Christmas gifts

On Christmas Eve, we gave our kids Sunday church clothes. They were adorable! The girls got blue and black striped dresses, with black tights, black shoes and a black cardagin, and the boys had matching blue dress shirts, blue and black striped ties, black pants, belts and shoes. we lined the gifts up on a table in the room, with a chair for each kd with thier gift. We then blind folded the kids and led them to thier chair, where they had to wait with the blindfold on till everyone was ready. We ten had them take off their blindfold and as fast as they could, give the gift in front of them to its rightful owner (we mixed them up). After that, we counted to thirty, because we are choir thirty and had the kids open thier gifts. The next part gave me chills, and nearly brought tears to my eyes. The kids screamed for what could have been about 2 minutes straight and jumped up and down, screaming, and ran up to us, hugging us and running around. I've never seen anyone in my life get so excited about one gift as these kids did. We had them try them on. I remember sitting there and thinking why it is that these kids were so excited. Probably becuase this is the nicest thing they've ever owned, and definitly the only dress the girls have owned that is new. I went into the hallway, where the girls were jumping around, giggling and squealing with excitement.




They felt like princesses. as I sat there and told them how beautiful they were, i got this chill, realizing that every girl, no matter who it is, just wants to feel beautiful, and to be told that. These girls have never really felt that beautiful before. Oh, to have that kind of thankfullness for one outfit. They kept twirling in thier dresses, and smiling, and begging me to take one more picture of them. It was a moment where I realized on a clearer note what I'm doing, and even if this was the only meaningful moment this year, that moment of those girls feeling like a princess made it all worth it. When we had the girls walk out, they began jumping and shreaking when they saw the boys. It was a moment of hormones:) but also it was really amazing to see thse kids just appreciate how beautiful they looked. The whole thing gave me chills. They went to dinner that night and sang two songs at the Christmas Eve Service. It blessed me so much to see these kids so happy.

Sledding behind the ATV!



Me and Sarah on the sled:)


The kids perform in thier new Sunday clothes! They looked adorable! Christmas Eve Service in Hordville, Nebraska

The kids show off thier new Sunday Clothes!


Sledding behind an ATV!


Fanta's Santa hat!

Visiting Father Christmas!

Waiting for Santa! He ended up being grumpy!



My mom always made my brother and I get a picture with Santa, so this year, she asked me to get one with the kids, and my brother and sister in law had to get a picture with Santa....




Me and Halima

Those things! They are cutting!

Yes, the things that Jackie was talking about were the prickles on my unshaved legs. The beauty of winter and getting to sit in the hot tub, is that many of my kids are fascinated with arm and leg hair, something that Africans don't have. Frequently, when I'm wearing a short sleeved shirt, a few kids will come up and stroke my arm, as if my arm hair is the most intesting thing they have seen all day. In the hot tub, if it's been more then a day since I decided to shave, my girls love to touch my legs, and say things! In this particular hot tub excursion, Jackie said "ahhhh! these things, they are cutting ahh! auntie!" Yes, they are in fact leg hairs:) something they are learning about! I was trying to explain how mazungus shave them... hehe

Missionary pick up lines

Travelling around from place to place makes for some interesting stories... particularly because you are meeting so many people. I've met some interesting ones, and I've come to a few conclusions about the Christian dating scene... Genereally in non-Christian circles, it's a bar where people will toss out a pick up line or two in hopes that a girl might take them up on thier offer. In Christian circles, the "bar" is church:) Church is "the place" to find someone, although unlike in a bar, instead of for a one night stand, it might be that a guy seems to have been "led by the Holy Spirit, that you seem to be the one for Him. He's done a lot of praying in the last 2 hours, and decdided that you are just the one for him." I've also learned that working in ministry is funny, because there are specififc lines for missionaries., and I wanted to share a few of the ones i myself,and the other ladies I'm working with have recieved that have made for a good laugh. At one place, I needed to go get some lower bills for change for my product table. The pastor said that he had a guy who could give me a ride to the grocery store. Anyways, as we got in the car, the pastor tells the guy to not get lost, and he says "i dont know she's really pretty, we might just get lost." Then as we proceed on what i think is an incredibly awkward ride, he proceeds to ask me all sorts of questions. How old am i, how long i've been working here, where i'm from etc.. then asks me if i have a boyfriend. But the great missionary pick up line would be "so how did you get involved in this ministry? Well, i just graduated from college... blah blah... "ohhhh.... it must take an amazing person to do the kind of work that you do." Seriously, what is that? Missionary pick up lines, using the word of the Lord to try to butter up a girl... haha, it's funny! anyways, it makes for great stories! I also had a leader of one church call me baby, ummmmm one thing about me, is that i HATE the name baby, and that's about the biggest turnoff out there...

Workouts!

Silly faces


Arm exercises



And Legs