Christmas Present- Christmas this year with 2 cultures :)
This year was a wonderful Christmas time for me with my friends from Vietnam and my Hispanic friends. Celebrating Christmas with people from other countries makes me think about the beauty in what Jesus said in John3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son…” God loves each person in each culture equally and being able to spend time with my international friends is a blessing at Christmas.
My Christmas Eve started with going to Christmas Eve service at my home church First Evangelical Free Church Lincoln. I was supposed to meet some of my young friends from Vietnam, but they had a flat tire and ran late, so I began by sitting with a family from Honduras for the beginning of the service. It has been great to watch as their lives have improved over the years. Then my friends from Vietnam came and I moved over to join them. One of them was a 5 year old girl who I had the privilege of taking to the front to children’s story time. I gave each of my young friends a candy cane before they went home.
Next I went to a Christmas play at a Vietnamese Catholic Church to see some of my current and former students in their play. One of my students played the role of Mary. Another one played an angel. Three of them sang in the choir. I also saw some of my other former students there too. I did not understand the language, but I understood the meaning of the stories in the play. It was great to be able to wish them Chuc Mung Giang Sinh- Merry Christmas in Vietnamese.
On Christmas Day I went to worship with my friends at Ministerio Manatial de Vida. It was awesome to sing Silent Night in español 
One thing I especially appreciate about Ministerio is how they provide children opportunities to grow and develop in their skills. The children came up front to sing a song. I was able to give out some more candy canes to the children.
It was a meaningful way to celebrate Christmas and cap off a year of fun adventures with my international friends. I look forward to seeing what next year brings
Christmas’s Past- Sharing a Living Nativity with Friends
My home church used to have an event for Christmas called Once Upon a Village which included Bethlehem shops and a Living Nativity. One year stands out in my memory because it was a year that friends from Brazil, Belgium, China, Germany, Japan, Peru and Vietnam joined me for the Living Nativity. It was a blessing to spend time with my friends and to share the Living Nativity with them. For some of them it was the first time they had experienced a Living Nativity while others were happy to be able to experience one here in Lincoln too.
The Bethlehem village area included some animals such as sheep and goats. We walked through the village which had people dressed as shopkeepers and Roman soldiers. Then shepherds came in and announced what they had heard from the angels and how they had seen the baby Jesus. Then we walked to the Living Nativity.
After out time at the Living Nativity, we went to another church that was having a concert. Once Upon a Village and the concert at New Covenant Church were part of a collaboration called Christmas on 84th Street. The concert included some brief dramas, Christmas music, and readings from the bible about the birth of Jesus.
After the concert, we were invited to go to the home of our friends from Germany, Jochen and Julia. We enjoyed some good food and great company. It was a great way to cap off the evening.
This Christmas memory is special to me because it illustrates to me what Christmas is all about,which is a time to remember God gift to us the first Christmas – His Son Jesus- and spending time with friends and family. May you have a truly blessed Christmas this year and experience the love of God in your lives.
Christmas Past- Sharing Christmas with My Friend Trang
with Trang at Christmas Eve Service
In the story A Christmas Carol by Dickens the character Scrooge is visited by three spirits, Christmas Past, Christmas Present and Christmas Future. The visits change Scrooge for the better. I would like to share the next few days about Christmas’s Past that have been meaningful to me and have helped me to grow as a person.
It seems fitting to begin with my friend Trang. She came here from Vietnam with her family. She had not experienced much of what Christmas is about before coming to America. I met with Trang, her brother Trieu and three other young men from Vietnam Dnag, Do and Tu at the library to study English for a few years. We had a lot of fun at times and I would share with them about American culture especially when we had a holiday coming.
Trang, Trieu, Dang, Do and Tu came with me to church to experience a Christmas Program that we used to have called Once Upon a Village which included a Living Nativity Scene. They also came with me to a Christmas Eve Service to see what it one is like. We took pictures in front of a Christmas tree in the church. We held candles as we sang Silent Night. Trang sat next to me which gave me a chance to share with her about why we held candles when we sang, who Mary and Joseph are and who Jesus is. She asked why we had Christmas Trees and why we had a big Nativity Scene. it was an honor to explain such things for her. It was the first time Trang had been to a Christmas Eve service and it was my privilege to share it with her and the young men.
I learned a lot about teaching young people through our weekend classes and will always appreciate Trang as a special young lady. One of my fondest memories is the Christmas Eve Service we shared and sitting next to each other, so I could explain aspects of the service to her. Such moments should be embraced and valued because they may be our only opportunity.
Sadly Trang passed away a few months ago in September. I am grateful that I met her and that she was my student and friend. I am even more grateful that I was able to share what Christmas is really all about with her. How it is really about God loving us so much that He sent His Son Jesus. That Christmas Eve Service will always be a special memory for me. One that I will always treasure.
