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.

I am Sam Wise, the brave.

This is cross posted from Missions and Theology. I started cross posting because Jared is now considering deleting this blog for obvious reason (he feels nobody read this blog anymore). In case he might do it one day, you can still read the posts on the other blog. Now for the good news, we have a pet. Read this.

Since we came here, our children wanted to have pet so badly. I know they prefer to have a dog. We had a wonderful pet back home named Duke he was good and smart dog. But two months ago we received news that he has died. So, we were always on the look out for a puppy. Here they don't give out their puppies. In the Philippines you just ask for them and they will give it to you right away here even if you are somebody important, they will refuse. Here, puppies cost 500-5,000 baht of course, it defends on the breed. So every time we would saw puppies for sale, we would look the other way, pretending not to see anything. Today, at the Grace Home Kindergarten Center, a puppy was waiting for us. The kids are happy and excited... they finally have a pet. We named him Sam. (After our favorite character in TLOR- Sam Wise, the brave).

Jared's Birthday

Jared celebrate his 14th birthday in a very simple breakfast candle-blowing celebration. All fo us celebrated our birthdays here this year. We miss home a lot.

My children are not living a life that normal children should be. They don't have permanent friends because we have moved five times with in their lifetime. We moved from Cainta to Pangasinan to Baguio, back to Cainta again in six short months and finally moved here in Thailand.

They never experienced the joy of childhood both Narlin and I had. We never left our respective homes until we were married. We have permanent friends and best friends who grew up with us. And althoug distance keeps us apart, communication was never lacking. We grew up in our respective home church with people who love us and treated us as part of their family. (These people are the ones who are supporting us here in the mission field). We matured with them both physically and spiritually. My children never enjoyed this kind of relationships.

Jared is in the second year of his teenage life. He never had friends who grew up with him. (My bestfriend lived in the next house and we were together until I responded to the call). Jared hates school. He always thought that teachers do not teach but talk to the (black)board. The only teacher he was fond of was his grade 4 teacher who took him under her care. And as a parent, I was greatly grateful to that teacher who perhaps changed Jared's perspective about education. Jared hates home schooling as well. And if I were him, I will feel the same. Home schooling materials are the most boring educational material I've ever read. But we are thankful for home schooling and for the people who made this possible for us because it is the only way he and his siblings can have their education. He likes computer. I think he learned to use the computer first before he learn to talk. He can create his own website, he knows how to mess with html code,he maintained and designed this blog (and the other blog), he knows how to install and configure Linux from the root terminal which I didn't learn and perhaps will never have a chance to learn.

In his 14th birthday, he is holding on to his childhood for as long as he can. He doesn't want it to go. And I understand it... I want him to enjoy it as long as it last because his childhood will be gone sooner than we thought. We thank the Lord that we are here in the mission field together. We share everything, the good and the bad, the happy and the sad, the joy and the sorrow, the love and the hate, the excitement and the boredom. I'm not afraid that my children will be lost from our side... because we are together in responding to God's call. Happy birthday Jared!!!