Christmas!

Our Christmas was one we will not forget! Both Jordan and I were almost completely removed from the hustle and bustle of post Thanksgiving/pre Christmas time shopping and it was great. We spent the two weeks leading up to Christmas explaining advent and teaching the kids traditional Christmas carols. It was a great time. On Christmas Day we all packed into the kids' church bus and spent the day at a Nepali Christmas service.

Many of you sponsored a child/children as an "angel tree" idea that we had for Christmas (actually, the whole angel tree idea wasn't mine, but borrowed from every mall in america...for those of you who were wondering). So we asked you to give $25 per child. Many of you gave! I am posting the pictures (finally, whoooo) of the things that we purchased for the kids from you. All the girls received an outfit (a sweater and jeans) with a pair of shoes. Most of the guys received either a pair of tennis shoes and a watch, or a futbol jersey and a watch. A couple of guys specifically asked for Bibles, and we were more than excited to get them.
It was a hard thing, when we think about it, to spend a Christmas giving gifts, especially to a culture that doesnt associate the holiday with gifts, but celebrates the true meaning. So, while shopping for the kids, we wanted to make sure that the gifts we got them were not just toys (which are still fun) but something useful that would provide as a functional need as well. Thanks for your gifts and prayers!