Our family; our son on a horsie at a friends' house) We like to get into Christmas---not with huge light displays in our front yard, but we do make a point of decorating, playing Christmas music in the house and car, and celebrating Advent twice a day.
Now on the islands, we feel like a lone voice speaking out for Christmas-- calling out to a nation that is only vaguely aware that the Christmas holiday exists and with no real idea what it is all about.
But here in the United States, it feels like our family’s voice is then echoed back and drowned out by a ubiquitous and overwhelming Christmas response. Starting right after Halloween, the stores and media seem to bombard us with Christmas promotions and displays. And Christmas music is almost everywhere-- all over the radio and in the background of almost every store!
On the islands I reveled in hearing and singing Christmas songs, singing about snow as the sweat was pouring down our faces (remember December is the hottest season). But being in the States, I found myself switching stations on the radio the other day, looking desperately for something not playing Christmas songs.
How sad, I thought, that I could be pushed to the point of being tired of Christmas. But then Advent helps bring me back...the media buzz and radio stations and endless shopping may seem to drown us out, but our messages are not the same. We get excited about sharing Christmas with islanders, not because we can teach them about a White Elephant swap, but because it is an opportunity to share with them about the birth of our King, of a transitional moment in human history where God was now with us in a new way. Advent helps make that real and show how from Adam, God was preparing the way for that moment in Bethlehem. O Holy Night.To all our friends and loved ones around the world...
Merry Christmas!
PRAYERS ANSWERED
As a wonderful answer to prayer, the dubbing project (started on the islands months ago) is now complete!! Tom worked hard with the mixers here in the States to get the final version set and now the finalized copies are in the mail to us!! We’ll have them before we leave for France and then Tom can get them to people on the islands when he goes in January. Our phone is ready to be used in France-- thanks for praying. The tummy bug seems to be all gone. Our family is feeling much better.
PRAYERS REQUESTED
This is our final blog in the United States. We leave for France on Thursday (Dec 29th)! Please pray for smooth travels-- that our kids would sleep on the flights and that all our luggage would make it. By the afternoon on Dec 30th we should be settled into our new home in France, with classes beginning on Jan 2nd. Pray for us all as we celebrate Christmas, pack up all our things and say goodbye to everyone in the States.
