Christmas at JCC

White Christmas lights covering the tree, gifts overflowing out from underneath it, stockings hanging along the hallway, the smell of English Toffee coming from the kitchen, old Christmas carols that we can hardly sing along too playing in the corner, snow covering the ground and trees outside the door and laugher and loud voices filling the room- that was not the Christmas we had this year (though I hear snow was not a part of most of yours either).

I admit that no matter how wonderful or difficult a holiday is away from home I always miss my family and the traditions we are used to. This year seemed to be a bit harder for all three of us pumois here at JCC in missing home, however we managed to celebrate a wonderful time with the children and our family here and in the end it helped us to refocus our hearts onto what is truly important at this time of year.

Thanks to some financial gifts from a friend Hope and from my first grade teacher we were able to have a special Christmas Eve with all the kids- from the orphanage, the boys ministry house, the girls ministry house and even some of the reunited children. The mom's had been given a couple days off so the 5 aunties were on hand to not only enjoy the celebration but to really give us the chance to enjoy it fully. These dedicated ladies got up at 3am to start frying(and that is after they along with the big girls peeled and cut all the potatoes the night before) the chicken and chips (french fries). We were able to get enough chicken so everyone had a LARGE piece and even seconds for almost all who wanted them along with the world's largest bucket of chips- it was huge- you could fit at least 10 gallons of water inside- probably even 15 and it was FULL to over flowing with french fries. The aunties told me the amount to buy in leones- but they didn't realize what a good deal I would find and I didn't have any clue how much to cook for one hundred people- so in our not being together in the market we ended up having quite a laugh the next morning as it was the never ending frying of chips.

After all the cooking was finished the children and staff around were loaded into the bus (not even an air pocket was left) 7 of us loaded into the jeep to follow and we were off to Bandejuma. This is the same river beach area we went to two years ago for Christmas along with Amy and Meghan and we had just as much fun this time. Well after our little/BIG problem at the fuel station which deserves another post of it's own. We had the chicken with us in the jeep and arrive almost 2 hours after the bus so they had to wait for their lunch but hey a picnic lunch at the beach on Christmas Eve had everyone in great moods that would take a lot more than that to bring down. After lunch some of us headed quickly into the water and you can bet that I was a part of that group. Another group played a game of football that had even the male staff laughing and rolling on the ground getting into. Yet more children climbed trees, sang and danced. We laughed and smiled the day away.

The children LOVE the water- Katie, Elle and I would take turns bringing them out into the deeper water and the smiles and laughter (and tight clinging) was the highlight of my day by far. There was such a joy in my heart watching them have the time of their lives together. Around 5 we started heading home and met the moms waiting for us. It was time to also start getting ready for Christmas Day.

Again we were able to have large pieces of chicken with our meal of jollof rice- a favorite sauce of many that is served mostly on special occasions. Usually early in the morning the children get up and run around the compound singing songs of Jesus' birth at the top of their lungs- however I think they were all a bit worn out from the day before as this didn't happen as early or as loudly. All did their chores and cooked so that we could head of to our various churches. After coming back to the compound we got a bunch of benches organized into a large circle in the dining hall and brought our lunch out to eat together. I was able to read the Christmas Story to all as they ate and ask a lot of fun questions and hear a lot of good answers. It meant a lot to share that time together.

After we finished the story we had a small gift for each child. Now at my house as well as at Kate's we go around one by one to open our gifts- we wanted to do this with the children her as welle. First of all for some of them this was the first time that they had unwrapped a gift- they receive them often in a bag or just as they are but not wrapped. (and let me tell you wrapping gifts for 75 children- keeping them straight and writing the correct name on the outside is not easy and to be honest we made a few mistakes) We wanted them each to know they are valued and special. They could each have thier moment to open their gift as well as share in the joy of their brothers and sisters as they opened their own. We would cheer and clap after each one. Sallay Dumbaya was the last to open her gift and she had waited so patiently that I wanted to give her an extra gift. They might not have been much but the kids loved them and I couldn't help smiling at how fun it was to be a part of giving them that moment.

That afternoon we were back to the kitchen making popcorn and punch (complete with sprite and ice) and spent the evening watching film in the hut. I was able to sneak away to go play games with my close friends and have some good time with them as they really are my family here. The special part of it was that I brought a new game from my mom with me (new to us) called Ticket to Ride- my family at home also got this game for Christmas and at that moment that evening/afternoon for them- we were all playing the game at the same time. I knew this as we were playing and it was such a simple thing that warmed my heart to be connected between my two families doing something we all love .

Kate and I had done some decorating in the hut- we had a small tree without lights or snow. We had stockings that we ended up not filling and we had popcorn strung around the ceiling that every African who entered the room commented on how crazy these pumois were. However even with the differences in the way we spent our Christmas we also had a reminder of the joy of Jesus' birth and just how special time together celebrating that special day is.

I pray you had a good Christmas as well- even if there were moments of sadness mixed in just like ours.