Christmas in Romania

Sarah and I have spent the past week in Galati, Romania visiting her brother John. He works at a center with children from very poor homes. The center provides the children with one meal a day, showers, clothing, tutoring, counceling, devotions and worship time, and love! Because it was a vacation week, the activity at the center was a little different. On Monday, the kids put on a Christmas show for their parents and sibilings. It was really cute...the kids did a great job! After the show, the children presented their siblings with Operation Christmas Child boxes (that they had to "earn" by doing work around the center). Each year my family puts together boxes for Operation Christmas Child...it is one of my favorite parts of Christmas. This year I was able to see the faces of children who recieve them! What a gift to witness the joy on their faces!
The next two evenings were spent caroling with the children. The first night we went around to many of the children's homes. The second night was to the homes of people who support the center. Since the carols were in Romanian, I was mostly singing jiberish :) What I enjoyed most about those evenings was the relationship I build with one of the girls (each adult was paired with a child). She taught me some words in Romanian but most of our communication was through hugs, laughing, and making faces.
On Christmas Eve, we had an all-nighter at a local family's home. We played games, did crafts, decorated cookies, sang carols, had a time of reflection and thanksgiving, affirmed the children, ate a delicious Romanian meal, the kids opened their Christmas gifts (Operation Christmas Child boxes), and we watched movies until morning! The most precious moment of the evening was when one of the little girls opened her box and there was a baby doll on top (Just what she'd asked Santa for!)...she closed the box and wasn't interested in looking at anything else :) She was so excited! These kids will forever hold a special place in my heart.
Christmas day...after sleeping a few hours (we were all tired from the all-nighter), we spent the majority of the day in the kitchen :) Pancakes, coffee, mimosas, fruit and chocolate...what a yummy breakfast! Then more food prep for dinner with friends in the evening...I made Grandma Smallegan's wonderful egg nog (they had never had egg nog before!) and Sarah and John made a broccoli casserole and apple crisp. The best part was surprising my family with a skype call! It as so good to see them and just talk. I later realized that was the first time we had really "seen" each other since I left (my internet always makes the video freeze when we talk on skype). What a great Christmas present!!! What a wonderful Christmas...