Merry Christmas, a series of thoughts…

I hope everyone, either who reads this blog or happens upon it, is having a great time friends and family. Hopefully those of you on the East Coast or the northern part of the Midwest are not receiving too much snow, but then again, a "white" Christmas is always nice. I say this of course because I am from Michigan and it is usually a miracle to NOT receive snow by Thanksgiving, I kid you not. But I digress…

Today started off late for me, I believe the family gathered together before 9AM. I say late because I can think back to the Christmases past, where we would be up at 5AM, waiting for my parents to wake up so we could have cinnamon rolls, rummage through our stockings, and get to the best part, opening presents. But I'm more mature now and the anticipation does not get to me as it once did. Ah, the excitement of youth! 

I was thinking about where I was six to seven weeks ago, to being back in Kijabe, Kenya for the duration of three months. I thought about the IDP camp where we spent two days a week. I thought about the parents who were trying to provide for their families, one meal a day; to their homes, which are really tarps not tents and could not keep out the elements; to the children who would wake up today with very little, if not anything for Christmas. It is miserable to think about that people in such squaller and filth, who cannot enjoy a simple holiday with all of the festivities because they cannot afford to participate in it. 

But there was some hope in my memories. I thought about Otto, whom received new clothes and the first new pair of shoes he had ever received. I was remind of how John's family received a coffee table and how Naomi received a bunk bed for her children. I thought about how the girls on the team gave a few weeks worth of groceries to four or five different families.

I am also reminded of the work that the Kenya Initiative is doing. If you have not had a chance to check out their cause and subsequently, their blog, then I would suggest doing so. Liz Martin (one of the members), posted a great blog on "Our Trash, Their Treasure." The work is being laid and I am excited to see what becomes of this dream. 

Well, I think that about does it for my thoughts today. Again have a Merry Christmas, and for the Canadians and Britons, have a great Boxing Day tomorrow.