The Christmas season is so very different for us here than it would be if we were home, but we are still finding ways to enjoy it as much as we can. On Sunday we went to a Christmas party for MAF in celebration of our two new Kodiak airplanes and to celebrate Christmas with all of our Indonesian workers. Most of the service was in Indonesian, however, one man did sing “Santa Claus is coming to Town” in English. After the message, the kids all got a goodie bag and then we all ate rice together.
The hostel has a plastic Christmas tree that we put up every year. I let the dorm kids and our kids all decorate it. They went a bit crazy with the tinsel, but I must say it is quite festive. Wyatt jumped on Ben’s back to hang the star.
Christmas is such an amazing time of year. Even if we are in a hot, tropical jungle full of sweat instead of shivers -where there are fireworks and bamboo cannons going off around us, day and night, and huts called pondok Natals blasting a variety of music at all hours. There are no carolers, or lines for Santa, no snow or warming up by the fireplace, no trips to visit family or Christmas cards to hang up…Yet, it is Christmas. I have realized being here, that I have had to readjust my idea of what Christmas is. I have decided that Christmas is what we bring into it, where we put our focus. It is the traditions we teach our children, it is the way we reach out to others, it is the celebration of Christ’s birth. And you can do that anywhere. I told the kids that this year we are not buying them a bunch of presents. I want our focus to be on what we can give to others. What can we do to make the holiday season better for those around us? That is what we will be trying to do this year. Enjoy all the reminders of Christmas that you have around you, but don’t get caught up in the craziness. Christmas is so much more than what you see.
Love
Rachel
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