we drove down to the river barrio, my heart rejoiced because I knew we’d be
giving some of my favorite kids in the WORLD Christmas presents that they would
never be able to get without the help of others donating them. Well, then I looked over at the truck and I
saw a lot of familiar looking boxes with the “Operation Christmas
Child” seal all over them. WHAT A TREAT!…Last year… I prayed…”God, some day
I want to see the faces of the children who are receiving these presents. Please, Jesus…some day give me the gift of
handing these presents out to children on Christmas.” One year later EXACTLY,
Jesus answered my prayer! He’s so good like that. 😉
Read more on Angie’s blog on how the day went.
With the new year just days away, it’s not too early to consider a new way to spend next Christmas. You might find you’ll get a more authentic taste of celebrating the coming of the Savior of the world… while out in the world, proclaiming that the Kingdom has come and is near. Check out some of the places we’ll send you to here.
