Christmas Eve here in China.  A bit different from the norm, but not totally different from what we normally do.  We had a pretty good meal with friends this evening.  The last half hour (girls are tucked in now with dreams of sugar plums break-dancing in their heads) we’ve been re-wiring the lights on our Christmas tree.

Christa has done this a few times already because bulbs keep burning out.  We’ve sacrificed two whole strands so far this holiday season.  Next year I will probably buy my Christmas lights through a different vendor, what d’you think?

Tomorrow we will be singing Christmas carols with our team and having some treats.  I will be reading part of the story of Christ’ birth in our gathering.  Then we will be visiting some American friends for lunch, games, fellowship, etc.  Should be fun.

Anna took part in a Christmas program this past Thursday.  She was the star of her age group (zui hao = the best!) and danced and sang with vigor.  It was great to see so many foreign kids worshipping the Lord in this way.  It was even better to see all the Chinese faces in the crowd.  The place seemed packed.

I’ll post more pictures tomorrow and will probably include a few of Anna on-stage…

As things will probably be very busy tomorrow, I wanted to wish each of you a joyful Christmas, full of worship, light, and sound.  Enjoy your loved ones and friends and (if possible) reach out in love to others you come across as well.  We’ll try to do the same on this side of the pond…

What a gift we have in Jesus!  Merry Christmas! (Sheng dan jie kuai le)