A Truly International Christmas Eve for me
Christmas Eve was an awesome experience for me this year. I enjoyed sleeping in a bit late and yes went out to do a little shopping. After surviving the shopping, I picked up my friend Daniel from China to take him to Christmas Eve service with me. Phung from Vietnam met us at church and we celebrated Christ’s birth together.
me with Phung and Daniel at church
After the Christmas Eve service I took Daniel back to his dorm and dropped off a small gift for one of my wonderful students Linh. I then went to Phung’s house to wish her family and our mutual friends a Merry Christmas. I came loaded with Christmas Cards and Candy Canes. I gave the adults and young people I knew a card and gave a candy cane to everyone. Phung’s mother and uncle bought a house and they were having a Karaoke party. They asked me to sing, so I sang O Come All Ye Faithful and scored an 89 which they told me is good. I was happy to give Phung’s grandmother a candy cane and a hug. She is a sweet woman who loves to cook for her family.
me with Chi- Phung's mother
After spending time with a house full of my friends from Vietnam, I went to have dinner with Isis an Eduardo from Brazil. I always enjoy my times with Isis and Eduardo. I have learned a lot from them about Brazil and appreciate their perspective on many things. Of course I need to write that I am proud of Isis and that I call her my genius . They have a 4 month old puppy, Susie, that they spoil. I think Susie is the boss of the apartment.
Isis and Eduardo
Isis and Eduardo's daughter Susie
I am proud of both of them actually. They have both accomplished a lot. We had some delicious Brazilian food for dinner and sat around the table and talked until 11pm. Eduardo was impressed by some Christmas cookies I baked, I mean bought lol.
It was a very meaningful Christmas Eve for me personally because I was able to be with friends from Brazil, China and Vietnam. It makes me think of what the Angels said when they announced the birth of Jesus to the shepherds. The first Angel said “I bring you good news of great joy for all of the people”. Christmas is a time to remember the birth of Jesus who loves all people. In the spirit of such news I would like to say Merry Christmas, Chuc Mung Giang Sinh, Feliz Navidad, Feliz Natal, Craciun Ferecit and Joyeux Noel.
My Favorite Christmas- Romania 2005
When people think of Christmas, we usually think of time with family, Christmas Eve Services, Holiday gatherings with friends, and shopping. As I reflect back on Christmas, the Christmas that stands out as my favorite was when I went to Romania to serve others one Christmas.
In December 2005 I went to Constanta Romania at Christmas time. My home church has partnered with a church in Constanta for several years. Their pastor and his family were in South Africa studying in a seminary, so my church sent me to Constanta to help them with their Christmas services. The trip started out a bit rough because of snow in Lincoln and Minneapolis that caused my flights to be delayed and I arrived in Romania without my luggage. The rest of the trip was wonderful.
the children practicing for their Christmas program
Once I was in Constanta, my first activity was to help with the Christmas Eve program of the children. It was a blessing to help out. I was also able to give the children some Christmas candy. Their performance was wonderful. While I was at their practice, some college students invited me to a meeting at a Baptist church. I went with them. The meeting was for all college students who wanted to come. There were students from the Baptist church, Orthodox church and Evangelical church at the meeting. On thing that was funny was that because my luggage did not arrive until the next day, I was wearing a sweatshirt with NU on it which is for Nebraska University. Nu is no in Romanian. At the meeting they asked me if I would speak, so the first thing I did was explain that my shirt did not say no.
I also preached their Christmas eve and Christmas day services. After the Christmas day service I was invited for lunch at the house of some members. We ate Sarmale and a lot of other good food. I stayed until January 1st then went to Bucharest to met with a few Chinese students at Bucharest Christian Academy. The highlight of the trip for me was spending time with the children who come from poor families to share God’s love with them and to be able to give them some holiday treats.
Merry Christmas to my friends throughout the World
Wow Christmas is here already. I have been so busy with teaching, being a student again, and my ministry work, that it seems I woke up this morning and Christmas is only two days from now. I have not done anything to get ready for it. Normally I would send out Christmas cards, but looks like that won’t happen. So I wanted to write to my friends to say Merry Christmas. I hope you have a wonderful time with your family or friends. I will go to church tomorrow with some friends.
I would like to say Merry Christmas to my friends from or in various parts of the world.
To my friends from Romania- Craciun Ferecit.
To my friends who speak Spanish- Feliz Navdad.
To my friends from Brazil- Bon Natal.
To my friends who speak Vietnamese- Chuc Mung Giang Sinh.
To my friends who speak French- Bon Noel.
As I think about Christmas and the true meaning of it and of all of my international friends, I think of what Jesus said, “For God so loved the World that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life”.
Merry Christmas
Tired of the Summer Heat? Scenes from last winter with my Friends
It has been a long hot summer here in Nebraska. We will have another hot and humid weekend. Fall is just around the corner, but we have a few more weeks of muggy weather ahead of us. It seems hard to believe but in 3 or 4 more months we may have snow again. I enjoyed last winter with my friends even though it was at times harsh weather.
snow overhanging the roof at my church
At Christmas time we had a 9 inch snow. December started with an 8 inch snow in the first week. Some of my friends saw snow for the first time. Many of my friends came to the Christmas program at church wearing their sweaters and coats all bundled up to stay warm.
