"While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born." —Luke 2:6
"Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths."
What traditions do you have? - to keep your family focused on 'Christ' - not on 'frenzy'!
Let us not forget or leave 'Christ' out of Christmas...
We have had many blackouts, usually daily and especially the one on Tuesday at 17:30h when a dump truck hit a power pole at our corner, knocking us out until morning of Wednesday. I also have to fight my hubby for the computer.
find Fluffy...
K
a sleepy vendor waits for business in Bourda
gorky the geeko likes my sunflowers
a Hallal shop at church gate (our house in background)
Anyway — we are doing okay, the season of Christmas (Advent, what is that? for the people of the street) is very noisy and extremely busy. Hang on to your bags... We went into a 'hole in the wall' shop the other day for a couple of hand towels and a set of glasses - WOW! sardines don't have it so tight! needless we about-turned, we'll dry our hands on our skirt or pants like all good Manitobans. Jack was told that, that is what we 'eh' people from Winterpeg do!!
Jack is being kept busy (me, I'm his right hand gal/communicator and also his scratch cooker & cleaner - made pyrogies yesterday, missed your help!) Wednesday we travelled south/east along the coast for 2+ hours over the Berbice River to Williamsburg for a Ministerium (wi spouses). A Christmas get together of sharing, singing carols (some Caribbean*, should I get the music?) and a delicious lunch with all the trimmings (custard, ice cream and jello!) It indeed is the season! For sharing the amazing story that brings us all Great Joy!
Pastors and wives enjoy Christmas fellowship at St. John in Williamsburg, Guyana
The Demerara Bridge is 1¼ miles in length
A new mission at Parfait Harmonie
Jack has been helping in new churches, two which take us over the longest pontoon bridge in the world – on Tuesday we will return for the Children’s Christmas party, guess who will be Santa & Mrs Claus?! It should be fun. On Sunday we will go to one of the churches we served in 2004/5 and then he will lead a Candlelight Carol Service (no Christmas Eve, which we will miss) at 16hr followed by the Parish Christmas Dinner. Christmas day we have a 7h service at Calvary then we drive along the Demerara River to Timehri landing docks where we will then take a boat up river to Sand Hills, Mt. Zion for a Christmas Communion service at 11h. I think they will be serving us Pepper Pot and Black Cake following the worship afor travelling back, should be home by 17hr - turkey, don't think so! Maybe ham and eggs…
Having Skype has kept us in touch with family and friends – we love seeing and talking, Facebook has also been a good contact, I play it very cool there, keep my privacies in check – messaging through the ‘Inbox’.
Kavita Karran is taking theology courses, will she be a pastor? we pray so...
My Christmas baking is going to be also in low gear – shortbread and would you believe it… I found very expensive Mincemeat to make Jack a pie. Did bring Christmas Cake with me – a friend is making us a Black Cake, Guyanese version of Christmas/Fruit cake soaked in rum.
We have a wee tree - I have been crocheting angels, stars/snowflakes and crosses. Friends very kindly brought it over the other day with a set of Fairy lites and lil santas - we also bought teeny 'Rice' lites - they are so neat, I'd like to bring ~ 10 sets home for our tree outside - they're outdoor/indoor and have 100 lites. I brought several Christmas CD's and enjoy them along with the street cart versions. The other night 4/5 horse drawn drays loaded with people, singing and having a lot of fun added spice to the evening solitude - their version of Christmas sleigh ride, especially funny when they sang 'I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas' when we were dripping sweat, it seems the evening still hours are the hottest.
The Star of Christmas into Epiphany is put up atop of Calvary's steeple
*A Christmas Song... Caribbean (vs:1)
In Bethlehem one glorious night
Cum dung to all a we;
Some shepherds nearly die with fright;
Cum dung to all a we;
Dem hear dat in a cattle pen
Cum dung to all a we.
Was born de Saviour of all folk
Cum dung to all a we.
Refrain:
Cum dung, Jesus, cum dung, cum dung,
Cum dung to all a we;
O Lord Jesus, cum dung to all a we,
O Lord Jesus, cum dung to all a we.
The Star shines bright on December 18th
Our prayers are uplifted for Chris Klafs, a friend within the ELCA Florida-Bahamas Synod — In Mission with ELCG as we are with ELCIC, Eastern Synod.
Must say goodbye for now – must relinquish the computer — also have to go to the market for flour.
All our LOVE...
This Christmas may you see and know anew
just how great His love is toward you.
Jack + Val
Jack + Val
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