Christmas

"Amezalewa amulungi!"  These were the Luganda words for "Merry Christmas" that we learned as we passed out basins of food to widows in our surrounding community on Christmas Eve.  For most Ugandans, celebrating Christmas is about going to church and having a very nice meal.  However, when a widow or single mother is caring for many children, the Christmas meal often ends up being the same as any other day of the year.  For the past three years, our staff here at Musana Camps has come together to assemble basins of food to take to people in need so that they can have a nice Christmas meal and some extra things that are hard to buy this time of year.  Our kids were really excited to help this year.  They enjoyed carrying bags of sugar and rice to put into the basins and also greeting each family as we brought them their basin.  Earlier in December, we had watched the Veggie Tales version of the story of St. Nicholas and talked about the joy of giving to others because of the love God showed us in Jesus.  It was so fun to see how John and Hannah remembered this story and were excited about helping others just like St. Nicholas.  

Another highlight of the Christmas holidays for us was helping to surprise the Sparks with a Christmas present.  While we were in the States earlier this year, Syd's parents had contacted us and talked about the possibility of surprising Syd and Andrea by bringing their whole family to visit at Christmas.  Thus the plans were started and we had to keep our mouths closed for seven or eight months!  We picked them up from the airport last week and brought them out to the camp in time for the staff Christmas party.  It was so fun being able to surprise Syd and Andrea and be the bearer of this gift for them!

And so while the holidays are a bit difficult for us as we miss being with the rest of our family, we have had many joyful times of celebrating God's gift of love with the people around us here in Uganda.  Thank you to everyone who sent us emails and gifts and who prayed for us!  We are so blessed and encouraged by all of you!