A Reason to Celebrate!

December 24, 2009
It’s Christmas Eve, and I can hardly believe that I’m almost halfway through my stay here. As I sit here typing on my computer, listening to TobyMac’s “This Christmas” (you should YouTube it if you haven’t ever heard it!), I can’t help but think of how much I’m blessed with! I miss my family and friends a whole lot, but I also have a huge family around me here, overflowing with love and laughter and joy!

There have been trying times with the kids and there have been times when I wasn’t sure if anything I have done has made one iota of a difference. Living in a children’s home is a different kind of missions work than going out on the streets and belting out the music of the Gospel! There are different battles, from things disappearing from your room (American treats are of high value here!) to your everyday teenage disobedience. I guess that’s where I’ve learned the most; I’ve taught high school math 2 years in the US, but I’ve never lived with 8 teenagers at the same time, thrust into parenthood overnight! And the other kids are well on their way to their teenage years! Balancing the “sister” in me with the “mother” in me has been a tottering act. Teaching kids to love an obey Jesus just isn’t the same as teaching them math.

But as the days go on, I see these small changes, bringing me hope and more joy than I can explain! For instance, any one of the kids can be mad at me for making them do their math homework rather than watching TV and hold that grudge of silence and coldness for over 24 hours. I’ve realized that I can’t let that get to me, so I tend to ignore them when they respond like that (either that or I kindly inform them that they’re acting like a 4 year old!). And then they’ll shock me and the next day they’ll come to me and apologize for their attitude and disobedience without me even bringing it up! Or, one will voluntarily do someone else’s wash or chores, without strings attached. Or they’ll clean a whole waste covered field with a smile alighting on their lips and laughter spilling over the warm air!

And then I think of my coworkers at school. Some have attached themselves to me (I am the white girl from America, after all...) and we talk about life and Jesus and Hinduism and Buddhism a couple times a week. And I get to share my hope and love in life with them, as many don’t see any point in life here, as there seems to be no way up in life (the beauty of a caste system). Not that any have responded outwardly yet , but the seed is there, germinating as God sheds His Son on the soil to bring life! And they were invited to our Christmas program at church tomorrow, and I’m hopeful that at least one will come!

And finally, I think of my friends and family supporting me back in the US. From those willing to buy 15 orphan kids they’ve never met shoes and clothes to those willing to box little pieces of home and send them to me for me to share and enjoy with the kids, so many people have touched and encouraged me from thousands of miles away! There are those days when I’m just ready to come home and I’ll walk into my room and see something sitting out from a friend or will see a couple of the kids playing some game from the US, and my wariness will melt into a smile as I think of all the prayers and love going up for the kids and me!

So for all my thoughts of home this Christmas, I’m truly marveling in how amazing our God is and how far His grace reaches. I took a Bible course last semester called Perspectives, and we talked over and over again about how our God is a God of the nations. And being here in Nepal this Christmas, I can see that! As I worship and praise Him with these believers in a tongue I only vaguely understand, our unity as a body is overwhelming as I think of the God we serve! Whether white, black or brown, man or woman, child or adult, we’re all working for the same goal- to see Jesus high and lifted up! And I pray this Christmas would light a fire for his kingdom!