My Most Memorable Christmas
My Most Memorable Christmas
The High Calling Blogs has asked it’s members to post about their most memorable Christmas. Here is mine.
In October 2003 I went to Ukraine for two weeks of ministry to orphans and under priviledged children. It was the most wonderful trip. It was my first time out of the country, it was so very very COLD, and I loved every minute of it. Although it was not exactly on Christmas, it was close and we gave lots of Christmas gifts to these children. Little did I know they would give me the greatest Christmas gift, a greater awareness of Jesus and His love for children. A few highlights of the trip were:
1) Giving 200 mattresses to an orphanage that needed them. The ones they were sleeping in were circa 1954, I am not joking. Many of them had been robbed of their stuffing by young ladies….I will let you fill in why they needed it. It was apalling.
2) Singing Christmas carols with children who were learing their English by learning our songs.
3) Being acosted by a 3 year old who was trying to get in my bag so I would take him home. I am NOT joking, and he almost succeded. It if had not been for a wise mentor there I might have tried!
4) Shopping for Christmas Gifts in open air markets in Kiev. It was cold, but it was well worth it. I came home with many hand made gifts. I could not have asked for better gifts for my family.
If you ever have the chance to go to Ukraine, do it. The country is wonderful, it has lots of need for Christian guidance and it needs our support!
- Voices in the Wilderness
- Comments(5)
#3 just breaks my heart! … I would have been tempted to let the child in!
and #4… Wow. Hand-made gifts. What a joy!
You are blessed to have had these experiences! Thank you for sharing them and have a wonderful, rich time of celebration this Christmas!
A Christmas that took you outside yourself. That seems to be the true heart of Christmas, yes?
You better believe it L.L.!
[...] Thoughts of a Gyrovague [...]
Giving to others is absolutely the best part of Christmas.
And these experiences where we get out of our culture to help others are life changing. For me, the first one was a dental mission trip to the mountains in Guatemala. Definitely changed my view of dental hygiene.