December/January Update

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. I hope that your Christmas and New Year's celebrations were Christ filled and spent with family and friends. Christmas for us here in Zambia was pretty quiet and restful. The four of us missionaries in Zimba had a meal together and took a much needed nap. I cooked up a rack of lamb and it turned out very tasty.
The way the Zambians celebrate Christmas is somewhat different than how it is celebrated in the US . For them it all revolves around the Church. In each Church, people give a few Kwacha so some food can be bought. They have a meal together on Christmas Day. There is a church service that is held on Christmas Day itself. It usually lasts all day or most of it anyway. They sing and dance, do some skits and have a message. After all these are finished, they have the meal. The meal consists of nsima, chicken, and vegetables. By the time they are done eating, it is getting dark so everyone heads for home. They usually do not exchange gifts with one another.
There is an extreme split here. There are those who go to Church on Christmas Day, and those who go to the bar. That is how the day is spent. Very few people stay home for Christmas. So the town is loud with music and the people at the bars.
How did you celebrate Christmas?
The New Year's celebration was very similar. Those who go to Church usually go on New Year's Eve, in the evening, and spend the night. They have an overnight prayer meeting. The night is filled with prayers of thanksgiving for allowing them to see the New Year, and prayers for the upcoming year. Other people go to the bar. The town is loud with people yelling and firecrackers going off all night.
The four of us just visited with each other and had a New Year's BBQ. It was a good time, and again we got some much needed rest. I think we were all in bed by 9:00 pm.
How did you welcome in the New Year?
Thank you for your continued support. The prayer and the financial support is very much appreciated