This is the 6th country I've celebrated Christmas in: Australia, China, Kazakhstan, Scotland, Peru and now Tanzania. It's really been a great day and a fun time leading up to to Christmas.
At school we counted down to the holidays by popping balloons! Each student also had a stocking for giving and receiving small gifts and notes of encouragement. It was so much fun. We also did a few craft activities. Even though it was just last week it seems like ages since school finished. I'm still trying to get my head around Christmas holidays marking the halfway point of the year rather than the end.
The last day of school was the school Christmas production. I got to organise it this year which was stressful but hugely rewarding. I even got some flowers at the end....so special! The kids were amazing and all 80+ had a part. I was so happy with how it went. Learning lines is hard anyway, but for half the students who are still learning English it was a huge achievement! A lot of the children and parents do not have a Christian background, so what a special way to hear and interact with the Christmas story...perhaps in some cases for the first time :)
Our house has been looking all Christmassy too! Stacy (co-director of our organisation) gave us all stockings with special things in them. So sweet! We also have a Christmas tree and did secret Santa with all the single gals. I even bought the cat and dogs some presents...haha
Yesterday we had a carols service at church for Christmas Eve. There were heaps of candles strung across the room and it created such a beautiful atmosphere for worship. We also had another church service this morning. I just love being part of this church. It makes me feel so at home here, knowing I have a church family.
After church I called family back home and got to open some gifts that I had been looking longingly at for weeks! It is always so special to have something to open and I'm so thankful to be able to talk with family! I then cooked a yummy Pavlova that actually worked. In the arvo I went for Christmas dinner with a German family from church as well as another few church families. It really made Christmas feel special - the food and company were just amazing.
So that is Christmas on this side of the world - not so very different but definitely special. Tomorrow is the start of another adventure as I begin to climb Kilimanjaro, hopefully summiting on New Year's Day!
Happy Christmas and a super new year!
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