i'm dreaming of a ... white christmas?

Christmas Day

Christmas in the Congo is, again, very different. My second Christmas, and I'm still not used to the way things are. I should have written earlier, but just didn't get a chance. In the States, you start hearing Christmas music in stores and in your car and home about the day after thanksgiving....and every year the decorations on and in people's houses seem to come out earlier and earlier. The familiar red, green, gold, maybe silver, decorating everything, the weather starting to get colder and colder...people seem to start getting happier (or more stressed...either way). You begin the hectic crazy shopping, buying in bulk because you just never know who else the gifts might be used for. You never know when the relatives will call and you have to be ready to get a room ready for them if they tell you they're coming... You start finding you have a lot less money saved for Christmas than you thought you had.... You hear the bells at WalMart & Target telling you to give to the Salvation Army or another charity...and people drop in their extra measley change...The parties start....the fires, the egg nog, picking out the tallest tree in the lot --hoping it will fit in your house under your ceiling without having to cut TOO much top off.....driving out at night to go look at lights on people's houses, there's no doubt about it. It's Christmas time, and Christmas is coming fast!
That is how it always is for my family in the States. But here in the Congo, things are quite different. The spirit isn't really the same. You don't see very many decorations. Some of the decorations you do see are the tacky kind that were rejected in other countries so it comes here (you know, the pink and blue wreaths... the NoN-christmas colors, but they're all sparkly so it's still decorative or festive?) It is blazing hot because it's summertime. You don't ever want cocoa or a fire (but you don't have a fireplace anyway), you don't wish for a white christmas because it's just not possible. There are no malls to have a crazy all-day shopping marathon at. There is no Salvation Army. You have to break down and buy a fake tree no matter how tacky you think it is. You have to break down and buy some tacky decorations, sprinkle some tinsel, as well....You don't worry because the relatives just aren't going to call, but you may have some friends that hint they need a place to eat Christmas dinner at....no matter how many decorations or fake trees you put in the house it still doesn't feel like Christmas. You will never have as many Christmas presents under the tree as you might in the States, but you will for sure have some very unique gifts you can only find in the Congo!!

And the list could go on. But there is at least one thing the same. You celebrate Jesus's birth, and remember He is the reason you have all the traditions and celebrate on the 25th. We had an amazing service on Christmas Eve, and even though we didn't have a candle light service at night, we had an awesome day. I've never sang Joy to the World so loud, i don't think, as i did in choir yesterday! Being in the choir has been so good for me. I can't get enough of singing with that diverse group....even if we spend most of our time sweating, and waiting for the altos and tenors to figure out their parts! that's part of the fun I don't really know what it is exactly that I love about that international choir, but yah...
And spending time with my sister has been too much fun! And the Stones moving here, following us all the way from Congo! And the other families who came at the end of the summer too! How could it get any better? I'm SO THANKFUL this year for everything God's done in my life and lives around me.... I can't say I prefer a Congo Christmas to a normal one, but there is something (quite a few things actually) that I do like about it...and it's a totally different experience that I've loved this year!
Thank you to everyone here in Congo who has helped me enjoy this year, the encouragement, the laughs, getting together and sharing memories or stories....I love you all! I'm almost done with the 2 years here and soon I'll be off to college, but every day keeps getting better, and I never thought I'd ever be able to say that! So thanks. That's about it. Merry Christmas and Happy New Years to you ALL!