Christmas 2007 In My Own Home

Many of you have asked about my real first Christmas here in Kenya. It was good. Of course I missed not being with family, but I was with my brothers and sisters in Christ here in Kenya. At first I didn’t feel like putting out any Christmas décor. I am so glad I did. It helped me not feel so lonely for my family in the States. I’m ready to make my own Christmas traditions. I put out clear lights in my house, put out my nativity sets and of course all my snowmen. =)

My church sent a huge Christmas box filled with all kinds of thoughtful goodies. One very special treat was a video they did with different people saying things on it along with some of the church services recorded on it.

The day before Christmas I drove over to Chris and Christina’s house (two single lady missionaries that have been in Kenya for years). On Christmas Eve we went out and sang Christmas carols to their neighbors. It was so much fun since while we were singing we were in short sleeves and sweating. =) On Christmas Day another single lady missionary and a missionary couple joined us for dinner and the day. We each contributed to the dinner and I got to provide my Grandmother’s famous dinner rolls and her carrot and jello salad. In a way I felt that my family was right there with me. We spent the rest of the day visiting and playing games.

At that point we had already been told by the Embassy that we would need to lay low starting on the 27th, which was the voting day for the elections. So, I stayed and continued visiting on the 26th and that evening went home and prepared for the elections. Not knowing that it would be weeks before I would really be able to get out again.

Until this morning the Sunday after Christmas has been the only time I’ve been outside my neighborhood. We had a great junior church that Sunday. I made little bags of chocolate chip cookies for all the kids. The lesson I taught was on “A Special Day”. It started with the ordinary day that turned into a special day for Mary when the angel came and visited her. The lesson ended with talking to the kids about the special day that is coming when Christ will return and I closed asking them this question, “Are you ready?”. We had over 80 kids in attendance that day.

I just realized it is past midnight here. I will try to write tomorrow and tell you about the three weeks that I spent at youth camp.