The Christmas Spirit

It takes a little work to get into the Christmas spirit here in Pemba. My awareness of this reality is heightened by the fact that I just spent Thanksgiving in the U.S. and was (happily) inundated with signs of Christmas all around: Christmas lights, Christmas decorations, Christmas commercials (B.C. Clark, anyone?), Christmas clothing, Christmas music. I love this time of year, and it warmed my heart to get a glimpse of the season as it's celebrated in my homeland. I even got to help my mom decorate her tree (see above) and wrap presents. And I'm a little envious of the snow that my friends and family in Oklahoma have been enjoying over the past week.

December in Oklahoma City

December in Pemba

No snow here. Only sand and sun. As I look out my windows or walk out of my gate, I see no signs of Christmastime. Here and there around town I see a tree or lights or words of holiday wishes (in Portuguese), but they are rare. I'm thankful that I can at least get wrapping paper and a few Christmas decorations at the local grocery store. But overall it just doesn't look, feel, or sound like Christmas in Pemba.

Which means if we want Christmas ambience, we have to create it. Here are some of the ways our family is helping it begin to look a lot like Christmas this year:

We put up and decorated a small tree, and we displayed a few other simple Christmas decorations, including a Nativity scene, small Christmas canvas, and lights.

We read an Advent Scripture each night at dinner and hang an ornament on our mini Advent tree (a gift from Germany from my parents).

We play Christmas music.

We make our traditional family Christmas treats like fudge, poppyseed bread, and Christmas cookies (which we ice and decorate).

We host a Christmas caroling party for our friends.

I don't know whether it's because I was just there and had a taste of the holidays in America, but this year (our third Christmas on the mission field) I've felt more sadness to not be there for Christmas, with parents and family to celebrate. All we can do is try to make the most of the holidays here. It's not the same, of course, but I want to be joyful this season and thankful for the blessings we have, most important salvation in Christ, but also family, friends, health, provision, and peace. Christ is the reason we're here, separated from family and the comforts and traditions of home, and Christ is with us, comforting us and connecting us with those we love who are so far away.

Only God knows when we'll get to spend Christmas in America again with our family. In the meantime, we trust Him, and we look forward to the "tidings of comfort and joy" that only He can bring through His Son, Jesus Christ.