Christmas

We asked the children to write "something" about Christmas this year, here is what they wrote.

Nicholas had a bit of prompting.

Christopher:

This year we had Christmas in Cameroon. It was fun, but I still missed my family. I got many Christmas presents like Legos, candy, gloves, a video game, and a magic set. But my favorite gift was Jesus coming to the world. This gift was from God.    

Elizabeth:

This Christmas was special because it was in Cameroon. There was no snow, but it was still fun. We did Advent calendars, hung stockings, decorated our tiny Christmas Tree In-A-Box and watched Christmas movies. The most exciting part was Christmas morning and seeing the presents left under the tree, and the milk, cookies and carrots gone. Christmas is my favorite time of the year, even in Cameroon.

Julianne:

Christmas was really fun. I got candy, a little stuffed bunny that I named Carrots or Fluffy. I also got little glass animals from Santa. I got a Polly Pocket girl with some clothes. I also got princess slippers and a lot of other stuff. We made some ornaments for the Christmas tree. We opened our advent calendars every day. We also went to a play about Mary and Joseph. When we woke up the carrots, cookies, and milk were gone.

Nicholas:

What is special about Christmas?  Receiving presents, time with family, the birth of Jesus.

What did you do?  Put decorations up on the windows and a little Christmas tree including a star on top.

We went to celebrations including mom and dad’s anniversary that the Sisters had for them, Christmas Mass and a Christmas play at the hospital. 

Step Along the Way

Jennifer and I first read this poem on Dr. Stoughton's blog during his time in Zimbabwe.  It was initially attributed to Archbishop Oscar Romero and more recently to Bishop Ken Untener of Saginaw.

Not only does it seem appropriate for us during our time here in Guatemala but I think it speaks volumes to all of us where ever we may be on our journey with God.
 
During this Christmas season, when new beginnings are celebrated in the birth of Jesus, may we all find our "step along the way"

Peace and Love
Brent, Jennifer, Christopher, Elizabeth, Julianne and Nicholas

A FUTURE NOT OUR OWN

It helps, now and then, to step back and take a long view.
The kingdom is not only beyond our efforts,
it is even beyond our vision.
We accomplish in our lifetime only a tiny fraction
of the magnificent enterprise that is God's work.
Nothing we do is complete, which is a way of saying
that the kingdom always lies beyond us.
No statement says all that could be said.
No prayer fully expresses our faith.
No confession brings perfection.
No pastoral visit brings wholeness.
No program accomplishes the church's mission.
No set of goals and objectives includes everything.
It may be incomplete,
but it is a beginning, a step along the way,
an opportunity for the Lord's grace to enter and do the rest.
We may never see the end results, but that is the difference
between the master builder and the worker.
We are workers, not master builders; ministers, not messiahs.
We are prophets of a future not our own.
This is what we are about.
We plant the seeds that one day will grow.
We water seeds already planted,
knowing that they hold future promise.
We lay foundations that will need further development.
We provide yeast that produces far beyond our capabilities.
We cannot do everything, and there is a sense of liberation
in realizing that. This enables us to do something,
and to do it very well.

Amen.

Christmas and New Years greetings to everyone!

Christmas crept up on our kids too.  We had been lighting a Christmas candle each day at mealtime that was counting down the days to Christmas and reading a little book every night that was also an ornament for our little tree.  Yet, when we were putting out cookies and milk for Santa, Elizabeth (who is almost 7) said, “You mean Santa is coming tonight!”  Then our kids who are 7 and younger slept until 6:45 on Christmas morning.  Quite amazing! 

We had a Christmas Day dinner with some of the other volunteers who are here over the holidays.  We did not make tamales which is the traditional food in Guatemala for this time of year.  We are going to learn how to make tamales this weekend, so maybe next year...

Christmas at Hospitalito

We went to the Hospitalito Christmas celebration the other day.  It was at a nearby chalet with a pool and big grassy area.  We played games and groups did skits.  The group that was in charge of the cooking made an incredible meal on an open pit BBQ.  They made grilled chicken, carne asada, chorizo (pork sausage), grilled vegetables, potatoes, salsa made from grilled tomatoes, and guacamole.  It was delicious.  

We don't eat a lot of meat here, so Julianne kept asking for clarification on each meat she was eating..."So this is the chicken's leg and this is cow and this is pig.  I like pig!"

Preparing for Christmas

We, and especially the kids, are looking forward to Christmas.  The holiday is creeping up on us here without TV and the Christmas sales that start in October (or before).  

The priest emphasized at Mass one day that Christmas does not begin until the 25th.  Now it is Advent, the time of spiritual preparation.  It seems that for many in the US, when Christmas finally comes, the Christmas season ends the same day.  It has been refreshing here.  Of course, the hardest part is that we will spend it without our extended families.

We did buy a small artificial tree which is decorated with a few ornaments, ribbons, and things the kids made. It is just right!  We are planning a Christmas Day dinner here with the volunteers that will be here over the holidays. 

 

P.S. The picture of the tree is not our "small tree" but the tree in the center of town!