Christmas abroad

FIRST MONTH UPDATE:

This was a first for Velvet - Christmas in a different country without snow and various other traditions ... and without family.



I have been abroad during Thanksgiving,
but this was a first for me.

Christmas without the trimmings,

without Blueberry pancakes with blueberry syrup,

without White Christmas movie playing
as the house is being decorated for Christmas,

without
Christmas Eve Candlelight Communion,

without spouse/family/close friends

and without the home church family service.

Guess what?

Christmas still came.

It came because Christmas is in the heart of a follower of Christ.

As people look at me I can tell they are thinking - she is a visitor here.  It doesn't take much for someone to realize that I am not from around here.  I also very much realize that I am not from around here.

For your amusement I have written about a few signs that you might be in a different country:
There is a specific 'check out' lane for electronics purchases, you only pay for the item in this line, then you proceed back to electronics to have a quality check where the product is tested thoroughly - next you proceed to the person who views your receipt, checks that the product was tested, stamps the receipt with today's date, retains a copy of your receipt,  followed with explanation about the length of warranty on the item and replacement requirements (you must retain the box) - this takes about 30 minutes.

Tonight I learned the importance of customer satisfaction, how to wait, what thoroughness in a job well done means, that I must keep my receipt and box to be able to claim the 2 yr warranty, the correct date and to wear comfortable shoes while shopping for electronics.  

Think of all the money I will be saving, because one must be absolutely certain one wants the electronic item badly enough to wait & wade through the process.  I now have a blender and the bonus of a new blow dryer.  Why the blow dryer?  Thought I would make the wait worth while and get two items for the wait time of one. Wanted to be a good steward.  :-) Very thankful for the kind person who translated with patience and waited/waded through the process with me.


BTW if you need a cell phone here is something important I will pass along to you - Buying a cell phone can take up to 2 hours or longer.  I was the very last customer and they had to unlock the door to let us out.  Oh yes, you will need a passport and perhaps a national's passport.   GOOD TIMES are being enjoyed on the missionary adventure.  I even was able to use my past experience this week of how to take a cup shower when the water pump went out.

Don't be too envious when I tell you that I have had to use the warm water, sleep without a fan and even use a light blanket because of the cool nights.  I was even wishing my friend had sent me along some fuzzy socks with my cool beach hat.


Today I thought I had finally figured out where I was and how to get where I was going - I was mistaken.  I had the general direction but was off by a few streets.  However, I know with absolute certainty that God does want me here - at the grocery store, there were 3, yes, you heard correctly, 3 kinds of alfredo sauce as well as GOYA picante sauce, RAGU pizza sauce, Yoplait peach yogurt, PAM cooking spray, and wait for it ... wild berry skittles and a zero candy bar.   AND Olive oil is reasonably priced.  Not to mention all the fresh fruit and vegetables year round.

Lest I forget to mention it - I have a full size comfortable mattress and box springs.  This is wonderful! I can't begin to describe how great this 'comfort zone' truly is at the end of a day.

That's the fun stuff ... but I really want to share what has touched my heart.

The team of missionaries that are here that have welcomed 'me' to their 'family', the church services where the Gospel is preached with the same intensity and passion as my home church in the States, the Sunday nights at El Puente,

the relationships that God is gifting to my life, the time to be in the Word without distraction, seeing that His love is relentless and how He covers us when the world gives way ...  this week was full of news that dropped me to my knees in prayer for family and friends that I hold dear.   His promises were what I clung too as I prayed prayers for healing, comfort, peace, happiness, blessings, provision and direction for those back in the States going through the tough times of life.





How something as simple as Skype can keep 'homesickness' manageable during a holiday.  It definitely is a peace filled moment when you can see your spouse as you say good night.

 Last night I fell asleep listening to a song wafting on the air from a nearby church service  - "When peace like a river attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll, no matter my lot, Thou has taught me to say, It is WELL with my soul."