Fa la la la la la la la la.......

“Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” Luke 1:30b-33

Our living Christmas Tree.

I have SO MUCH to report. This week has been so very crazy...with Novenas in the evenings and Spanish school in the mornings,  my sleep has been a bit neglected but all has been worth it. 

Novenas- the nine days before Christmas we have a service (songs, a short message, announcements, and fellowship).  The songs are sung from a 'living Christmas tree'...neat!  I have been playing my violin during the song time...along with another violinist.  It has been a lot of fun to play with her.  Only one thing...yesterday my violin broke.  I was unable to play.  Not sure when it may be up to playing again...please pray that it will be a quick fix!

Jonathan!!

Monday afternoon I was given the opportunity to go on a tour of the market.  It was neat...it slightly resembled the one in Guatemala except this one had refrigeration for their meat (maybe the one in Guate does too...I just don´t really remember seeing it and the smell that I remember hints that maybe there aren´t.) and maybe even a concrete floor!!  Crazy these new fangled things...who needs them anyway!

The chiquitas hand out Novenas invites to people passing on the street.

   Tuesday, after school, I had the privilege to go shopping with a new friend (Bronte) I have met here.  Bronte and I ate, talked, shopped, etc.  It was good to be able to talk in English, without limitations to what could be said.  We really had a good time and only got turned around once on the Metro.  Having spent the afternoon playing meant that when we returned from Novenas, at around 11pm,  I had to do homework.  So exhausting to keep up with it all!!!! 
Wednesday was a similar story except that I was able to do some homework while I waited for a fellow student at the school to finish class.  We then went shopping for a little while.

Bronte and I pose in front of Mall Vespucio

   Yesterday (Friday), some of the people from our Christmas choir at church came along with us to sing Christmas carols at the neighboring 'nursing homes'.  We also had the opportunity to sing at a home for children who are cancer patients.  They stay at the home with a parent while receiving treatments.  We had a good time sharing the joy of the season.  It was an interesting sight for all onlookers (I am sure)  as a band of youth and a few adults walking down the road with a keyboard, sound stuff, a violin, etc.  Quite the memory.

Yes... Kathlyn ROSE.

   Well, tomorrow is Christmas.  I do not feel like it really is here already.  Maybe the lack of shopping, snow, immediate family, etc. could be the reason.  But these are not the things that make Christmas what it is.  He is the reason we celebrate.  And regardless of the situations, emotions that Christmas may bring to some, or the lack of [norm], CHRISTmas is still the same.  We celebrate who He is and the gift that He gave over two thousand years ago.  Yes, gifts are fun and are a reminder of The first gift, but this is not the reason we celebrate.  I pray that in this new year to come...everyone of you who may read this, may find yourself more in love with Him.  That you would not forget the reality of Christmas.  I wanna wish you a MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!