Another Christmas in the Philippines

At a recent Christmas party with our fellow NCLA missionaries, our party host opened with a prayer saying, “For some of us God this is our first Christmas in the Philippines so please give us peace.” Five Christmas’s later we still pray the same. It’s true, Cirena grew up here in the Philippines and still has family who we visit each Christmas which gives some level of joy, but it is also true that our closest family is still in the States or in Canada. Cirena’s sister is in Albuquerque with her family as well as our three grown son’s, two of whom are now married providing us with two precious grandsons, and that’s not to mention our family in Canada. So how do we survive another Christmas in the Philippines away from loved ones? Using the Filipino term for Christmas, PASKO, I will use that as an acrostic along with the other Filipino words to help explain.

Pagsamba: Worshiping and praising God for Who He is and for sacrificially sending His own some to come and live among us so as to die on the cross as a once and for all perfect atonement for our sin. Jesus is the Reason for the Season!

Awitan: Singing, specifically songs of worship in the form of Christmas carols. One Christmas a few years ago when I was away from home I received a special letter of appreciation for Christmas Caroling on Christmas Eve to other’s in the same boat as me.

Saklolo: Responding to a call for help. Christmas is always an excellent time to give above and beyond, sometimes just to be a blessing to others around, other times to really provide for Christmas joy they might not know or experience otherwize.

Kaibigan: Friends make all the difference. We are so grateful for the relationships that we have built here helping to make Christmas in the Philippines a true blessing. We are grateful to for all those in the States & Canada that remember at this time of year.

Okoy: I’m not sure what that is except that it is a kind of food with this, that, and the other thing; meaning to say, let’s eat and be merry, remembering to share with those around us who are less fortunate then we. Merry Christmas to all & Happy New Year!