Christmas presents and tears

Christmas 2015 has been and gone, and we are nearly at the end of January and we are back in full swing with the responsibilities here with YWAM Belo Horizonte. But, I really wanted to tell you about Christmas, especially as I know many of you are worried and concerned about me being so far away from home over the Christmas period, and I'll tell you, it is hard! No matter how hard I try, the tears always come. To be in a country that is hot and sunny, with different traditions, different food, far away from family...it will always be hard. But this year it was a little different, I had Nico.... I had his shoulder to cry on!! Together we decided to do our best to have a fun Christmas to celebrate the birth of our Saviour.

Every Christmas here at YWAM there are many who cannot go home to see their families, they are too far away, too expensive, not the right timing etc. So Nico and I decided to host a party for all those YWAMers still around. It was open to everyone. We ended up with 27 adults and kids altogether and everyone brought a dish - savoury and sweet, drinks etc. We hosted the party at the YWAM house where Nico lives because they have a pool! So, first many went for a swim. We had the Christmas music blaring and everyone just chilling and having fun.....kind of surreal....singing "I'm dreaming of a white Christmas" when it's 35C!!

We ate till our tummies where bursting! Then Present time!! We played a game - everyone brought a Christmas present, depending on what number you were you could choose or steal another present - not a very biblical game for a group of missionaries!!! But it made us laugh and really have a good time! Most people went home about 11pm, and those left behind....went swimming again! Then we watched a Christmas movie!

It was such a fun time, I could really see that, although each of us where not with our families, God has brought us together as a family here in Belo Horizonte.

But that's not all.... let me tell you about the Christmas party we had for the families we work with in the Restoration House. We received a generous donation for our work when I was at home in October, and as you know we live by donations, so this made it possible for us to have a Christmas Party. We got very excited and planned a fun party.

We decorated the room with Christmas stuff, it looked beautiful! We set the tables, created a menu, bought presents for all those invited and got ready to celebrate together. It was a fun party.

We started with a tasty lunch, sitting round tables, many of our families are not used to doing this. Then we had some chill time for the kids....football, video games, running around. Then we called them together for some Christmas games..... musical chairs, musical statues and pass the parcel! They all loved it! Lots of laughter.

We sat everyone together and Jacob, one of our team members talked to them about the reason we celebrate Christmas! The good news that we have to celebrate and tell others.

After we gave each of them a present, they were so happy to receive a gift! And to finish with, some yummy chocolate cake. They all went home sharing their stories with others and showing off their presents!

"The Boys" with their new caps!

 Everyone had a blast and and it was a great to see the kids and families laughing and enjoying each other's company.

God is good. He is faithful. For me... the tears still came, but through the tears I could see the blessings that God was putting in front of me this year. The blessings of the family of Christ and the blessings to share with the families we work with. How wonderful it is that God loves family, that his vision always was and always will be family!

Thank you again for the donations, the prayers, the messages etc. I appreciate every one of you.