Christmas Cheer!

It has been a great week of spreading Christmas cheer here in Mundri! I will tell you about the week through pictures.

 Our teammate, Justin worked at a Christian High School before he moved to South Sudan. This year, students from that school did their own version "operation Christmas child" and sent items for children here in Mundri. As a staff, we had the privilege of creating gift bags for specific children that we know in town. It was so much fun to hand-pick gifts for these children that we have come to love so quickly! The above picture is Heather and Larissa after beautifully wrapping gifts for children in the area.

I have become friends with a family who lives in town. I visit them about once a week and practice language with them. I was able to bring a bag of Christmas gifts for the children on this compound. This bag included coloring books, colored pencils, a jump rope, a Children's Bible and candy. They were thrilled!

Each time that we delivered gifts to a compound this week, we also shared the Christmas story with the children. We explained to them that Christmas is not just about getting gifts, but that the main reason for Christmas is Jesus. At the compound pictured above, I read the Christmas story while Larissa translated into Moru. The parents were so excited that we were telling the children about Jesus! They asked if we would come more often to read Bible stories to their children.

Yesterday, my language helper, Mary, and I decorated Christmas cookies! I taught her how to make cookies while she taught me to say what we were doing in Moru. It was such a fun lesson! We brought these cookies to the children at her compound and to the staff at the Episcopal Church Office. 

These are some of the beautiful children at Mary's compound enjoying the cookies.

It was a great week! I am so grateful for so many opportunities this week to share the true Christmas story with some of the children in Mundri. We are extremely grateful for the students and staff at Justrin's school at home who sent so many wonderful toys and gifts for the children. It was a great way to share some Christmas cheer with so many people here in Mundri!

Children at Mary's compound showing off their new toys