Christmas in a Buddhist country is so different. I can’t
help compare the experiences I had during Christmas throughout my childhood
with those my own children are having. In this country, you won’t find festive
decorations in each home. People here don’t have Christmas trees or stockings
or snowmen on their lawn. There are no Christmas pageants or performances to
attend. There are no crowded shopping malls full of holiday shoppers carting
arms full of wrapped packages. There are no Christmas movies on television to
watch while snuggling up with cups of hot cocoa (it’s way too hot for that
here!) There are no company Christmas parties or Sunday School parties or games
of “Dirty Santa” being played. There is no Santa Claus at all!
I also think that the majority of my Christmas memories
involve my family all together with lots of laughter, fellowship, good food and
fun. Obviously, that’s much different here too since our family are all about
9,000 miles away.
However, as this country is opening up to the rest of the
world, things are starting to change. Most of the people, in the city at least,
have heard of Christmas, although they largely don’t have a clue what it is or
what it means. I frequently meet people though who have never even heard of
Christmas.
It is one of the reasons why we are so busy during the month
of December.
During this one month out of the year, the people here are
interested to hear about this mysterious thing called Christmas, so we try to
take advantage of every opportunity to share the story and the true meaning of
the season.
This year our City Team got to be a part of 22 Christmas
“parties” in various places all over the city. We were able to share with
literally thousands of people where our Christmas joy comes from and how to have
Christmas in your heart permanently.
In 2014, we had six of these parties before going to America
for a little Stateside time.
In 2015, we had 12.
In 2016, 22.
In 2017 – how amazing would it be to do 50?!? It is actually
possible. With help from volunteers and help from our local friends and with
the direction and leadership of the HS, it is possible. We’ll surely be praying
about that for awhile….
Because of all these activities, the month of December
really flys by. It’s hard to believe another year has come and gone, and the
celebrations for 2017 are already in the books.
I do love the New Year holiday though. I enjoy the time of
reflection and the annual renewal of goals. There is a sense of excitement and
wonder of all that the new year will hold.
For me, once again 2017 will be another year of travel. Visa
runs and meetings in Thailand are always moments we look forward to as we get
to visit with co-workers from other parts of the continent, not to mention
getting to eat at American food establishments. I’m also hoping to get to
travel with a local friend to one of the Northernmost parts of this country as
she goes to visit her family at some point during this year. – I love getting
out of the city every now and then to experience some of the beautiful, rural
areas while exploring and learning about the vast cultural habits of the
Myanmar people. – Also Zoe and I are hoping to make a short trip to the States
for her to do some college visits in the Spring. I can’t believe my baby will
be starting her Senior year this fall! Yikes!
I’m also excited about what all might develop with our
“work” this year.
Now that our City Team has grown, I’m pysched about
exploring some new areas of the city and pursuing some new adventures related
to that. It’s so fun to see how Father unfolds His plan and His will as it is
done.
I’ve also got another semester of working towards my Masters
degree coming up. It’s starting to feel like I’ll never finish, but I’m just
gonna keep chugging away at that. I definitely am in need of some encouragement
here. Ugh!
We’re really hoping that lots of people might make plans to
come visit us in 2017. In 2016 my parents came as well as some friends from
Mississippi and North Carolina and Tennessee and Texas and Oklahoma and many
other places. Because we have such a great love for this country, we get really
excited to share it with friends and volunteers who come. Would you consider
making a trip here this year? Think about it. Even better, pray about it! J It could be a once in
a lifetime (or twice or three times or more) kind of trip.
My resolutions continue to be pretty much the same each year
– I strive to live a life of thankfulness and joy. I strive to be a loving
wife, mother, daughter and friend. Most of all, I strive to serve, lead, learn,
grow and give according to my Father’s will.
Bring on 2017!
