Christmas Festivities Continued...

I had to write a whole other blog entry to put all the Christmas activities I was involved with this year, here in Thailand! :) God is good - all the time!

First up was our church 'youth group' (actually a '20 somethings single' group!) no, i'm not a part of it - i help run it! it's for the Rawang "youth" at church. anyways, we had a Christmas party - complete with singing, fellowship, speaker, food, "yankee swap" gift giving, and gingerbread houses! it was a hysterical sight to see them get sooooo into it - the gift swap and houses. they love to open gifts -even when the box given is what it says - they still rip it open, expecting it is a rouse! :) and they HAD to keep stealing MY gifts - why me?! they had never done the gingerbread houses (aka: graham cracker houses!) before, so needless to say, they were pretty excited to make a new team creation - and a royal mess! :) my 3 friends and i even treated them to a rare appearance of our stage performance of "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" - not my idea, but fortunately choreographed by yours truly! :) oh yes, we had the santa cap, brown noses, antlers, and glittery white garland scarves! i wish i had a picture - i'll try to get one and send it soon! here's at least a taste - the youth loved the costumes! *i love this guy's "asian fro" - it's PERFECT! :)


Onto Open Hand Corner with the outreach kids. the visit became even more meaningful to me because i was able to visit one of our boys homes - a worn down one bedroom for 5 people - mother sick, father an alcoholic, sister not going to school, baby running around a dirty slum community and our little 7 year old was "adopted" by this family because he doesn't have one of his own....it was a sad sight but had some hope. we went to visit and bring a Christmas gift of food and supplies and the mother was so sick - no wonder though - the house was dirty and musty and smelly. i tried to explain that the sheets and room needed to be cleaned in order for there to be some improvement - but the sheets were so filthy it wouldn't get clean. the father came home and saw us and was not upset (sometimes the presence of a 'farang' can be good or bad - depending on the situation). he actually asked us to pray for his sick wife right there with them! it was a great opportunity and worth the trip alone. pray that this family would find new shelter and be healed from sickness - physical and emotional. we know that our boy has been hit by the father when he is drunk and we wanted him put into a childrens home since it's not his biological family. *update: i heard that he will be moving soon to a group home for boys! praise God! i will miss him though....

Our celebration was made special for the kids with candycanes, santa caps, xmas music (thanx to the 50's classics!), 'graham cracker' houses fun, snacks, church carolers, and a christmas story (not the movie! the telling of Jesus life on earth!) *with a special donation, i was also able to get supplies as well as 6 gift bags for the regular kids that come to group and fill them with toiletries, sandals, snacks, toys, etc as gifts from my mom, gramma, and 2 friends Danielle and Brian back home in the States! Thanx guys!
it was a great time - the kids really loved the houses and made a great effort and completely demolished it later for snack! our friend read a story about jesus and they were sooooo entralled!

it was awesome - asking questions and wanting to come to church with us! praise God! :) these kids are so sweet and so good - i pray that they will have a safe and healthy new year in their current surroundings. it's hard - there is soooo much need, and where do you start? how do you know you're making a difference? it can be so hard to put a lot of effort in when you get drained with the realities of the need all around you. pray for them!

The last stop on the volunteer train was with a street outreach in Northern Thailand. a local street outreach community center asked some of my coworkers to help with a Christmas program for the street kids near the border of Thailand and Burma. *the 'Christmas program' was not a religious one - just a celebration of the holiday! it's so funny to me - i mean, i don't celebrate Buddhist holidays but alot of Thai's celebrate Christmas! anyways, it was a great time - but totally exhausting. we anticipated 500 kids and made (against my will and better judgement...) snack gift bags for said number!!? :( it was CRAZY - but made it all the more special!

5 of us traveled the 4 hours there and back in one day, to the site and put on a little play of Jesus' birth! there were only 300 kids but they were great and very anxious to get their treats! they did seem interested enough in the play to answer questions about it for snacks!

we played some games and gave out prizes - it was fun! :) i wish i had pictures of the play - some good stuff! i was the donkey Mary rode in on! AWESOME! i have the bruises to prove it! :) we were able to even give away the rest of our gift bags on the street and to the center for the kids!

These activities were a great way to celebrate the Christmas season - with service, fun, friends, food, families, and outreach - they way it should be! :)