Christmas Memories

- December 28, 2009

Ok, so they are not exactly memories per se, rather glimpses of Christmas here in Ceiba this past week...and by glimpses I mean a shot of the church and host of shots from the Youth Group Christmas dinner this past Sunday...I'm losing my touch as a crack photographer. I spent my Christmas holiday in church, at Marla's house and holed up in my home on the 25th, cleaning like a madman, drinking coffee by the gallon and singing through the Christmas section of the Mennonite Hymnal. It was a little different to be sure but I enjoyed it and was happy for a few days of rest and relaxation.

I have to be honest when I say I was a mite disappointed with the Christmas Eve Service at Church. We were there for nearly 2 hours and spent 3/4ths of the time singing everyday worship music. I went home that night after my 4-course midnight meal at Marla's and happened upon a Candlelight Service being broadcast out of the First United Methodist Church of Dallas, Texas. While it reminded me of nearly all the reasons why I'm not a Methodist, it did also bring me back to Christmas memories spent at my Grandparents' church at St. John's United Methodist and I got to hear some glorious Christmas Carols...which I was needing.

Preparing for the 1 & 1/2 minute live Nativity Scene in the front of the church.

This was perhaps the fastest sequence of Christ's birth that I've ever seen - they marched up the aisle, posed for some photos and marched off without even so much as narration.

This past Sunday the Youth Group got together at a member's house and had a big Christmas Dinner celebration and Gift Exchange. It was quite a time.

Norman basking in the glow of the Christmas Star...or his own glory, I'm not sure which.

Wishing You & Yours A Frighteningly Red Christmas!

Konrad was given a pair of sandals for his gift...he's laughing out of frustration.
Let me explain - Hondurans make fun of Gringos here because they say we all dress like Hippies and go about like every day is a beach day. One of the hallmarks of a Gringo is their emphatic and ridiculous use of sandals. Thus the gift of yet another pair of sandals is mind-boggling and perplexing. If they don't want us traipsing around town like a pack of Bohemians then why would they buy us more accesories for the get-up?
Hence the laugh.

...and Daddy got a shirt.

Brought my sidekick Christian along for the ride.

You can always tell a party's going well when the guests resort to playing Chinese Checkers and then collapse from the sheer boredom.

Konrad's Cougar Face

Tino is not very bright...and a bit pigheaded too. When we drew names over a month ago he drew his own name but neglected to tell anyone...he was conflicted you see. He's notoriously cheap but also likes to receive gifts. He liked the idea of not having to buy anyone a gift and thereby spend money...that is of course until we arrived at the actual dinner and everyone began to give and receive; except for him. His countenance quickly changed and he became like a little child. So we did what any good friends would do, we made fun of him and took lots of fotos of us trying to "cheer him up" with scrounged up gifts from around the house. We offered him everything from a ceramic egg-holder...