Christmas Cope

-

Being far far far away from family over the holidays is challenging for most missionaries.  We all deal with it in different ways.  Many at least loving the fact that we have Skype and phones.  For us:  we are still learning to embrace new traditions, savor a few old ones, and fill our days with friends who are also trying to fill the void of family and sweltering heat.

This year was one of our best Christmas’s since being overseas.  It wasn’t because of the gifts under the tree.  No, the children literally got 2 small things each and Darron and I didn’t even exchange a thing.  It was the BEST because of the special people we got to hang out with.  Come peep into our Christmas Coping of 2014.

Christmas Eve was so special because the expatriate Australians prepared their traditional Carols by Candlelight, Christmas Eve program.  Over 170 of us gathered as the sun was going down on the lovely hill at the International School.  There we shared a meal of taco’s and all the fixings.  Along with yummy fruits and deserts.  Then we sang secular and spiritual Christmas songs, accompanied by a brass band.  The little children did a nativity scene…..I even saw a reluctant  crying angel being carried into the scene by a persisting Mom.  Precious.  We lit candles and sang……after a while the tropical wind blew all our candles out despite the children’s best attempt to keep them all lit.  There were many sweet conversations and Fiona saved me a mince fruit pie from her stash of goodies.  My English roots really pay off at times!

P1040413

P1040414

P1040412

There is my mince pie and dear Fiona!

P1040415

P1040421

P1040422

P1040418

P1040420

 

Christmas morning we all head over to Heidi and Eric’s, where along with the other Robert family, we shared in a delicious breakfast.  The highlight was the scavenger hunt that the children were sent on.  The surprise:  ZACH!!!!  Heidi and Eric’s oldest son who is attending college in Thailand.  Zach is admired by all the boys on this campus, including my own. 

 

Then a spontaneous Christmas supper came together at our place.  Including our new AMA family.  They were held up visiting some Indonesian families.  So in grand Christmas spirit the rest of us (both Robert families and ours) decided to eat desert first!!!!  It was great and felt fun……but I don’t think I have ever been so full!

P1040426

P1040428

On the day after Christmas, 24 of us went off to the beach.  It is a beach that requires a pretty rugged drive, and a more rugged hike, equaling a beach where we were completely alone.  The waves were huge.  Everyone had much fun.  Lisa on our hike out “saved the orchids”, as the local people are planning on putting a road through to the beach and it is obvious that orchid conservation was not in the large plan.  It is all part of coping at Christmas.  In our midst we represented the recent loss of 2 fathers, a mother suffering from dementia, the loss of a young son, separation from 4 young adult “kids”, and so much more.

P1040432

P1040447

P1040451 (640x480)

P1040455

P1040438P1040458

P1040441

P1040464

P1040465

P1040443P1040456

None of this “feels” like what we “know” Christmas is suppose to feel like, because in each of our minds and hearts…..Christmas equals being with extended family, cold weather, fire places and lots of special presents and baby Jesus slipped in there, somewhere.  Along with nice Christmas music played, when we want to hear it and how we want to hear it…..instead of being BLARED at any odd time of day or night.  Yet despite what we know, this is what it is and I am thankful for friends and tropical escapes and yummy food that help with the Christmas Cope.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Last Flight

-
Image
Bob and his daughter, Stephanie, flying on a different day in Papua . Jan and Bob It was another ordinary Wednesday in Papua.  The rain had come down all night.  Leaving the runway soggy.  6 a.m. I had finished reading my Bible and I hear Bob take off on first flight.  I think, “Wow, he is early this morning!”  Then the typical morning craziness starts in my house.  The cooking of a hot breakfast.  Packing school lunches.  Signing forms.  Arranging pick ups.  Off to school.  Exercise.  Home. Unfortunately, the freezer has frozen over so much that the door is on longer sealing.  It’s a forced, defrost the freezer day.  Out comes all the food.  Towels are laid everywhere.  Drip. Drip.  Jacob is on his 3rd day of not feeling well.  It has been a week of no routine.  No home school.  POP a video into the DVD player for Jacob and lucky little brother to watch.  I go into the office. I hear the plane take off again, 2nd flight. BOOM .  A sickening feeling enters my stomach.  That wasn
Read more

Change Never Happens Fast, Except Today it Did

-
Image
Today (Wednesday, Nov. 1),  Darron and Gary were leaving on an afternoon flight to the Philippines.  The nicer of our two cars had just been picked up from the repair shop ( it was an alternator this time).  They are at that stage.  Always, something falling apart.  With the mission mobile, we can’t complain.  It is 21 years old!!!!  Darron just popped down to the hanger to fill up the tires with air and I heard him pip the horn at the gate, to indicate he was read to go to the airport.  Yet, he had a different message.  The tire needed repaired…..or more probably replaced. Groan.  There is ONE thing, I disdain as a woman and that is handling car problems.  It’s hard enough to do it in your home country and a language you are fluent in.  Try doing it in a foreign country.  Also to me, it is a MANS world.  If you want to plop me in my discomfort zone, tell me I have to get the car fixed. So off we drive.  Air hissing out of the tire.  The good news, my husband is by my side.  The bad ne
Read more

Anguished Hearts

-
Image after image flashes through my mind.  I see little but “growing bigger and stronger” two and half year old Azarya coming towards me on the gravel runway.  Wanting to give me a high five and nothing warms my heart more.  Knowing that this is the little boy who drank his way back to life with goats milk.  More images of all over campus this little boy waving at me and smiling shyly, running and playing like normal children should.  Every time I saw him, I rejoiced in the second chance that Jesus had given him.  More images of being with his Mommy and Daddy and their JOY and gratefulness in Ayarya’s strength and change as he transformed before their eyes from being severely malnourished to vibrant.  Ida, his Mommy, is my closest Papua friend, and I see so many images of her and I chatting and laughing together and enjoying her new fat little baby boy, now two months old.  Despite that Ida was still morning the unexpected loss of her father and still mourning the loss of her first ch
Read more