English club celebrated two birthdays

We never thought that December would really be a busy month for us here. Yes, we use to have very busy December back home because of church programs, school activities, associational parties and family reunions, shopping for gifts and many other activities. Now, if you put them together within a month this is really a stressful month.


Anyway, meaningful Christmas activities keep us busy here. Christians celebrate Christmas here in a simple way without the burden of commercialism. On 14th of December, the English Club in Soi 5 Doi Ngam community celebrated the birthday of Jesus and one of its members, Tat Dawn. Most of the members of the English Club are Buddhists.


We ate and played games but the most important part was the narration of the story of Jesus' birth, the story of how God became man so that we can have life. The children and young people had a great time. Tat Dawn was happy to celebrate her birthday for the first time in her life (Buddhists usually don't celebrate their birthday although deep inside they always like to do so.) Her relatives and friends joined us in the celebration. Pastor Mong prayed for her. It was indeed a time when we appreciate the truth that our life comes from God.

Little Christmas tree

You may believe it or not. We observed that Thais in our community have a fascination about Christmas. I mentioned this before, they like Christmas songs especially their children. We often hear Christmas tune used as ringing tone in their cell phones. The definitely like Christmas decorations especially the tree.

So when we set up our little Christmas tree about three weeks ago, our neighbor's children came and help us decorate the tree while the older people watch in our front door and enjoyed watching us doing things to the poor Christmas tree. We do here what we were doing back home put up the tree and hang those beautiful blinking colorful Christmas lights and our neighbor would stare at them and we see the delightful smiles in their faces. Now, we have the opportunity to explain to them the significance of these symbolisms--this is all about Christ who become man to save us from our sins and give us a gift of eternal life.