No Lampoon.

Yesterday was the first moment that we really thought about Christmas being celebrated quite differently across the globe. Putting up our little artificial Christmas tree while listening to Elf soundtrack, made it 'feel' a bit more like the holiday we have always known in the States. Here in our neck of the woods, you don't see lights up- trees decorated- people running around stressed to find the thousand gifts for everyone- homes lit by a million lights- Christmas music playing everywhere- and egg nog latte's from Starbucks advertised on every corner-

 

Instead...

We witness the same survival of a day- men/women working daily to have enough food to feed their family- children digging thru the trash heaps to find other people's 'junk' to give as gifts- people striving harder so they can travel to be with their family's on the holiday- We can honestly attest that even though our minds crave the traditions that we have always known and loved of the Christmas season, we are humbled to spend our first Christmas away within this environment of community. We believe that all would agree that Christmas time in the States can be STRESSFUL- trying to organize parties, and get-togethers, and gifts, and food, and the list continues...But, here we see that the focus is community, its family having their children home from boarding school and with them- its people recognizing and celebrating the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. 

So, even though we believe its the first Christmas without watching National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation and Elf, we know that this time here learning from the 'real reason of the season', will forever be etched within our minds and our hearts. 

Merry Christmas to you all!  May you all be strengthened by time with your loved ones! 

We are welcoming our sister, Lindsay and brother Daniel here with us on the 18th- Be praying for their safe travels and their trip here amidst the beautiful people of Ngong. May they be forever strengthened and encouraged by life in a third world.