Postscript

We’d like to give our special thanks to everyone who has participated in our ministry this last year.  You have been a blessing to us.

Thank You and Merry Christmas!

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We are experiencing a Christmas that is truly in summer this year.  The temperature is rising. Our days our long–sun is going down now around 8pm.  It’s feeling a lot like it does in June back home.

Christmas in summer certainly seems to have it’s benefits even if there isn’t snow! Many people head to the beach or go camping.  It seems like everyone goes outside to have a braai (cook out/barbecue) or a picnic any chance they get.  Many communities and groups have outdoor events.

Our participation in local celebrations began last week when we attended our first church Christmas picnic.

On Saturday we went to an event called Carols by Candlelight.  It was set on the lawn in a botanical garden.  Hundreds of people gathered to first eat a picnic supper and then sing Christmas carols.  Most of the songs were traditional Christmas carols, but we also sang Jingle Bells.  Dashing through the snow? Just doesn’t fit here…

Sunday evening we saw a local church’s Christmas cantata performed at an outdoor public amphitheater.

I think the next thing on my agenda is to have a swim.

Christmas in the summer in South Africa–it’s not too bad!

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Damage after the storm: We just had sticks in our backyard, but a branch of our tree fell in our neighbor’s yard. (Click on the images in this post to view them larger)

We had an unusual Christmas this year.  It wasn’t just because we were in Africa, but because we had a large storm on the evening of December 23 and were without power for several days.   The storm lasted 30 minutes.  For about five minutes the wind blew rain horizontally.  The rain came down at such a pace that the road behind our house flowed like a river. The lights in the house flickered and then went out.  We saw sparks and heard a loud bang. The transformer behind our house had blown.

When it was over, branches and fallen trees cluttered and blocked some roads in our neighborhood. Power and phone lines were laying in the road.  Some of our co-workers who live in the Cassia Court compound were not able to leave because a tree had fallen on their drive way.

We drove around town on Christmas Eve — more downed trees and power lines.  Billboards had blown down; in some cases the whole frames had collapsed.  The news reported a roof had blown off a building downtown and fallen trees in the central business district had smashed cars.  At least two had died from storm related events.  From December 24 until about December 27 we heard chain saws as debris was being cleared.

No power the evening of the 23, all day the 24 and 25 and part of the 26 meant no Christmas baking.  The refrigerator stayed closed most of the time.  We saved what food we could.  Not everywhere was without power, so we ate many of our meals during those days at local restaurants. Our office has a generator, so we brought our cell phones and computers there for charging.

We spent Christmas Eve with some colleagues from our office enjoying fellowship, snacks and desserts by candlelight.  They also had a battery-powered MP3 player so that we could listen to Christmas music.  In this case having no power created a nice ambiance.

Christmas morning we were at home.  Our tree remained unlit, but for a brief time we had a small current of power that was enough for us to watch part of a Christmas movie.  It was not enough power to run our refrigerator or stove. When the gifts were all opened, we went to a local mall to see a movie (Avatar) and eat Christmas dinner.  By the time we got back we had enough battery power on our computers to make some calls home using our mobile internet connection and skype.

The power came back on the 26, and went on and off at long increments for a couple of days.  We cleaned out the refrigerator and replaced the food that didn’t make it.  It was certainly a Christmas unlike any we’ve had before.

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This simple Nativity was made from a portion of a tree branch. It can remain open or fold up into the branch’s original cylindrical shape. The simple and rustic design of this piece reminds us of the basic surroundings where Jesus was born. Though he was a king, he born in a stable. It was shepherds, not government officials, that came to see him immediately after his birth.

If Jesus were born today in Nairobi, I don’t think he would be born in big house in Gigiri (a nice part of town where the US embassy is located); I think he would be born in Kibera–Nairobi’s largest slum. His guests? Maybe the lady that sells eggs, or the man that sharpens knives…or maybe even Matatu (word for the local mini-buses) drivers.

These evergreen tree ornaments made of soapstone remind us of the everlasting life that Jesus came to give us. His birth was just the beginning of that story. 33 years later, he fulfilled his mission when he died on a cross and rose from the dead. Because of his sacrifice, we can all choose to enjoy a special union with God. Hallelujah! Thank you Jesus–Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

He is stills waits for us today to make a choice to begin a special and intimate relationship with him. Revelations 3:20 (NLT), “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.“

From the Bible, the book of Luke Chapter 21 Verses 1-7 and 15-20, New Living Translation (an English translation)

1 At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. 2 (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. 4 And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. 5 He took with him Mary, his fiancée, who was now obviously pregnant.

6 And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. 7 She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.

* * *

15 When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

16 They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. 17 After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. 18 All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, 19 but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. 20 The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.

From the Bible, the book of Luke, Chapter 2, Verses 1-7 and 15-20, Arabic Life Application Bible (an Arabic translation). Arabic is a second-language and language of wider-communication in many northern African countries.

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In this nativity Joseph is kneeling before Jesus–a child which was not his that he would raise.  I wonder how he felt about his role in this child’s life.  Did he ever wonder if he’d be a good father to “God with us?”

In Africa it is not uncommon for someone to take in a child that is not their own.  If a relative or friend is sick or has passed away, another relative or close friend may take in their children for a short time or indefinitely.  It’s a very tangible way that people show their love and take care of each other.

Imagine if God told you that he needed you to care for his son for a while?

These are our African gourd ornaments. Bigger versions of these gourds are used in parts of Africa as multipurpose vessels–sometimes as cups, sometimes as containers, sometimes as instruments.  Like these gourds, both Joseph and Mary were vessels willing to be used by the Lord for his purposes.

From the Bible, the book of Matthew, Chapter 1, Verses 18-25, New American Standard Version (an English translation)

18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit.
19 And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly.
20 But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.
21 “She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”
22 Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
23 “BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD AND SHALL BEAR A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL,” which translated means, “GOD WITH US.”
24 And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife,
25 but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus.

From the Bible, the book of Matthew, Chapter 1, Verses 18-25, Nueva Versión Internacional (a Spanish translation). Spanish is a second-language and language of wider-communication in one African country.  It is also spoken some in a few other African countries and the Canary Islands, which are geographically connected to Africa and politically attached to Spain.

18 El nacimiento de Jesús, el *Cristo, fue así: Su madre, María, estaba comprometida para casarse con José, pero antes de unirse a él, resultó que estaba encinta por obra del Espíritu Santo.19 Como José, su esposo, era un hombre justo y no quería exponerla a vergüenza pública, resolvió divorciarse de ella en secreto.
20 Pero cuando él estaba considerando hacerlo, se le apareció en sueños un ángel del Señor y le dijo: “José, hijo de David, no temas recibir a María por esposa, porque ella ha concebido por obra del Espíritu Santo.21 Dará a luz un hijo, y le pondrás por nombre Jesús, porque él salvará a su pueblo de sus pecados.”
22 Todo esto sucedió para que se cumpliera lo que el Señor había dicho por medio del profeta:23 “La virgen concebirá y dará a luz un hijo, y lo llamarán Emanuel” (que significa “Dios con nosotros”).
24 Cuando José se despertó, hizo lo que el ángel del Señor le había mandado y recibió a María por esposa.25 Pero no tuvo relaciones conyugales con ella hasta que dio a luz un hijo, a quien le puso por nombre Jesús.

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