Christmas Abroad

Happy New Year’s Everyone!! 2019!!

In all my travels, I somehow managed to spend Christmas with my family every year. This year I wasn't with them. For those of you who know me, know that Christmas to me isn’t about presents or food. I know ultimately it’s about Jesus, but a close second is my family. I love spending time with my family. There’s a break from the busyness of farm life. School’s out for a few weeks. Gardening and canning is out of season. It’s cold and snowy outside. Warm and cozy inside. What’s not to love about Christmas with family in Canada?! I still think it’s ideal, but this year I wasn’t there.

For the last few months, Colin and I discussed whether I would go home for Christmas. But I didn’t want to leave him for so long. I remember last winter too well, when we were apart for 106 days. I knew it wouldn’t be as long as that, but it kind of needs to be at least a month, for it to be worth the flight over. We both knew it wouldn’t be financially wise to both go over and Colin wouldn’t be able to leave his job for that length of time anyway. We decided to miss Christmas with my family this time. It wasn’t easy and I’m looking forward to spending next Christmas with them, Lord willing. But we just made a few changes to the usual Christmas traditions and I was ok.

Something God taught me was that there is a difference between celebrating the birth of Jesus and Christmas traditions. I decided to focus on Jesus rather than what I was missing out on. Mary and Joseph didn’t spend ‘Christmas’ at home either. I could celebrate Jesus just as well in a warm country, away from my family, as in Canada with them. At first, I felt guilty for not wanting to attend events that tried to recreate Christmas in the West, with the music, trees, lights, and food. But all that did was remind me of home, which then got me close to turning on the waterworks. So we did all kinds of other fun things that I’ve never done for Christmas before. I wasn’t denying Christmas, just shifting my focus. It’s been interesting. Here’s a few photos of our Christmas in Cambodia. And I actually wouldn’t mind if some of those turned into Christmas traditions for the Chen family 😊

A few weeks before Christmas, we went to the beach for a few days, for a retreat with Colin's staff.

Railway Community Christmas Party! Games, drama, sharing the Gospel, praying, gifts, and food. It was lots of fun!

Christmas Eve Dinner #1. We had a lovely buffet dinner with our dear Mama Ruth. Can't believe we didn't get a picture with her. Guess we were enjoying it too much to think of taking a photos.

  

After dinner, we went to Ruth's house and she showered us with cute gifts. One of them was these snow-covered trees. My little winter forest in Phnom Penh.

 
Christmas Eve Dinner #2. I'm grateful for all our friends here.


Christmas morning - Fast food breakfast


And then watched Mary Poppins Returns


Spent some time walking the mall after.


Came home and cooked dinner to share with our new friends.
They just moved to Cambodia a few weeks ago and were also missing celebrating Christmas with family. Showed them around the city after dinner. God is true to His word and provides family when we say 'Yes' to Him. It was a fun evening!

 
Online Christmas celebration with my family. I thought it might be hard seeing them, and not being there. It wasn't that bad and it help me feel so beautifully loved and included. I'm glad we did it and for how well the internet cooperated. 


As you can tell, internet wasn't quite perfect, but it's already so much better than snail mail.

Between Christmas and New Years I cleaned and organized. 

It's such a good feeling to once again know whats in our house and where it s.

I also made tamales. Colin approved of the the taste, so I'll call it a success :) 

Helped my friends run some errands one morning. Still get a little nervous driving a car in this city, but can't turn down the adventure of doing it.

Got to hang out with this princess while my friends did their shopping.

New Years Eve with our friends. So much food! Thank you Liza once again! 

Also, it's been one year since this beautiful, romantic night! A lot has happened since then and it hasn't all been easy, but I'd say 'yes' again in a heartbeat. I love this man with all my heart!

As much as I would've loved to be with my family for this season, it's been beautiful and meaningful in it's own way. I'm glad we said 'yes' to Jesus and to Cambodia. Full of love, adventure, and faith!