Belatedly, Christmas celebration #3

I just got these from Lizzy. Now you can visualize the finale of the three Christmas celebrations.

Following our Christmas day in Soshanguve with Granny's family, Sarah and I rushed over to Lizzy's house, where she and her brother had prepared (another) Christmas dinner for us: roasted leg of lamb, roasted potatoes, potato salad, baby marrow, and an amazing marble cake for dessert. When Lizzy prayed for our meal, she thanked God for a celebration "with both fake family and real family." Sarah said much the same: that each of our Christmas celebrations took place with "friends who felt like family." Happy Christmas. :)

Table and food


Serving ourselves


Just the girls

Prayer for the New Year

On New Year's Eve, Sarah led us in a responsive reading during our community check-in & prayer time. The reading ended with a prayer, which I thought I would share here:

Eternal Father, you have placed us in a world of space and time, and through the events of our lives, you bless us with your love. Grant that in this new year we may know your presence, see your love at work, and live in the light of the event that gives us joy forever--the coming of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

How I spent my New Year's

A little time in the pool






















Lizzy decided to dye her hair pink for the new year:






















Sarah and I joined her (in the dyeing, not in the pinkness)

















Fireworks at the Wards'






















Sparklers before the rain (instead of at midnight)

Christmas Day at Granny's

Dayna, Tony, Sarah, and I all drove out to Soshanguve mid-day on Christmas to celebrate with Granny and the family. We hung out with Granny's family, ate chicken & pap, and exchanged small gifts white-elephant style. They loved the cookies the girls had decorated the night before! During the afternoon, we read the Christmas story from the Bible together, and then Dayna played guitar as we sang Christmas carols. The family loved learning "Little Drummer Boy," and after we sang the carol, Dayna talked about how Jesus gave himself to us at Christmas. The boy in the song brought the gift that he had—himself—to Jesus. In the same way, Jesus gave himself to us. As I sat in the midst of this family who has welcomed me in, who has given of themselves to me so richly, I saw a reflection of Christ's love in Granny's family. I am so thankful to minister both to and with this family… and to be ministered to by them.

Me and Tshegofatso






















Tshegofatso and Lungile






















Dayna, Pretty, Emily, Annah, and baby Douglas: singing carols together

















Christmas dinner #1: chicken, pap, chakalaka, coleslaw... and gingerbread and sugar cookies






















Me, Emily, Dayna, Granny, Annah, Alex, Pretty, and Sarah: wearing our hats from the Christmas crackers!

Christmas Morning

The R15 Christmas tree in all its glory (please note the origami penguin in the middle)





















We traded names and did Christmas stockings for each other. The Christmas stockings being cool socks into which we stuffed various gifts. Here's Busi with hers...





















What I called the Magnificent and Wondrous Christmas Breakfast.
















Eating breakfast in the living room