Making Merry Part 2

It's my first Christmas!

We had a good Christmas. It goes without saying that we missed family and friends who are far away, and there's that inevitable melancholy, but at the same time there's much God has given us here to be thankful for, and we were more aware than ever this year of the love growing in our hearts for the people right around us. So this is good news!

The king of Thailand's birthday is in early December, so I think of all the festivities surrounding this special occasion (and they are grand festivities!) as the initial hoorah for the Christmas season. This year was his 82nd birthday, and pink was the color of honor and well-being that was worn by Thais nationwide this year in his honor. Here is some interesting cultural info, borrowed from our friend Melanie, who borrowed it from the BBC:

Then, watched by millions across the country, the king gave a brief statement in reply - the first time his voice has been heard in public since his illness. The king has now returned to hospital, but this brief public appearance will have given hope to millions of Thais. They have been hoping for signs that the man often described as the one truly unifying figure in a politically divided country is on the road to recovery. King Bhumibol, the world's longest-serving monarch, is treated with reverent devotion. His portrait hangs in shops, offices and on roadside billboards.

Two years ago, royal astrologers decreed that the colour pink was auspicious for the king's wellbeing.

This year our team spent the king's birthday working and visiting at Mahatthai, a community we've ministered in and enjoyed fellowship with for the last several years, helping to clean up trash there and then having a meal and a celebration that evening. Here are a few pictures Tim took from that day (the kids and I weren't able to attend):






The King's Park, which is very near our home and a frequent stomping ground for our family, was all dressed up for the occasion, and we spent some time there enjoying the lights and amazing flowers...



There was a Christmas party for our English and college ministries, and it sounds like it was quite the shindig. Here are my favorite pictures:

We Three Kings of Orient Are

And what is Christmas, really, without a little break dancing?

We caroled through the market that's near our church, which was fun. We stopped near the stalls/shops of different people we know, and it was a chance to spread some cheer and invite lots of people to our Christmas service the following Sunday...




And finally, Christmas day. We had a sweet time together as a family, then had a houseful of friends over that evening for worship, dinner (pizza- keeping it very simple!) and games. It was a good, good day of celebrating Jesus' birth and all the good gifts He has given us.