Christmas & New Years
On Saturday December 23rd, we had our large Christmas gathering, which was wonderful. There were twenty-one of us gathered in the Smith house for Christmas dinner. For the first time it actually felt like Christmas. Being able to help prepare food and to relax with friends really made the holiday special. I began to think less about being so far away from home and from my family and began to appreciate my new place here. Sitting in the back of the house playing Dutch Blitz and Rook with friends Inna, Oksana, Bill, and Don reminded me of the post-dinner festivities of playing new games with my cousins on Christmas day.
Christmas Day
Christmas day started out pretty low key. We woke up to the breakfast bell at 8:30, had breakfast, a time of worship, and then spent the rest of the morning opening gifts. Nearly everyone who came Saturday brought gifts, so needless to say we were there quite awhile. I was given gifts from people that I only know on a first name basis. I will be writing a lot of thank you cards in Russian, which will be good practice. Following presents I was whisked away to the village with Don, my friend Inna and her mom to visit friends that lived out there. It was a wonderful time! I am discovering quite well that a foreign guest will never leave the table hungry, or even comfortably full for that matter. You will leave the table painfully full, but what great food it is, and what a joy it is to be with the people! This evening helped to affirm me in my conversational abilities, as I was able to converse with my hosts. I am truly praising God for his provision and blessings of great friendships with the Ukrainian people!
Conversation Group Christmas Party
This past Friday night our conversation group had a Christmas party in which we watched the Jimmy Stewart Christmas classic “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Prior to the film the poem ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas was read as well as the Christmas story from Luke. Following the film we partook in the singing of Christmas carols. As usual, our group was thankful and appreciative. Above all, a good time was had by all!
New Year’s Gift Giving at the Orphanage
This week we were able to give gifts to the children at the orphanage. It was quite the rewarding experience. A good deal of time was spent wrapping gifts individually so that each child would have something special to open. All of the gifts came from a shipment from a church in the Washington. After several years of being a part of things such as Operation Christmas Child, it was especially interesting to be on the other side of things, to see the gifts being distributed to the kids.
Christmas Day
Christmas day started out pretty low key. We woke up to the breakfast bell at 8:30, had breakfast, a time of worship, and then spent the rest of the morning opening gifts. Nearly everyone who came Saturday brought gifts, so needless to say we were there quite awhile. I was given gifts from people that I only know on a first name basis. I will be writing a lot of thank you cards in Russian, which will be good practice. Following presents I was whisked away to the village with Don, my friend Inna and her mom to visit friends that lived out there. It was a wonderful time! I am discovering quite well that a foreign guest will never leave the table hungry, or even comfortably full for that matter. You will leave the table painfully full, but what great food it is, and what a joy it is to be with the people! This evening helped to affirm me in my conversational abilities, as I was able to converse with my hosts. I am truly praising God for his provision and blessings of great friendships with the Ukrainian people!
Conversation Group Christmas Party
This past Friday night our conversation group had a Christmas party in which we watched the Jimmy Stewart Christmas classic “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Prior to the film the poem ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas was read as well as the Christmas story from Luke. Following the film we partook in the singing of Christmas carols. As usual, our group was thankful and appreciative. Above all, a good time was had by all!
New Year’s Gift Giving at the Orphanage
This week we were able to give gifts to the children at the orphanage. It was quite the rewarding experience. A good deal of time was spent wrapping gifts individually so that each child would have something special to open. All of the gifts came from a shipment from a church in the Washington. After several years of being a part of things such as Operation Christmas Child, it was especially interesting to be on the other side of things, to see the gifts being distributed to the kids.
posted by Sarah C | 4:23 AM
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