Christmas kinda snuck up on us. It is too warm here to be
Christmas time. Plus there is no holiday craziness in the shops to remind you
how many days are left till Christmas. It did not really hit until Christmas
Eve day. It stunk to realize that it was finally Christmas, and that it was
going to be the first one that I spent away from my family.
There are many challenging parts about doing mission work,
but the hardest by far is being away from our families. It seemed that
everything that made it Christmas was back in Texas/Oklahoma. Who was I going
to make yummy goodies with, get dressed up with, wake up ridiculously early
with, or share the magic of Christmas with? It was just me and Justin like
every other day, and the whole day I could not stop thinking about what our
families would be doing at that time.
By the time we went to Mass I was not feeling very Christmassy.
Then Mass started. I can follow along
easily, but everything is in Swahili. During Mass there was a skit to go along
with the readings, and when Jesus was born the church bells and the alter bells
were vigorously rung and a special song was sung. That is when I realized what
I was doing there sweating in the middle of Mass in Mtwara at nine o'clock at
night. I still missed my family, but the most important part of Christmas was
all around me. O come, o come Emanuel...
Lord,
Help my heart to overflow with your love, my body to have
your strength, and my spirit to be full of your grace.
Amen
-Lauren
