Hello readers! Right now, many of you are preparing for
Thanksgiving this week. Turkey ’s
are being bought, families are coming together, and pie is everywhere…. Mhhmm
pie is good. On the other hand, since there is no Thanksgiving in Northern Ireland ,
we get to start thinking about Christmas! Jenna and I have already started
playing Christmas music (we’re in love with Michael Buble’s Christmas album)
and we are currently planning a lovely Christmas party for the kids at R.I.O.T!
Today, our team went to the Continental Christmas Market in Belfast . This market has
everything! Jenna and I decided to do some Christmas shopping for our families.
As I looked around and tried to think of what they would like, I realized how
hard Christmas was going to be without them. I wondered if it would feel like
Christmas at all. I thought about our traditions, decorations, and food and how
I was going to miss it all this year… Especially the food.
But then we went into a small shop. The shop owner made
beautiful pictures and signs that all had inspirational and positive quotes. There
were so many quotes. She had them in frames, small booklets, and pictures of
all different sizes. Clearly a lot of hard work and design had gone into her
work. I felt so inspired! We chatted for a few minutes and she was such a happy
and encouraging person. I thought, what a way to spend your life by giving other
people hope and encouragement. Then I realized that’s exactly why I’m here. I’m
in Ireland
to bring hope to people. To tell them of the love Jesus has for them, and to
serve them in any way possible. Isn’t that what Christmas is about? Having
hope. Serving others. And being grateful for the love Christ has for us? It may
seem basic, but this basic realization hit me like a brick wall.
This year we’re getting back to the roots of what Christmas really
means. Consider today an early Christmas present. How are you going to make it
matter?
(Group photo! These are some of the other interns that we work with)
