This Christmas I wished for snow! It was overcast all day but we only got rain. It was close to 100 degrees. I took a cold shower in the middle of the day to cool off and seriously thought Jody was going to have to drag me out of the cool water with a wench! It felt so good to be cold!
We didn't have family to celebrate with...in fact, Christmas surrounded by 3.8 million Hindus is completely stripped of all the things our American culture associates with Christmas. It has provided a wonderful opportunity for us to focus on what the true meaning of Christmas is without all the commercialism. No one seems to notice that today is any different from any other day and all the stores are still open. Jody was checking out at the grocery store and the clerk was wearing a santa hat. She said, "Merry Christmas!". He thanked her and politely explained that he doesn't celebrate Santa but the birth of Jesus on this day. Perplexed she looked at him and said, "I don't know who that is." He was able to share about the special baby who was born on this day to save all mankind from their sins and bring hope to all nations.
I was delighted to find this Nativity set and angels made out of bamboo by a local pastor. I bought a set for everyone in my family this year.
Jody served me breakfast in bed! We ate Bacon and Onion Quiche, peppermint tea and mandarin oranges.
Thanks to our families for spoiling lavishly with gifts. Next year we look forward to celebrating with you in person around a fire!
Thanks Deborah and Michael for the Christmas presents. Jody loves his new soccer stuff.
It was impossible to find a Christmas tree in our city. Evergreen trees aren't easy to come by on the equator. Instead Jody brought a dead branch home from the village for me to decorate. The people who saw him ride by on the road had to have thought he was insane carrying a tree on his motorbike. I love a man who isn't afraid to make a fool of himself for me!
Oh Christmas tree!
December is the month that Rambutan come into season. This is one of my favorite tropical fruits. It has a white flesh about the size of a grape and resembles the taste and texture of a grape when you peel off the furry skin. Jody brought me 5 lbs today for Christmas! Yum!
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