How can it be, that we are ushering in another year? This year has gone so very fast! It was Africa Day at TH Middle School on the 19th and Mark and I got to share our stories together to a whole bunch of 7th graders. It was good to see our pictures again and to remember those whom we had shared so much with.
I asked recently what Christmas was like in Africa...were there trees or presents, nativities or angels....It is celebrated as a Christian holiday. Singing carols and dancing dances and going to church on Christmas day to worship for hours celebrating the birth of Jesus. Those who can afford it will generally give gifts The most common thing bought at Christmas is a new set of clothes to be worn to the church service. Many Africans are too poor to be able to afford presents for their kids and there aren't too many toy stores in rural Africa to shop at anyway. If gifts are exchanged in poorer communities they usually come in the form of school books, soap, cloth, candles and other practical goods.
You may see decorated mango trees, and churches are decorated with paper chains and cut outs hanging everywhere. Christmas dinner is likely a roasted goat that the whole village enjoys together. It is summer time, so there is also time at the beach to be enjoyed.
A different world to be sure.
I hope 2009 proves to be a year of great things, a year of jubilee for those captive by what holds them, a year of new vision for the blind, and a year that God knows a great revival of God's people here in the middle of the country and across the world.
May you know peace this day and everyday!
1 comment:
I had not considered the cultural difference in celebration of Christmas by African Christians. What an uplifting revelation to know they truly celebrate the reason for the season without all the commercialism!
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