Christmas in Central Europe

Last night- Christmas Eve, I finished wrapping the last of the gifts while considering what a joy and a privilege it is to be able to live and serve here (despite missing family and friends at home this time of year).

One thing I have learned here is that Christmas in the non-western world just isn’t that big of a deal (although the commercialism so commonly associated with it is sneaking in under the guise of New Years). Therefore, one must be extra intentional about its true celebration. Some of our extra intentionality about sharing Christmas with our friends here has included:

The Christmas Program: The first part of the program was full of cultural traditions- making decorations, trimming the tree, decorating cookies, a visit from Santa Clause (Noel Baba), explaining the origins of some symbols, and so on. In the second part of the program, we went on to share the true meaning of the season. Our theme was “the Light Coming into the Darkness” based on John 1- “the light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.” A student believer took a bold step of faith and shared his testimony. We had a full house that night so about 45 of our friends heard not only about the Light of the world, but how that Light came into the heart of a university student just like them. After the program we offered our friends two additional opportunities to learn and discuss more: A Christmas dinner and Christmas Eve service at our church… two more opportunities to serve and model to them the Gospel through our friendship and hospitality as well as to continue our dialogue about the true meaning of the season.

Please pray for all our friends who have engaged with the story of Christmas this year. Pray that they will remember and contemplate what they have heard, seen and felt throughout these various Christmas events…