Christmas Program in Pictures

While I realize that it is almost...FEBUARY...I want to show you some pictures of the Christmas program at our school...I felt like one little picture on the newsletter can't hardly give you an idea of the event...And while it is almost a month later...I still think its worth giving you a little taste of it...I remember thinking that night...I sure wish they could do this program for my church! : )



On Christmas Eve, we invited the community to a Christmas party at our school. We went out in groups and distributed Christmas gifts as well as invitations. And that evening, the community showed up. The Christmas program was a lot of fun...here are some of the highlights.

A Thai pastor, father of one of our students presented the gospel.^

Guest performers arrived at our school and were given an opportunity to dance. ^

The students presented the Christmas story...^

complete with a lip syncing camel and wise men...^

as well as expressive sheep and their shepherd. ^

The complete Christmas scene. ^

A special guest taught the children a Zulu dance from South Africa, which they performed that evening.^

The first grade girls danced to Jingle Bells...^Food was served...^ and dinner was shared. ^

It was a wonderful Christmas Eve. Please pray that the gospel message that was presented would touch the hearts of all who attended.

Below is a collage of more highlights from my Christmas Break. Thanks for your support and prayers.

Lessons from the Nativity

A Sunday School class at my church sent me this awesome nativity for my classroom. My students and I love it! We read a different version of the Christmas story each day, and they follow along with the pieces of the nativity center. Given a choice between "A Crocodile Christmas" and "The Christmas Story" they choose the Christmas story.

I set up the nativity, as it is above: people facing out, so you can see who they are. We see the faces of the shepherds and wise men, the angel, Mary and Joseph...Isn't this how you set up your nativity?

But when I return to my classroom after a break...I find the nativity looking like this:

Do you see it? Everyone is looking in....at Jesus.

The sheep actually climbed through the window to look in on Jesus.

The first couple of times I found the nativity like this I turned all the figures back around...I wanted to see all the people. Then I thought about it....This is probably more like what the stable looked like that Christmas Eve night. It probably didn't look like a well organized line up of people, backs to the cradle. I imagine everyone's gaze was fixed on that Babe. Awe and wonder over the Holy Child, prophesied, heralded, miraculous.

And I wonder about our hearts during this season...

Are our backs turned to the cradle, busy with Christmas activities and lists of things to be done?

Or are our hearts turned to the cradle in awe and in worship? Are we beholding the Savior Babe in a cradle...Born. To. Die. for me and for you?

Please pray for my students and I, that we would look more like the second nativity scene, hearts filled with worship, eyes fixed upon Jesus, Our Savior.

I pray that during this season you have time to kneel near the cradle, to sit at the feet of Jesus.

"But the Lord answered her 'Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chose the good portion, which will not be taken away from her'." Luke 10:41+41

Christmas in Thailand

I knew this Christmas was going to be much different from any other Christmas. I have had Christmas in the summertime before, but I've never been without my family at Christmas. I've spent 21 Christmas days with the same people. My family knows all the Christmas traditions. I don't have to guess how we will open presents, or what Christmas cookies will be passed out to the neighbors. We all know what is supposed to be done for advent and different parts of the season that are necessary.

This year my roommates and I had to come up with our own things to do for the holiday season. Overall we had a lot of fun during a time when it can be miserable to be away from friends and family.

A week before Christmas, we went to a nearby children's home and had a blast playing with the kids there. We were invited to eat dinner with them. They had a big Thai style dinner. The children roasted buffalo on a stick for everyone to eat, and we picnicked on mats. The meal was complete with buffalo, sheep, rice, and lots of fruit. Bats flew overhead, and the mosquitoes feasted on us, but it was a lot of fun to be with the kids and watch them dig into dinner with their hands.

On Christmas day we had two teachers over for dinner. We enjoyed eating together and sharing in the fellowship of brothers and sisters in the Lord.

This year there was one thing about the Christmas story that particularly stood out to me. As I missed my family this season, the traditions we share, as well as the memories, I thought about Jesus. Jesus left His throne in heaven and moved to a place where no one knew His memories. There was no one there physically for Him to say, 'remember that time we created the world?'. Jesus was alone in His experiences, no one knew His history. He was the most misunderstood person that ever walked this earth, and He had the most unique history. I am so thankful for Jesus who is familiar with our experiences, who is able to sympathize with our weaknesses. Not only that, but our God is Immanuel, God with us, so in fact, we are not ever alone, for our God is with us!

I hope you all enjoyed a wonderful Christmas season.

"In the Air There's a Feeling of Christmas..."

I love Christmas time in the US. White candles in the windows, a wreath on the front door, Christmas trees glowing through the windows, lights on the porch railings or trees in the front yard. Everything is so welcoming, so homey, and inviting. Christmas music is played in every story, even if it is filled with commercialism, everywhere there is this feeling of Christmas.

There are no Christmas lights in the windows here, no wreaths, and very few Christmas trees. One house in my neighborhood almost gives me the feeling of Christmas as I walk by...except their lights are strung all year...around the spirit house in their front yard.

Thailand is almost completely void of the "feeling of Christmas". In our home, we can make it feel like Christmas, and in big stores, there is an attempt to appeal to foreigners with Christmas decor. But the people of Thailand do not recognize the holiday. They celebrate the coming of the New Year, and Children's Day, but they do not celebrate Christmas. Of course, this should be no surprise, why would a Buddhist country celebrate Christ's coming to earth. Still it is strange to be in a land where Christ's birth is not celebrated by all, regardless of religious beliefs. Oh that all those who celebrated Christmas in the United States were genuinely celebrating the birth of Our Savior. Oh that the people of Thailand will come to know Jesus as Savior, and worship Him.

Enjoy the Feeling of Christmas and pray for people's hearts to be turned toward the Lord in genuine worship of Him this season.