After living in the Philippines for almost three years now I have grown accustomed to celebrating christmas almost 4 months out of the year. As soon as September 1st hits the malls start playing the christmas spirit and the count down begins to the big day. I can't imagine a life without Christmas, the day in which we take time to remember the birth of our Lord.
Recently I was able to attend a conference in Chiang Mai, Thailand. It was an amazing experience where I was able to learn so much and meet so many other people who shared a heart for the international teaching. The conference however just happened to land smack dab on top of Thanksgiving. I was dissappointed about missing this delicious holiday but I thought, what the hey, I'm always up for new experiences and I've been wanting to go to a conference where I would be able to meet with other teachers from around the southeast Asia area.
I have visited Thailand before and absolutely loved it, but this time I was met by a different experience. It was still beautiful and the people were friendly the culture was as colorful as I first remembered it, but there was something missing. I went throughout the week trying to figure out what it was that was missing. I thought perhaps it was the fact that I totally missed thanksgiving and went along my day as if it were nothing more than an ordinary Thursday. But as the day came and went this strange feeling remained. I couldn't shake it. Finally one day as I as talking with my good friend Becca we realized there wasn't any signs of Christmas. No decorations, no music, no special sales, no nativity scenes, and no churches. As I walked around the city I realized that apart from good ol' Starbucks there was no sign of such a significant holiday. But this isn't a significant holiday to someone who strives for enlightenment. Why would a country that is soaked in idolism and tradition be interested in a Christ's birth?
It made me realize though just how blessed I am to be serving in a country where Christmas has such significance. It's true there may be times when it gets lost in the hustle and bustle, but at least it is present. I am honored to celebrate such a day in which my Savior humbled himself to my level and desired to be one of us. Immanuel, God is with us. This season I am reminding myself of the reason for our celebration.
Recently I was able to attend a conference in Chiang Mai, Thailand. It was an amazing experience where I was able to learn so much and meet so many other people who shared a heart for the international teaching. The conference however just happened to land smack dab on top of Thanksgiving. I was dissappointed about missing this delicious holiday but I thought, what the hey, I'm always up for new experiences and I've been wanting to go to a conference where I would be able to meet with other teachers from around the southeast Asia area.
I have visited Thailand before and absolutely loved it, but this time I was met by a different experience. It was still beautiful and the people were friendly the culture was as colorful as I first remembered it, but there was something missing. I went throughout the week trying to figure out what it was that was missing. I thought perhaps it was the fact that I totally missed thanksgiving and went along my day as if it were nothing more than an ordinary Thursday. But as the day came and went this strange feeling remained. I couldn't shake it. Finally one day as I as talking with my good friend Becca we realized there wasn't any signs of Christmas. No decorations, no music, no special sales, no nativity scenes, and no churches. As I walked around the city I realized that apart from good ol' Starbucks there was no sign of such a significant holiday. But this isn't a significant holiday to someone who strives for enlightenment. Why would a country that is soaked in idolism and tradition be interested in a Christ's birth?
It made me realize though just how blessed I am to be serving in a country where Christmas has such significance. It's true there may be times when it gets lost in the hustle and bustle, but at least it is present. I am honored to celebrate such a day in which my Savior humbled himself to my level and desired to be one of us. Immanuel, God is with us. This season I am reminding myself of the reason for our celebration.
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| Becca and I sending off a Thai lantern. It just so happened that it was the Loy Krathong Festival. |
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