Snow, lights, family, fires, freezing weather...
Christmas was a lot different this year, but we could not have asked for a better one! The morning of Christmas Eve, our team headed of to a men's prison. Individually we were told to prepare a quick testimony or message we felt we wanted to share. Sometimes questioning if it was relevant, nine young women sharing to 150 men, we knew it was an open door from God. He was preparing a way for these men to hear what Holy Spirit had to speak through each of us. This prison ministry exceeded any expectation we may have had. The men were attentive, respectful, and full of smiles.
That night, everyone involved with Abba House, about 50, went caroling. In Thailand, Christmas caroling uses different traditions. Once we arrived at our first house, after an amusing ride on the song tao, everyone danced and sang out a couple of the songs we've been practicing together. After our singing, the residents open up their doors and welcome us with decorations, hugs, and food! After a long night, caroling to 10 houses and in the center of the marketplace, and 10 baht ice cream from McDonalds, we took the song tao back home.
Christmas day our team woke up, played Christmas music, and opened our stockings that "Santa Jacque" brought from Kona. Our team had a gift exchange, too. It was a good beginning to our day. Throughout the day, everyone from Abba House was put on different teams and we played different field day games such as balloon toss, sack races, and punched down a pinata. After all our games we had a giant barbeque, which consisted of a lot of meat! Our team contributed and cooked a turkey and mashed potatoes to show them some of our tradition. To end the night, we played bible jeopardy, performed Christmas skits, gave a group gift exchange, and then ended it off with a dance party.
This Christmas really brought us back to the main focus of Jesus' birth and loving each other. Our family has grown here and we've been so blessed to meet these wonderful people in Thailand.
May God bless each of you this new year!
-Catherine Willis
Hello Thailand team! My name is Justin Torrence. Most of you don't know me, and none of you know me very well. I was in Kona for the 50th celebration and met a few of you- including Santa Jacque :) BTW, I forgot that poster I bought from you guys on my plane out of Kona... bummer!
ReplyDeleteI just wanted to send a quick word to you that I sensed as I read this post by Abbie. The sense I had was a mixture of "believe" and "see." The Lord's intentions as you are there is to show up in power. Anticipate that as the average, daily routine of God. "This is your new routine," I sense the Lord saying. I see joy on your faces as you see the hand of God and know His presence in your midsts. It's joy that comes from knowing that this is your God and this is how He has declared He is going to move in your midsts.
I hope this email comes at a time when you're hearing from the Lord just how present He is.
Blessings to you all in Jesus' name!
Justin