My Christmas season in Zambia has been very much an incredible one! While things are very much different here, I have been blessed to experience a very simple Christmas and to really be celebrating the reason for the season.

On Christmas Eve, the youth at my church had a youth overnight, which I had the pleasure of helping plan and be a part of. We started our party around 10 pm and went until about 6 in the morning. While I was cautious because I wasn’t sure if I would be able to stay awake all night, it turned out to be fabulous!  I had the joy of celebrating Christmas Eve with about 20-30 other youth!

I have been so very blessed to have so many friends offer for me to come over and spend time with them during the week of Christmas. In Africa, the biggest punishment you could receive is to be alone or in solitary confinement. Therefore, knowing I live alone, I had more invitations than I could possible say yes to for the Christmas festivities.

I also had the opportunity to attend a Carols by Candlelight service at an Indian church, where Indians, Zambians, Americans, and possibly others celebrated Christ’s birth through music. What an experience and blessing that was! The nations were gathered together, worshiping together!

American friends also invited me to many events and I was once again blessed by the company of other missionaries, some of whom have been here many years and truly call Zambia home. God is unending in His love and this Christmas I have felt God’s love just penetrating my soul and I am so amazed and in awe of Him.  This Christmas season is for sure a memorable one!