Christmas 2008

Christmas 2008 was the first time the church group in Darjeeling has celebrated Christmas, though it probably looked quite different from yours. Certainly Christmas on this side of the world passes fairly quietly and definitely without insane marketing! About 25 people met for a meal, singing, and a Christmas story. Before and after lunch the group watched the Jesus film in Nepali. There is almost a complete lack of Christian media in the Nepali language in this area so everyone was completely engrossed, hearing the gospel according to Luke in their own language. They can also relate to many aspects of the culture and lifestyle as it was portrayed for that time. One man from Nepal who'd come as a guest with a friend refused the urgings of his friend to leave early so that he could see the whole thing. Jonathan's parents were here visiting, too, so we had extra special guests with us for the day! Here Mom Janet cuts the Christmas cake while the kids eagerly wait for their piece.



Jonathan's father Neil shared with the group the real meaning of Christmas. One lady afterward told us that though she'd been a Christian for several years she had never understood it until then.



Some gifts were shared with the children. They love badminton!



Kusum & Neha. Notice the scarf & hooded jacket and coats in other pictures? It was cold! The church room was probably about 50F. We couldn't get the gas pipe off the stove to run the heater but no one was surprised or dismayed by that in the least - except maybe our loved ones from Texas!!



Sorry we didn't get more pictures! We'll try to do better about that next time.