We have found, as you would have too in your lives, that our Christmas expectations may not always turn out the way we anticipated or wanted. And even when things ‘go’ the way we wanted, we may not ‘feel’ the way we wanted!
For us personally, particularly here on the mission field, we have had Christmases in the past that involved celebrations with family, Christmas parties to attend, lots of fun, our kids laughing, presents, good food.....and we have also had other Christmases that have been lonely and hard and some – when we were new on the field and new in Cauyunan – where Christmas passed without us even hardly noticing. Back then we lived in a time where the days and dates lost significance in the face of the isolation and the struggle for souls.
This year in Lapoc was no exception to ‘different’ as life is. This year’s Christmas was a time of joy but also of grief. I can’t remember a Christmas before where we cried so much.
The one thing though, that has always been the same every Christmas – the celebrated ones and the not celebrated – is our Lord’s faithfulness to His promises. Jesus already told us that we would have grief here on this earth BUT that we will see Him one day and also that no one can take away our joy! And it’s true! Our joy in Him has always been with us and cannot be take away. John 16:22
The GRIEF:
Our neighbour Rito’s twelve year old son Yoyong died from
suspected typhoid and was buried on Christmas eve
just before our church conference started.
He said to his mother, Nelda, just before he died that he wasn’t
scared because he knew he was going to heaven.
He died with a smile on his face, was buried Christmas eve, and his parents
were in church the next day – knowing Jesus’ joy
even through their grief and tears.
Destruction, lost lives, broken and grieving families remain in the wake
of the flood they are calling “Washi”.
Those among them who are believers, testify to their joy in the Lord.
Other families who we love very much experienced sudden calamity
on Christmas eve and on Christmas day that was brought
on by reasons other than flood or typhoid.
They are still suffering and experiencing huge damage to
relationships and to their ministry but it is joy in the Lord
that can keep them going.
The Joy:
The church conference (Dec 24-26) brought lots of visitors!
The young people loved it!
We had 5 families billeted at our home which made for
busy bathrooms, a busy kitchen and lots of great fellowship!
Seventy people, including many young people were baptized during the church conference!
Max and his wife Bheng and their family were back home on a visit from the place they’ve been sent to as missionaries
and Max was able to help baptize some of the people he has led to the Lord!
Our 7 month old granddaughter Jhamaica caused a few of our tears to
turn to smiles! How could it not with her gorgeous smiles and her love for cuddles?
So in the middle of grief, suffering, lack of sleep, sickness (Paul and Jubab both
had the flu as did many others), various kinds of trials,
weariness that seemed to seep to our bones,
crowds of people, visitors from many places,
the Word being preached, baptisms.........
the Lord did what He promised to do:
He gave us a joy that no one and nothing can take away!!
And that is what Christmas 2011 meant to our family – different but the same joy!!