We had a lunch at our friends’ house John and Julie before Christmas. Everyone wanted the hot chocolate or hot apple cider to warm up after we came inside.
On Christmas Day we had the big snow, but fortunately I was able to make over to my friends’ Carlos and Amelia’s apartment for Christmas dinner. Amelia had the fun opportunity to experience her first Nebraska winter.
So if this weekend is hot and humid like it has been all of August, just remember that the summer heat will soon go away and we will be in the middle of winter wishing for summer to return
New friends in 2009- My friend Zhou Heng from China
Zhou Heng at a picnic last summer
In January and February I met some young people from China. I have previously written about Tingting and Wen Zhu and how I met them both at different times but did not know they were friends. One week they told me they had another friend who wanted to come to my Sunday class. Her name is Zhou Heng. Zhou Heng was one of my pleasant surprises in 2009.
Zhou Heng and Tingting
Zhou Heng enjoying some Peppermint Candy Cane ice cream
Zhou Heng is an intelligent young woman who is a student at the University of Nebraska. She is perhaps the quietest of the group, but is a person I appreciate. We have fun and laugh a lot. We share a mutual addiction because we both love ice cream. I went to a movie with my young friends from China after they finished their final exams and my van decided to go to Cold Stone Ice Cream. I was surprised by how much ice cream she can eat because she is not very big. I appreciate her smile and laugh when we joke in class. She has a great sense of humor.
me with Zhou Heng at a picnic last summer
Zhou Heng is a good friend to have. She did something in April that I will never forget. My father died in April
Zhou Heng at church waiting for the Christmas Eve Service to begin
and when I went to the funeral Zhou Heng came with some of her friends. She did not need to come. I did not expect them to come, but she came to show me support. That showed me what kind of a young woman she is. She is a young woman who will be there for her friends. She is excellent example of how if we take the time to get to know our international friends we will be pleasantly surprised.
New Friends in 2009- Cong from Vietnam
Cong at a recent holiday lunch
Every year at this time I wonder what the next year will bring. Last year at this time I had no idea that I would be blessed with a van to use in my ministry. I also did not know who I would meet or the friends I would make. This past year I have had the privilege of meeting many new friends from several different countries. One of those friends is a young man from Vietnam named Cong.
Cong with some of his friends at a recent Holiday party
Cong is like a big brother for many of the young people from Vietnam that come to my reading class on Saturday and my international bible study on Sunday. He is always willing to pick up some of his friends who do not have cars and give them rides. He has also helped to teach some how to drive who went on to get their drivers licenses. He is a good person to have for a friend.
Cong with some friends at a football party
Cong with his "little sister" Paula making Christmas cookies
The younger people enjoy joking with Cong. The young people from Vietnam in my classes range in age from 13 to early twenties. They like to have fun with Cong and he is patient with them and responds by joking back. Sometimes I ask the younger ones if I should give Cong extra homework and they smile and say “A lot”.
me with Cong at a football party
Cong is a young man I am proud of for several reasons. I think the main reason is he has good character and is always willing to help others. He is also a good student and an intelligent young man. Friends like Cong make me look forward to next year wondering who else I will meet.
Christmas Day with my friends Amelia and Carlos from Peru
Amelia and Carlos sit down for our delcious Christmas dnner prepared by Amelia
We are having the biggest snowstorm at Christmas time that I can remember for a long time. Even though it is a cold, snowy day, I was able to visit my friends Amelia and Carlos from Peru. I enjoyed our time together. Amelia cooked some Turkey Peruvian style which was delicious. We also had some mashed potatoes, vegetables, rice , hot chocolate and some Paneton a special bread with fruit in it.
Carlos and Amelia in front of their tree
me with Amelia and Carlos
Amelia and Carlos in front of their Natvity Scene
I talked with Carlos’s family via the internet and said Feliz Navidad to them. We had a good time talking about what we did for Christmas Eve. They were able to talk with their families at midnight on Christmas Eve which is a special time for them. I also noticed how nice their apartment looked. Amelia decorated it very nice with a Christmas tree and a Nativity Scene. I don’t think Carlos would have decorated like that if he was on his own .
The Nativity Scene
Nativity Scenes are something I appreciate because they help remind me of the real meaning of Christmas which is that Jesus was born to show us the love of God.
I only stayed a few hours because I did not want to drive home in the dark with the snowy weather. I would have liked to stay longer. I felt honored to be able to spend Christmas Day with them since this is Amelia’s first Christmas in America. I always enjoy visiting them. Before I went home, they came outside with me to take some pictures in the snow.
Carlos and Amelia in front of snow covered bushes
Amelia and Carlos in front of a snow mound
About
I teach English Second Language and have a ministry for internationals at my home church First Evangelical Free church in Lincoln Nebraska. I have had the pleasure of traveling in Austria, Canada, England, France, Germany, Mexico, Romania and Switzerland. My hobby is to learn words and phrases from other languages. I have learned how to greet people in 30 languages.
My blog is about my experiences with international friends, my travels, and people I meet along the way. My international friends’ stories are fascinating to me. Experiencing other cultures makes life rich for me.
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