Who: Don & I

What: Silent Night

Where: San Juan de Lurigancho, Lima, Peru

Why: It’s my favorite time of the year

When: Tis the season (to be jolly)

Here we are, in a rather warm climate, (it is South America remember) celebrating Jesus’ birth! I can’t help but notice the differences and the things which seem to be missing. In our city there are no malls, Santa to visit, performances of the Nutcracker, concerts, few decorated houses, and there is no chill in the air to encourage chestnuts roasting on an open fire, or hot chocolate and marshmallows! Children may very well have dreams as never before, and wishes may be granted, I don’t know. But what I do know is we still get into the spirit and will celebrate the reason for the season - the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ!

Our home is decorated! Yep, shortly after Thanksgiving, with the wreath being placed on the door first thing! The candle centerpiece on the dining room table and Christmas music are the simple chores. Don even participates in this annual, pre-holiday undertaking. He is the ‘light’ man. There are more lights on the balcony this year. At dusk he makes sure they are turned on and blinking in the appropriate sequence and just before hitting the sack he makes sure the little white lights are turned off. I don’t have to worry about the lights! The tree is decorated in traditional red and gold shiny ornaments which reflect the white lights and it is brilliant! A few Peruvian ornaments were added this year, some candy canes and there are two tiny santa stockings hung with care. The nativity sets (there are 3) are carefully set up for us and our visitors to enjoy. One is very typical, with a moss covered floor and roof, several figurines including the animals; another sits on a small Peruvian blanket (about 5 x 6 inches) and the figures include musicians! The third is in a matchbox. Just slide it open and there you will find Mary, Joseph, and Baby Jesus. We have both English and Spanish Christmas CDs and of course 104.7 the FISH to enjoy throughout December.

We have been propagating some coleus plants to give as gifts to some friends who have pretty much adopted us this past year and include us in their family activities quite often. The plant that has a red velvety center, similar to the shape of a heart, in the middle of the green leaves, is called “the heart of Jesus” here by the Peruvians! Checks were sent by mail to our kids for shopping for themselves and our grandkids. I’m not so sure they enjoy the extra shopping responsibilities, but from our point of view it’s great to have elves doing this for us!

We have hosted two ‘parties in a backpack’. You may have read earlier communications with an explanation, but for those of you who don’t know….we take home baked blonde brownies, no-bake chocolate oatmeal cookies, punch, a Christmas craft, paint, brushes, glitter (of course!), and music along with a friend to tell the Christmas story from Luke, to both Pat’s Place and Hope House every year the first weekend in December.

We have visited a local (1.5 hours from home) upscale community to enjoy a walk through the park (literally) and see the handcrafts available for purchase, have lunch, and take in the seasonal atmosphere of window shopping and city square decorations.

And, yet to come, next week…baking for the vendors from whom we buy our fruit, vegetables, eggs, bread and ice cream bars! (That’s 5 goody bags to make up.) Baking for our Senior Adult Christmas party and company’s coming Monday night (for 18 days). They are really visiting other family members, but are staying at our place because there is more room in our inn!

We have accepted an invitation to the home of a Christian friend Gabby (Sheyla’s Mom) for their family Christmas eve celebration, and will be taking a birthday cake with us – after all it is a birthday party celebrating Jesus’ birth!

Sounds like we are all set! What are we missing? We are missing YOU! Our family and friends and the wonderful time we could be spending together. But that’s okay because we look forward to your emails and F/B messages, your attached photos and newsletters. We even hang them up on our door much like some of you do with your cards that arrive in the snail mail.

Peru is a predominantly Catholic (87%) country. The city we live in is one of the poorer suburbs of Lima. These two factors in themselves tend to make the celebrations ‘different’ in many ways. But our desire is to simply bring about a feeling of Christmas year round. Maybe we can’t leave the tree and lights up, but we can certainly celebrate with passion every day, the birth of our Lord Jesus, his life, death, resurrection and His coming again! We share this reason for the season all year long.

We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!