Are you ready?

Greetings from South Sudan!  It is hard to believe that tomorrow is Christmas Eve, especially when it is over 100 degrees during the day!

The question that Fr. David, our parish priest, has been asking in almost every homily during Advent has been "are you ready"?  Are you ready for Christ to come into your life on Christmas?  Advent is the time of preparation and I have had lots to prepare for over the last couple of weeks.  While most of the preparation has been for Christmas and the birth of Jesus, there have also been preparations for midterm exams (which finished up this past Friday), and there have also been preparations for my dad's visit and our pilgrimage to the Holy Land in less than a week.  So many things to be excited and thankful for!

This morning over breakfast, Tom and I were talking about how today would be such a good day in America.  We would spend time with family and friends, watch some football, and enjoy the snow.  We discussed how different it was than in America and how it doesn't feel like Christmas due to the hot weather, not being with our family, and a lack of Christmas lights and trees.  It's different, but it is a good different.  Johnny, a volunteer from Italy, then beautifully stated, "But guys, the work you are doing here is so wonderful.  The joy you are sharing with all of the children, you are helping children that desperately need the help and true presence that you are providing."  It reminded me of a song that we have been singing while caroling in the villages titled "Christmas is a time to love."  So true.  Christmas is about what is in out hearts, not about snow, trees, or what's on TV.  Christmas is a time to love.  

This will probably be the last post of the year until I return from the Holy Land, but I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!  God bless!