A Christmas Message

Things are wrapping up around here for Christmas, figuratively and literally. There are presents all around the 15 ft. tree in the sanctuary. Each child has a minimum of 2 presents to open and of those, most have more than one gift inside each box. I have never seen so many gifts in my life! It’s overwhelming to see, really.

This week’s festivities go as follows:
Monday, Dec. 21 – Finish up last minute practices for the Christmas program.
Tuesday, Dec 22 – The volunteers will travel to a hospital in Tegucigalpa to give out gifts to sick children.
Wednesday, Dec. 23 – The volunteers along with some of the older children will deliver food and gifts to people and children in Guaimaca, the town right outside of the orphanage. We will also run through the Christmas program in the church one last time. And Derek will be killing and preparing 8 pigs to be sold to town or to be used here.
Thursday, Dec. 24 – The entire orphanage will enjoy a Chrsitmas lunch together. The children will then go to the restroom before entering the church (this is said to take up to 1 ½ hrs to get everyone through the restroom and ready). When everyone is ready, we will pass out all of the gifts (which takes approximately 2 hrs) and then on the count of 3, the children will all open their gifts together. Afterwards, the volunteers will stay to clean up, the children go back to their houses to enjoy their new gifts and the staff members go home to enjoy Christmas dinner with their families. All of the volunteers will be gathering together for dinner, some Christmas goodies (such as sugar cookies, brownies, egg nog, cocoa, and coffee), and we will also play “Santa Swap” or as some refer to it, “White Elephant”.
Friday, Dec. 25 – The Christmas program will begin at 9:00 am followed by church service. The volunteers will then gather again to enjoy some Christmas movies and finish off those goodies from the previous day.
Saturday, Dec. 26 – The staff and volunteers will have a big Christmas dinner together. This will conclude all of the Holiday activities.

We didn’t really know what to expect of the holidays when we first arrived, but we are very much looking forward to all of the activities that are planned. I believe it is safe to say that Derek and I are much busier this Christmas than we ever have been before! Part of the reason I am glad for the activities is it will make it a little easier to be away from home and loved ones. I have been feeling a bit nostalgic lately, so I will be glad to have my mind and time occupied. That seems somewhat selfish to admit, but it is the truth.

I thought I would be excited to watch so many children open their gifts, and a part of me is, but as I look at the mounds of gifts, I can’t help but feel that even these kids get a bit materialistic at times. I want so badly for them to feel loved, but I also want them to think upon why we even celebrate…why we put so much into this one day. And that the main reason we give is to somehow try to honor what has been given to us… FREEDOM THROUGH CHRIST. Somehow it is all the more real to me this year. Perhaps it is from being away from the only world I have ever known and reflecting on what exactly I will miss and why. Maybe it’s because God is showing me more of Him, and so this year all I really do care about is celebrating His gift of perfection… His provision for us to know Him and be in a growing relationship with Him that was once hindered by sin’s death grip and the day that Christ was born, His promise tangibly began to unravel. It’s amazing the things the Lord reveals when you are removed from your “home”. Or maybe I am just not distracted and am actually allowing myself to pay attention to some of the things He has been showing me all along.

I did not intend for this message to be so long, my apologies for taking up your time, but then again, I guess I needed to expose my heart.

May your Christmas be a reminder of God’s love and desire for you, and of His gift to you that was not too much and not too little, but the absolute best and perfect amount that He could ever give… Himself.

Merry Christmas from Honduras,
All Our Love,
Derek and Nancy