Growing up we were both taught that "Jesus is the reason for the season", but this year we both realized how important and real that statement is. In the states, it is hard to avoid Christmas regalia.
Everywhere you look, holiday decor and commercialism are a constant reminder of the holiday season and upcoming festivities. Here, nothing felt like Christmas. We were surrounded by rice fields, mud huts, and life preceding as normal. There were no holiday treats to buy in town, no snow, no streets filled with twinkling lights, no radio Christmas tunes, and no family. Literally, we would be home for Christmas only in our dreams. We helped decorate the campus for Christmas, and did as much as we could to make everything special for the children. Starting at the beginning of December, we took over the children's nightly worships and did an Advent countdown complete with an ornament to place on the tree each night. We did our best with what we had, and decorated our house in hopes to feel a bit closer to home. Then we had three different groups of girls over for sleepovers at our house. We worked hard to make this time of year extra special for the kids, but were still left feeling a bit disconnected.
Before we knew it Christmas Eve was a day away. We were asked to help some of the children who were singing for the pageant that would take place on Christmas Eve. Gladly, we tried our best to gain their attention and practice the Christmas carols. Soon, the time for the pageant arrived. Front campus quickly turned into an outdoor theater complete with a stage, curtains, and colorful canopy.
Both of us were in awe of the all the work put into the upcoming production. The time for the play arrived and everyone gathered to either participate or watch. The play was absolutely amazing. Litton, the financial executive at Bangla Hope, organized the whole event and everything was planned perfectly. It is safe to say, it was one of the most memorable Christmas plays either of us has ever experienced. Afterwards, a number of children and staff gathered together to go Christmas Caroling in the surrounding village. Caroling Bengali style is quite the event, complete with drums, dancing, and never ceasing song. We left the campus at 9:30 p.m. and proceeded to sing and dance at each mud hut until 1:30 a.m, but the caroling didn't end back on campus. The singing, drumming, dancing, and joyous shouting lasted until 4:30 a.m.
We fell into bed exhausted for an all to short hour and a half of sleep before awaking again at 6 a.m. to help prepare a special breakfast of noodles for the children and pastries for us, the other missionaries, and some of the staff. Later in the morning, Christmas church took place and we participated by singing special music, upon request of the Pastor here. Next on the list was passing out Christmas gifts to each of the 132 children and 27 caretakers.
Since the Waids were home, in America, for the holidays, we were blessed with the opportunity of giving the children their gifts. We have never seen the children more cooperative and silent as they anxiously waited to receive their presents. As each child's name was called, his/her face would light up with indescribable joy. They were completely beside themselves with excitement. In the late afternoon, Shati prepared an absolutely decadent Christmas feast for us.
We felt so blessed to have such an amazing meal to complete our holiday in Bangladesh. A few staff also joined us to eat, providing friendly company and conversation.
Celebrating Christmas so far from home was tough, but what we experienced was incredibly valuable. We both realized how important it is to focus on the real reason for Christmas. It isn't about the commercialism around us to make us feel like the holiday is upon us, but the celebration of how Jesus came to Earth and gave us life- something that we always believed but were never truly forced to put into practice. We could never deny that our Christmas here was hard in many ways, but the memories we have made will stay with us always and will forever be a light in each new holiday season to come. We are truly blessed!
Being on the other side of world for the family centered holiday of Thanksgiving left us both missing home even more than usual. Thanksgiving is not celebrated here in Bangladesh; so, we decided this year it would at least be celebrated at Bangla Hope. A package from Logan and Mrs. Carter had arrived in the mail a few days previous to the holiday and to our delight it contained numerous Thanksgiving decorations and sweets to help us feel a bit closer to home.
Thanksgiving began earlier in the morning than we had anticipated. The pastor's wife, Lichil, was pregnant and we often spend time at their apartment which is right below ours. We had given her our cell phone number in case she ever had an emergency or needed something. Both of us were groggy and disoriented when the ringing phone awakened us at 2:30 a.m. Pastor Panuel was on the other line. He said Lichil was crying, screaming and unable to sleep because of the excruciating pain she was experiencing. Quickly, we threw on clothes and stumbled out the door and down the stairs. Unfortunately, there wasn't much we could do to make her misery subside. So, we offered the one thing we could, prayer. Afterwards, we sat and talked for about an hour. Thankfully our prayers were answered and Lichil began to feel slightly better. We made sure she was comfortably settled on her bed, then headed back to our room to get a few more hours of sleep.
Soon we were awakened again. This time by the familiar tune of the alarm. We hurried down to the kitchen and
whipped up some mini pumpkin spice cupcakes as a special surprise for our classes. We also made a math color by number turkey worksheet, read a fall book, and showed dried leaves sent from home. Our students were delighted to take part in the celebration and thoroughly enjoyed the whole event.
Shati, the head cook here at Bangla Hope, knows about Thanksgiving feasting and worked hard to make us feel at home. She prepared a beautiful dinner for us complete with staple pumpkin pie. We used the decorations from our package to spice up the table setting. One of the families on campus joined us for our meal and we were happy to have some extra company.
In the evening, when we had finished all our duties and teaching for the day,
we stopped to check on how Lichil was feeling. She had stayed home from teaching that day and was therefore feeling more energized and positive. As we were getting ready to leave their home, Panual asked us if we could all have worship first. We then proceeded to have a nice little "family" worship. At the end, Panuel said he wanted us to give a middle name for their baby girl on the way. Both of us felt so blessed and honored. These are the moments that will be forever cherished and remembered. Sometimes it is especially difficult to be away from home, and it seems as though we aren't having any impact at all. Then in those times of fellowship we can clearly see that God did indeed send us to Bangladesh. So, this Thanksgiving, though far from home, we gave thanks for the opportunity of a lifetime.
Here are a few things that our students said they were thankful for:
"I'm thankful for smiles!" -Shonna, Class 1
"I'm thankful that I can come here at Bangla Hope" -Amy, Class 1
"I'm thankful that I stink" Johnny, Class 3 (In reference to his reoccurring gastric distress)
"I'm thankful that Jesus gave me life." Joni, Class 3
"I'm thank you to God because this is my first time to learn recorder and I'm thankful to Cassie and Elise for these cake pumpkin and to teaching us recorder. Thank you!" -Kakoli, Class 4
-Elise & Cassie
