Preparing for Christmas in Indonesia

This was not the way it was supposed to be! Was it? Yosef's senses reeled as he led the donkey toward the mouth of the cave. 

The quote above is from the book Fifth Seal by Brock and Bodie Thoene. It is a book I have read at Christmastime in several recent years. It does an amazing job of weaving history, Old Testament promises, and Scripture and bringing the story of Yeshua's birth to life. Here are a couple more quotes... 

So many bulls, so many goats, so many rams, so many sheep. Zadok (chief shepherd of Bethlehem) looked over his charges in the field, multiplied that by the number of years he had been a shepherd, multiplied that by all the shepherds back to the time of Moses. It was staggering! All those sacrificed animals, all that blood poured out. When would it ever be enough? Would it ever? 

~~~

Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find the babe wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger. 

Zadok found himself humming deep in his throat, rather joining in as the air around him droned. But it was not just the air. The very earth beneath Zadok's feet groaned... the long protracted reverberation of an impossibly deep resonance. It was the sound of a city gate opening. The entry to an embattled fortress being thrown wide to welcome its Deliver; the creaking unfastening of the rusted-shut cell door to an imprisoned world being offered its freedom at last. The hinges of Creation revolved. Stars and earth and men held their collective breath and listened to the resounding chord echoing with the lifting of the Curse. 

I have had a hard time feeling like it is Christmas this season. Warm weather, busy days with school and medical needs of the community, I am sure have all contributed to this feeling. It was amazing, however, as I started reading Fifth Seal once again and our Jesse Tree Advent readings, how I started noticing different things about the Christmas story. How Joseph and Mary were far from home and loved ones. How I am sure things were not going as they expected. Again and again God has gently reminded me that He is Emmanuel - God with us - no matter where that is.  

I still miss my family and friends a lot this year! I am sad that my Christmas decorations, including the stocking my mom sewed for me when I was little and several special Christmas tree ornaments, were taken from my luggage and I will never see them again. I am however excited to spend Christmas with my friends here in Salatiga. I am looking forward to watching young kids experience Christmas morning. I am blessed that I will be here and still able to care for several people who are facing health challenges this Christmas. Most importantly, I am looking forward to celebrating and remembering the birth of Jesus Christ who offers such hope to a lost and broken world.