Santa's Christmas Prayer

On Christmas Eve the other night
I saw the most amazing sight,
for there beneath the Christmas tree
was Santa kneeling on his knee.
His countenance was different than
that all-familiar, jolly grin;
his head was bowed, and hand to breast,
and slightly tucked into his vest.
For there in a Nativity
was Jesus and His family,
and as I heard him start to pray,
I listened close to what he’d say.
“Lord, You know that You’re the reason
I take pleasure in this season.
I don’t want to take Your place,
but just reflect Your wondrous grace.
I hope You’ll help them understand
I’m just an ordinary man,
who found a way to do Your will
by finding kids with needs to fill.
But all those centuries ago,
There was no way for me to know,
that they would make so much of me,
and all the gifts beneath the tree.
They think I have some hidden power
granted at the midnight hour.
But it is my love for You
Inspiring all the things I do.
And they give You all the Glory,
For, ‘You’re the One True Christmas Story.”

Original author

Alda Monteschio

Christmas Day Ministry Challenges

During the Christmas Season, it is easy to think of decorations, special music and even going to church early so you can get a parking space. Some churches have the challenge of figuring out where to seat all of the people who attend their worship services. Not so in Kunyukuo. On Christmas Day, a Sunday, I arrived at church at 9:15 for a 9:30 service. NO ONE WAS THERE! I was so surprised! What was happening? Even the few that are usually in church early were not there. Did the village of Kunyukuo do something special on Christmas Day that no one told me about? 

I tried calling Mama Jane and Matthias. Neither of them picked up. So, I called Razak. He had relatives in Kunyukuo, maybe he knew. He told me that maybe people go to church on Christmas Eve. I said, "Razak. Even if they went somewhere else last night, today is Sunday. We have Sunday worship." He told me he would try to find out what was happening. Then, the network went down and wasn't working for the next two hours or more.

I walked over to Mama Jane's house. She said, "I am on my way coming." She was still getting ready. But, she also said, "It's so cold outside. I am moving slow." COLD? In Ghana? We really don't have cold. But, wait...I am from Pennsylvania. This weather in Ghana, even a morning Harmattan temperature in the 70s is nice to me. But, to a Ghanaian, it is freezing! I walked back to church. Oh, we now had five people. None spoke English. After waiting a bit longer, we had ten people, and Matthias had arrived from Lawra. He began the service....

I have been here almost six years. It sense to me that people would come late because of bad weather. Yet, in my American mind, this isn't bad weather. And still, I sometimes forget to look at things/circumstances from a Ghanaian point of view. I still have a lot to learn!

Christmas in Lawra

 

Christmas is a magical time, no matter where one might live. Customs my be different, social and economic may be different, but to me, it is all magical, especially when you see the joys and blessings of Christmas through the eyes of a child. Above is Raymond, the son of a friend of mine. He and his brothers LOVED playing with the nativity set. It didn't matter that the angel was missing, good ol' Joe stepped in to fill the part. The Christmas story was told and retold and acted out numerous times. And, the fact that there was music and lights didn't seem to bother them at all, even after the 57th time!

 

 

Christmas in Lawra is celebrated with family and friends. Big shopping, as people do in the USA, isn't done. Most people cannot afford to shop. They will scrimp and save and try to get the best deals on special food for the day, possibly chicken and rice, and new clothing that will be worn the whole year through. The main part of my Christmas shopping was buying three LIVE chickens, one each for three of my friends, including the pastor.

 

 

Christmas Eve Service in Kalsagri was at 9:30 in the morning. (This old white lady does not drive a motorcycle at night.) Over 100 people showed up to worship, sing, dance and hear the Word of God. After the service, a Christmas surprise...clothing left for the people by the Bishop and dresses for the girls made by my sister-in-law, Anita, and her friends.

 

 

Everyone had a good time going through the clothes and choosing some for their family...and just trying on stuff for the fun of it!

 

After church, Sydney and Leahy, two of my Peace Corps friends, came over and we "settled in for a long winter's nap."...we ate, made cookies, drank hot chocolate with marshmallows and watched Christmas movies (in Christmas jammies)! And, we went to sleep hoping Santa would find us!

 

 

Christmas Day found us in Church again. Dancing, singing, praising God. Numbers were down on Christmas Day..."only" 95! Leahy came to Kalsagri to see the church and to hear me preach. She is such a good sport...as I posted on Facebook: "White Jewish woman dances in black Methodist Church on Christmas Day!" Next, came the making of the feast and the savoring of it. Thanks to people back in the USA, we had the fixings for a wonderful meal!

