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The main family
celebration is on Christmas Eve as people join together late at night in
their gardens and eat their Christmas supper under the stars with the
perfume of the "flor de coco" permeating the warm air. The latter
comes from one of the varieties of palm tree - it's like a huge brown
seed pod of a metre long, which splits open to reveal a creamy yellow
centre and a wonderful aroma.
In most cases the food will be very ordinary as the families just
survive from day to day, but for those who love the Lord, it will be a
special time to give thanks for his birth and for his love that brought
him here to this earth. " Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he
became poor, so that through his poverty we might become rich"
2Corinthians 8:9
The key to everything is Jesus himself. It is he who brings us new
life and who unites us all, despite our cultural differences. Perhaps
one of our greatest challenges as Christians is how to express more
effectively this oneness - our interdependence - and use well the
resources that God has given to us all, so that we can share our faith
and practical love with others
During the weekend of January 15th -16th, we shall be sharing more about
the church in Paraguay at Aldridge Parish church. We look forward to
that opportunity of getting to know many more of you and also renewing
many old friendships.
Emmanuel - God IS with us - May he strengthen and guide us as we go into
2005 to face whatever lies ahead--with him.
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