Thoughts for the Season.....

I knew that moving here was going to be an adjustment for us. Not knowing the language, living in much closer quarters than we are used to, brushing our teeth out of a cup, filling up the water tanks every morning, the completely unpredictable traffic, preparing for hurricanes, picking up people left at the airport with no where to stay, putting on bug spray after every shower, wheeling dirt, stone, and sand in a wheel barrel and not my tractor, driving through fire baracades to get home after a fixed election, airport being shut down on a moments notice, driving a car that has a mind of it's own and decides when and how long it feels like running, learning to run while dodging traffic, trash, rocks, dogs, goats, and an occasional herd of cows, not to mention the 22 lovey young ladies living beneath us. I could go on and on but I will just stop there for your sake and mine. Yes I knew there was going to some adjustments for us. I felt like we were ready for most of them. We may of not have known what they were all going to be but were expecting a lot none the less.



One thing that has completely caught me off guard though is this Christmas in 85-90 degree weather thing. Listening to Christmas music, trying to bake cookies one evening, eating the candycanes my parents brought, setting up the little tree, and putting the lights and decorations, it is all just plain, 100% weird to me. I am a Pennsylvania boy, born and raised. Christmas is not about being hot outside, it is not about wearing shorts and t-shirts, and playing in the sunshine. It is not about spending Vanessa's birthday at the beach snorkeling and swimming in the ocean.

Christmas is about cold weather, sweaters, snow on the ground (if you like that stuff), office parties, going shopping on Christmas Eve day with my brother, gift exchanges with friends, watching my kids open up their gifts to see what they got this year. Having my wife drag me to Candy Lane by telling me that there might be more rides this year. That is Christmas to me.



Maybe that is why this is all so weird to me. Maybe it is not the weather. Maybe it's not that I'm still sleeping with a fan on at night. Maybe after 39 years, (yes 39, not 40) this is the year that I experience Christmas for what it is. It should not only be about all the traditions that I have come so accustumed to. Maybe this year I won't just add Jesus to my traditions, but do my best to be a reflection of Him and bring Christmas to others. Maybe the gift that God will give me this year for Christmas, is the gift of His compassion and love that He has for others. Allow me and my family to be His hands and feet to spread that love and compassion to the ones that are in desperate need of it.



I'm not saying that we are going to give up all of our traditions, all I am saying is that my prayer is that I won't make those traditons my Christmas. One thing that is definately easier here in Haiti is not getting all caught up in the X-mas craziness. With no TV, very little commercialism, and being completely surrounded by poverty, it is much easier to focus on why God chose to send His one and only son to this earth. That is one question that is very easy to answer and is very clear in scripture, Love. His undeserved, unconditional, and perfect Love. So this year let's all pay it forward instead of paying it inward by spreading that love He has shown us to others in need. Not just those in financial need, but everyone the He puts in our path. One thing that I have learned here is not to mistake poverty with faithlessness and wealth with blessing. We all need the love, compassion, mercy, and forgivness of Jesus.



May our hearts be filled with His love and compassion for others this Holiday Season and throughout the rest of the year,



Nou renmen ou e Bondye beni ou,



Jeff