Summer Christmas?

Maybe one of these years we will get used to having Christmas here, south of the equator. But as upstate New Yorkers who are used to bundling up rather than stripping down, it is taking us a while to get used to it. We are finding there are other benefits though, one of them being the stripping down of all the artificialness and materialism that has become associated with Christmas. If it wasn't for the calendar, holidays would just quietly pass us by. It has been good to not be surrounded by some of the false truths during this holiday. It has forced us to really reflect on why we do what we do, especially as the children get older and are now asking questions, lots of questions. We will still put up our tree, hang our stockings and exchange a few gifts but we also hope that as Christmas approaches, our children will have a different feeling rather than receiving gifts but that it is a time to look around and see how much we have and how little those around us don't have. That they would be moved in their hearts to give out of their abundance because they see a need and they want to. As an adult it is much harder to step away from the commercialism of Christmas but for the kids, well, only time will tell and may God bless our feeble efforts as we try to put the focus on Christ.

So, with all that said, we decorated for Christmas today and started playing Christmas music. We are once again packing up and leaving tomorrow till Saturday for our mission team's annual December retreat. Usually a time of business for the various committees but this year it is going to be more of a conference. More on that later. We get back on Saturday, encuentro on Sunday and then Greg Cameron and Dan head out Monday for a week of backpacking with a few of the guys Dan has been meeting with over the past three years. Again, Vonni (Greg's wife) and I will make it through the week by sticking together and trying to keep all the kiddos in line. Actually, it always seems easier when they have friends around to play with.