It’s not going to begin to look like Christmas…but it still is.
It’s summer here and rainy season has begun so no snowmen or
I got to experience a Peruvian Christmas. I missed my family for sure and our Christmas Eve dinners consisting of all types of international dishes. This year all my dishes are international so for Christmas Eve I made mac and cheese and hot chocolate. Quite tasty and nothing like home. But I am still thankful I got to spend Christmas with a family…my new Peruvian family. They don’t have a lot here. There aren’t presents or trees or stockings but they have hot chocolate and panetone (a fluffy version of fruitcake…it’s growing on me.)
So this next part is wild, I was finishing up a book and I heard my host parents outside my room…I thought they were making my host brother get his haircut…on Christmas Eve? Anyway I figure I’ll go outside to see what all the commotion is about. I don’t even step outside before I see they have a dead sheep hanging from the ceiling and they are skinning it. I couldn’t look away and I watched them skin the whole thing and then cut its head off. Gross…I no longer want Christmas dinner…I think I’ll stick to the mac and cheese. So guess what I had for Christmas Eve lunch…fried blood and potatoes…not as bad as it sounds…liver is the worst. Next year will be quite different from that for sure and I am excited to see everyone.
I didn’t really get in the Christmas spirit like I usually do…the day after Thanksgiving I usually have my tree up and my Ipod consists of nothing but Christmas music. This being my 4th Christmas away from home…the routine usually consists of me working and it just seemed easier to ignore that Christmas has even come to past. Not this year…I’m not working and I have had a lot more time to reflect. So I can’t ignore the reason of celebrated the very birth of our Savior and King. He deserves all the glory so therefore I will not sit back and act like Christmas doesn’t exist purely because I cannot be with my family. I am always with them at heart and I know they will have an amazing Christmas because it isn’t about being with my family but about Christ. In Spanish mas means more…I can’t get enough of Christ so I have no better reason than to celebrate this day.
It wasn’t until Dec. 23rd I decided to bust out the Christmas music. My favorite Christmas song is by Third Day “Born in Bethlehem.” It’s an amazing song and I discovered it a few years ago. The lyrics are so powerful and I almost cry every time I hear it.
Here’s the lyrics:
Baby Jesus born in a stable
A humble savior’s birth
You left Your throne in heaven above to live here on the earth
Baby Jesus lying in a manger cry out for the world
The angels told the shepherds of the good news for His soul
Halluejuah the King is here given for all men
For today the Holy Son of God was born in Bethlehem
Come now sinner and you saints
All peasants and our kings
And bow before the earth’s redeemer let all voices sings
Hallelujah the King is here given for all men
For today the Holy Son of God was born in Bethlehem
Hallelujah the King is here given for all men
For today the Holy Son of God was born in Bethlehem
Baby Jesus do You know You’ll die for all our sins?
Don’t be afraid for in the three days You will rise again.
You will rise again.
(My favorite part…gives me chills every time! )
Hallelujah the King is here given for all men
For today the Holy Son of God was born in Bethlehem
Hallelujah the King is here given for all men
For today the Holy Son of God was born in Bethlehem
For today the Holy Son of God was born in Bethlehem
That last verse is so powerful to me and praise I our Father for giving us His Son in our place! J
Christmas day I left my town and headed to Pomabamba to meet several other volunteers. I was feeling good about the day and had my own Christmas morning worship and sermon with David Platt. It started to rain…no big deal. My host mom mentioned a taxi had drove by just minutes before and was coming back, that way I wouldn’t have to walk in the rain. Well after about an hour the taxi still hadn’t returned so I proceeded to walk to the next town which is straight up hill…not a fun venture in the muddy rainy season of Ancash. After I made it to Piscobamba, usually there are hourly buses to Pomabamba but I’m guessing because it was Christmas day they weren’t as frequent…one of the other volunteers had mentioned the buses were running. Well after another hour and a half of waiting I decided to start walking about thinking I could eventually catch a bus…well hour one of walking went by…no bus. Then hour two…still no bus. Hour three…I was on the brink of tears. And at hour 4 and half I finally caught a bus…15 minutes before I made it to Pomabamba. Needless to say, I had a lot of time to think and go through different emotions. My legs hurt and I was totally unprepared to my day hike to the next town. I love to hike don’t get me wrong…but I do like to know I’m going hiking before I leave the house so I can have food and water…two things I didn’t have with me. This 7-hour adventure was only supposed to talk about an hour and a half. Oh well my fellow PCV were able to cheer me up and the rest of the night was enjoyable except for my aching shoulders and feet.
Though, I will say I have some news. To be continued…
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