Home for Christmas

This Christmas was the first I celebrated with my family in three years.  The holidays are undoubtedly the hardest time for me to be in Tanzania.  You're supposed to be with family at Christmas--and I'm single, living on my own!  Praise God for providing good friends to be my substitute family on different holidays I've spent in Tanzania.  This year I am savoring the chance to celebrate with my own family.

Plus, it is so much fun to be in America during Christmas!  I know we often struggle with the over-commercialization of what should be Jesus' birthday, but I do love the festive atmosphere.  In Musoma there are no lights, no decorations, no outward signs of Christmas.  The weather is nice and warm, like it is all year round.  (Not that I've experienced any real cold in Houston!)  It's been a treat to be immersed in the sights, sounds, and smells of Christmas in America.

And tastes!  This has been the Christmas of Peppermint.  I kept noticing the theme, so I took a picture. :)

Those candy cane kisses are amazing.  So sad that I didn't get any to take back to Tanzania before they were all gone.  (Care package for next year, anyone?)  There should really be a Chick-fil-A peppermint chocolate chip milkshake in the picture, too.  Oh my goodness.  Heartfelt sympathies to all who did not get to try one of those creamy delicacies.

My favorite part of all the celebrations has to be the presents. :)  I have always loved finding gifts to give my family members and friends (especially kids!).  Thanks to Amazon, I can still send my family presents when I'm gone, but I don't get to wrap the gifts or watch them be opened.  Access to stores also helps me form gift ideas--and carry them out!  For example, I had a lot of fun putting together this present for my dad: a sports "standings board" with printed magnets for the various pro teams.  It wasn't too hard to make and didn't cost a lot, but I couldn't have done any of it in Musoma.

Since I was in town for all of December, I got to enjoy the whole advent season at my home church.  What a privilege to come together with other Christians for one purpose--thanking God for sending His Son to save us.  To attend these beautiful services conducted in my own language was such a joy.  And it's a good reminder for me as I prepare to return to Tanzania.  I want people there to have that joy, too! I want them to have Bibles in their languages so they can truly understand and celebrate the real Gift of Christmas.

I have loved being home for Christmas, for this whole furlough.  Now it's time to get back to the job God has for me!

I Get Four Kids!

That's right, I went from my carefree single life (ha!) to suddenly being responsible for four others, ages 7-14.  For two weeks, that is. :)

This came about because my good friends, Greg and Allison Despres, finally got permission to travel to China and adopt their little daughter.  I am so thankful that I was around for this time and that there was a way I could help.  The Despres kids are special to me; I have loved watching them grow up.  Thus I was thrilled to stay with them while their parents were gone.

We had fun, and the kids were such troopers to be so long without their parents.  In fact, I was impressed with how patient they were with me.  Here I was in their house, and I knew nothing about their routines or even how their home life works.  They were very helpful, always ready to explain.  (For example, I remember asking, "So you have a basketball game tonight, and you just stay at school the whole time, and I take you home afterwards.  But how and when do you eat?")  Was it crazy?  Yes.  Consuming?  Yes.  But it went well.  God even protected them from injuries until the second week--when their grandmother was back in town and available!

We all went out to Buffalo Wild Wings one night with their grandfather.  In fact, there were several fun outings with grandparents!

A trip to Traders' Village with my brother (and a friend of theirs)

The younger two came to my house once, and this k'nex roller coaster was the result:

I even got them to help me mail newsletters! :)

Meanwhile, other folks from our church gave the backyard a complete makeover--a surprise for Allison!

Thanks to the wonders of video skype, the kids got to talk to their parents almost every day, even with the 14-hour time difference!

This was the first time they saw their new little sister, Sienna!  Their grandparents live right down the street, so they came over to chat sometimes, too.

It was neat to see how so many people came together to help this family.  People brought meals, took the kids on special outings, gave rides to and from basketball practice... and more!

Finally it was time to welcome them home!
Their shirts read: "My parents went to China and brought home more than a t-shirt"

Following the Despres' adoption story, including the adjustment going on now, has been a testimony to God's blessings in the midst of many challenges.  If you'd like to see more, check out their blog:

OVERFLOW

One of my favorite pictures from their first days with Sienna (in China).
Used with permission... along with my own pictures and the whole story! :)

Face Time is Precious!

Recently I returned from the first trip of my furlough.  I got to see relatives and friends I hadn't seen in years--even some colleagues from Tanzania!  It was a blast.

Family trip to see relatives in Michigan

Throughout the trip one thing stood out clearly to me:  Face time is so important!  I am so thankful for the internet--things like skype and facebook help a lot--but it's still no substitute for actually being together.  To be honest, I find it hard to keep track of my friends when I don't feel part of their lives anymore.  The good news is that even a brief visit can help so much!  And even if I leave again, I take fresh memories with me.  I think it's the only way to fight time and distance.

That said, my heart is heavy because I know that in the next few months I won't be able to see everyone I'd like to see.  On one hand I think, "This is my chance!  I only get furloughs every few years.  If it doesn't happen now, when will I make it happen?"  Those are the times when I get out a road atlas and start plotting a trip around the entire United States.  On the other hand, I look at the time I have and ask myself, "Should I really spend it in a car?"  It's tough.

Guess I will rejoice in the visits I do get, and I'll trust that there will be others next time!