On Christmas eve we went out together with some Thai friends and a few people from another organization to sing Christmas carols at the bars of Bangkok's red light districts.
Our resident 3-year-old passed out candy canes to the women while we sang in Thai and English. The women appeared to love it and several of them even gave us gifts in return. The Western men's reactions were mixed. We got everything from guys glaring and making mocking faces to guys who were singing along. One guy had to look away from everything, including the girl he was with, the whole time we were there.
We also got to pass out gifts to our friends who beg out on the streets, and even play with a few of the kids. I had a lot of fun and was wiped out long before we got home.
Christmas morning we had a quiet gift-opening together as a community. Then it was off to a local church for a joint Christmas party for the kids we know who beg on the streets and some kids who are associated with the church. We played games, made nativity scenes, watched a movie about the nativity, and ate lunch (and lots of candy) together. About twenty kids were there, most of whom we know well, and we had a blast.
Then it was home again for a Christmas party with our wonderfully hospitable neighbors. Fantastic food, dancing kids, and silly playing made up the rest of our night.
In the midst of the hard realities we deal with, it is so wonderful to be able to celebrate. Pray for all those we celebrate with, that they may find not only happiness for one day, but eternal joy, and peace on this Earth as well.
1 comment:
Until the next time
The guy you said "bless you" when I sneezed
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