 

Friday, I showed "The Nativity Story" at Kalsagri Church. Fifty six people squeezed into a small room, to watch the movie on a computer screen, with only two little speakers. And, they were ALL attentive...except for the two who fell asleep!

 

I did exchange gifts with Sydney and Leahy, I had something (a chicken) for the pastor, Mr. Gandaa and Fortune, and I had gifts for Razak, Dora, Kataali, Habib, and Hassan...but, I did not expect this...my fist LIVE Christmas chicken. It was from Razak and his family. The first thing the chicken did when I put it down was poop on my veranda! He was going to be dead meat, which, actually, he is...in my refrigerator. He will be cooked today!

 

Depending on where you live, your life's circumstances, your Christmas may have looked a bit different than mine. The truth of the matter is, Christmas isn't in the celebrations, it isn't in the gift giving/receiving, it isn't even in the food or family customs, Christmas is the celebration of our Saviour's birth. Jesus Christ left the glory of heaven to be born as a tiny baby. He experienced all those feelings and emotions that we do, and yet, in all circumstances, He trusted His Father...even all the way to the cross. He came to save me...He came to save you...Have you invited Him to live in your heart?

 

Come into my heart, come into my heart,

Come into my heart, Lord Jesus,

Come in today, come in to stay,

Come into my heart, Lord Jesus!

A Most Welcome Visitor



Friday, 13 December 2013, was an historic day in the life of Kalsagri Methodist Church. The Right Reverend Emmanuel MacLord Alfriyie, Bishop of the Northern Diocese of The Methodist Church Ghana came to visit. What a wonderful time! Surely God was in this place.

But, an hour or so earlier, this American woman was wondering if anyone would come! I arrived at the church an hour or so before the scheduled visit. There was one person at the church! Yes, you read that right, ONE! Oh, I know that most Ghanaians come late. They are on their own time schedule. And, my people even more since they do not have cell phones (on which they can check the time) or wrist watches.

Little by little, people came...

And as they came, they read Scripture...

 

Drummed...

 

And danced...

 

And, the people did come! I should know better. People come, even when I think no one will show up. By the time the bishop arrived, there were over 175 people in attendance, including five representatives from the Kalsagri Chief's Palace!

 

The Bishop was once a teacher and an evangelist...and still is! He spoke on Christmas, the celebration of Christ's birth. No one fell asleep. I think it is impossible to sleep while this bishop preaches. He is very engaging when he preaches.

 

The Word of God was preached...seeds were planted...challenges given...now, responses have to be made. Pray for these people...the people of Kalsagri who never saw a bishop in their church until last Friday...the people who live in extreme conditions, but who still have hope...pray for those who have not yet made a decision for Christ...pray for their Christmas celebration...may they experience Christ's love as we celebrate His birth!



I'll Be Home for Christmas

 

When I realized I would be in the United States to celebrate Christmas, I was so excited. I called my sister and said, "You know that song, I'll be Home for Christmas ? Pretend I am singing it to you."We were both pretty excited. But, now, I miss my home in Ghana. I miss my kids. So, this is for them...

 

I'll be home for Christmas.

You can count on me.

 

 

Please have snow and mistletoe,

And presents on the tree.

 

 

Christmas Eve will find me

Where the lovelight gleams,

I'll be home for Christmas
If only in my dreams.

  

There won't be snow. There won't be mistletoe. There won't be a Christmas tree. There won't be presents. But, there will be love of family and friends, celebrating Christ's birth. Merry Christmas to my "family" in Ghana. I miss you. I will be there with you...in my dreams!

The Christmas Box

One of my Ghanaian co-workers surprised me last Friday. They gave me a Christmas gift. It was such a surprise because people in this area don't typically exchange gifts. This is because the majority of the population cannot afford it plus most of the residents in this area are not Christian, so Christmas is not celebrated. But, my friend is a Christian and does celebrate Christmas, but I know that this person cannot afford to buy gifts. That's what makes this little "box" so special. It is a gift not given out of plenty, but given sacrificially.

Sacrificial gifts make me remember the sacrifice that God the Father made. He sent His Son form the glory of heaven to be born in a stable - a barn with all the dirt and smell and filth. It was because of His birth and eventually His death that makes me a child of the King. The story doesn't end there...Jesus rose from the grave, defeating death once for all. Because of that sacrificial gift, we can be victorious...in more ways than one!

Just Another Day?

