Christmas in Romania! Here's a little glimpse into our Christmas Weekend! Sunday, was the Lord's Day and so we went to church both in the Morning and Evening. Daryl skipped the band concert that he was too play in during the afternoon, since he was recovering from being sick all week. Sunday evening was when Sally Sebo had the children and youth's Christmas program. After the service the youth went carolling. It is customery here for the youth to go caroling on Christmas Eve and so we brought our whole family to enjoy in the fun. They carol until around 2 a.m. and if they don't finish caroling to all of the people on the list, then we go on Christmas Night. Well, we didn't make it the whole time, since Bryan fell asleep and so around 11:00 p.m. we headed for the house. Oh yeah, you walk everywhere you go, no cars, and there's church on Christmas Day at 10:00 a.m. The band concert is in Talpos Christmas night followed by more carolling. Many of the people invite you in to their homes for candy, cakes, soda and a light snack. We also had the wonderful priviledge of being invited over to 2 different families houses during this weekend and enjoyed the "delicious" food and fellowship. The day after Christmas there are services as well. So while many of you are going back to work, taking something back to the store due to a wrong size or "it doesn't work". We will be sitting down for our Christmas dinner and opening gifts on Dec. 26th. There simply wasn't any time in the day! Don't feel sorry for us, we'll enjoy our Christmas as much as anyone else, maybe even more.

Our family has totally enjoyed having special Holidays like Christmas in a foreign country. It has been WONDERFUL to step back from the intense commercialism and liberalism of Christmas in the states. I've probably heard more truly Christmas songs in Russia and Romania than I did in public places in the states. Even as a follower of Jesus, we are affected by our culture and it's easy to get "pressed into the worlds' mold". Living in a foreign country has given us a better understanding and appreciation for Christmas as well as learn new ways that people celebrate Christ' birth.

I am thankful that God has called me to a foreign field and feel very blessed by Him. He is so good to us, more than we ever deserve.