Christmas time is here
Happiness and cheer
Fun for all that children call
Their favorite time of the year

Snowflakes in the air
Carols everywhere
Olden times and ancient rhymes
Of love and dreams to share

Sleigh bells in the air
Beauty everywhere

Yuletide by the fireside

And joyful memories there

~ from A Charlie Brown Christmas

These words may describe Christmas in America, but they don't describe Christmas in Lawra. Of course there is no snow. There are no sleigh bells. There aren't even "carols in the air." There are no decorations. There are no gifts. The only dreams here are the dreams of eating rice and possibly meat this one day of the year. If possible, new clothes are worn, if not, then the best clothes that one owns is worn. The "ancient story" is know by few and told in church and Sunday school.

The reason for the season remains the same both in America and in Lawra.."Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in clothes and lying in a manger."
.

Christmas Clothes

Most of us think nothing of going out and buying a new outfit for the holidays. It is almost a given. You need to have something to wear to the office party or to Grandma's house and something new for Christmas service, right? Even though we have a closet full of clothes, still, there seems as if none of them will do.

Well, last week I had the privilege to buy dresses for six little girls who had never owned a new dress that was chosen specifically for them. The boys will receive play clothes since they got their "dress" clothes in October. I can't wait to see the surprised faces on Christmas morning. Imagine...a new, fancy dress for "occasions!" I want to make sure these children have something special on Christmas day. After all, didn't God give us something special on that first Christmas? He gave us His best! So, Christmas morning, I will visit the children and give them their clothes. After church, we will have a small party complete with a child's version of the Christmas story and snacks...and gift bags! Most of all, I want the children to know that the gifts are because of Jesus and His gift to us. I want the children to know His love for each of them. Someday, I believe they will accept His love and have a personal, intimate relationship with Him. Until then, I'll sow seeds...this time in the form of clothes!

Christmas Shopping, the Upper West Way!

Christmas is quickly approaching. I have been asking people who live in the Upper West how they celebrate Christmas. For everyone who is a christian, Christmas is definitely a special day, a most holy day. People worship the new born King. As for family celebrations and Christmas gifts, those are very simple. There are no Christmas trees or hanging stockings. There are no big piles of presents. But, people do visit each other. And yes, they go bearing gifts. But, not like we would bring gifts in America. The gifts given are rice (most people can't afford to eat rice very often) and, if possible, a chicken, which would be alive! For the majority of people who live in the surrounding villages, Christmas is the only day of the year that they eat meat. It isn't because they don't like it or are mainly vegetarians, but because they can't afford it. So, Christmas here is simple, very simple.

It reminds me of another Christmas many years ago. It was a very simple Christmas, too. No one mentioned eating rice or chicken. The housing situation wasn't like the Hampton or Holiday Inn, it was simple. I doubt if it were very clean. But the day was filled with wonder, awe and worship of the new born King. People came to visit, too. They also brought gifts, simple ones - their worship of God's only Son. It was a Christmas that people still talk about today.

So, this year, I am going to focus on the simple things - the Christ Child and how and why He came. I will give gifts - rice and maize. (I won't be carrying around many live chickens.) There will be no Christmas tree with a big pile of gifts under it. I have a few simple decorations. They are quite enough for me. I'll visit my kids, bearing gifts for all...gifts of rice and maize...and some other "fun" stuff, too. I will tell the Christmas story. And we will celebrate with minerals (soda pop) and biscuits (cookies) and we will play. But, most of all, we will thank the Father for the most precious gift of His Son.

An Amazing Christmas

Today numerous Christians around the world celebrate Christmas. I am, too. I am celebrating by having family and friends over because I was in Ankaase, Ghana for Christmas on Dec. 25.

I had a special prayer for Christmas this year. I hated the holiday season, especially after I was divorced. It seems every place I would go I would see families together...husbands and wives, children. Many people say, "Christmas is for the kids." My heart would hurt because of the losses that I've experienced in life. And, no matter what I did, the hurt was still there. Oh, it wasn't as strong as it was at first, but, it never went away...until this year.

I prayed that this would be the year that God would do something new in me. I prayed that my spirit would be refreshed and made alive this holiday season. And, it was. Because of the ministries I was involved in while I was in Ankaase, I was constantly in the Word of God. I had the opportunity to preach four Christmas sermons (without even a study Bible with me.) The worship services at Freeman Methodist Church were amazing. (Rev. Anderson is pictured at left.) This was during the Christmas Eve service.) Ghanaians worship with their whole body, with their entire being. To worship in entire freedom is an experience I will never have here in the States. Christmas wasn't about me, it wasn't about gifts or decorations, it wasn't about what the kids want, or even having family close by. Christmas is about THE Gift, God's one and only Son, the Word made Flesh and dwelt among us.

God didn't speak to me in the wind, in the earthquake or in the fire. He spoke to me in the still, small, Voice.