Christmas Eve 2011

Christmas Chameleon

It is Christmas Eve here in Nairobi, and the kids are already tucked in. Our three dogs are keeping watch for Santa as we head to bed as well. It was a great day of preparing for Christmas. We even braved the crowds at Village Market for lunch, on the way home we were met by this chameleon as he tip toed across our gate. Emma, our lizard hunter, scooped him up and made sure that his passage across our yard didn't meet any trouble from Henry, Reese or Hermione.

Emma with her new friend

Emma lighting the Advent candles for our

family Christmas Eve Service

After our Christmas Eve service, we followed our tradition of cuddling together in the living room and watching It's a Wonderful Life with Chinese take-out. Ava was beside herself with excitement for Christmas morning. The one present we all open on Christmas Eve is always new pyjamas, which is fun, but Ava has her sights on the packages under the tree.

For all our family and friends in Canada and around the world, we hope that you are enjoying a blessed Christmas Eve. May the Lord fill your Christmas with joy and laughter!

M e r r y C h r i s t m a s !!!

Fourth Week of Advent

Today begins the fourth week of Advent

We shared in a family Advent candle lighting time this morning before going to worship at the International Christian Fellowship where we joined some friends from Eastleigh. Aaron preached again this Sunday on the Christmas story, and we had a great afternoon visiting with our guests. This had been their first time to our church and they really loved the worship music and the friendly people.

The Christmas Poinsettia growing outside our bedroom

Good-bye supper with our friend Melissa

Many of our friends are travelling home for Christmas this year (we are so jealous!). On Saturday, we enjoyed some time with our friend Melissa Dunning, before her departure.

All evening, Ava made her way around

the house in her pink roller skates

-- She is our little Tootie!

Hermione & Reese wanting to follow us to church this morning,

Henry was content to nap!

Second Week of Advent 2011

For the Second Sunday of Advent, we joined our friends Matt and Venessa and their family for the baptism of their daughter, Evelyn. We had the honour of standing in for her godparents during the service. Although the worship was mostly in Kiswahili, it was a joy to be a part of this community in Haruma as they read scripture, prayed, and sang without instruments.

During Evelyn's baptism at the Haruma Catholic Church

Erica and Tristan after the morning service

After the service, we had some time to visit the ministries of the sisters who care for many vulnerable seniors, handicapped children and orphans.

St. Theresa's Sisters of Charity Orphanage

It was wonderful to see how loved and cared for

the little ones are by the sisters.

Emma making a little friend

Advent 2011

Advent Begins

We have always loved Advent and celebration of Christmas, but since coming to Kenya in 2006 it has become such a important part of our year as a way to help our family feel connected to our traditions and Canadian roots. It is fun to share these traditions with our Muslim friends as we learn from each other. Here are a few snap shots from our first week of Advent.

Ava Singing in her Preschool Class Choir

Ava playing the role of the kind inn keeper

in her pre-school Christmas pageant

Ava doing the "Makarena" at the close of

the Montesouri Christmas Concert

Mommy & Ava after the concert

So proud of our tiny dancer!

Noor Christmas Party

Erica and our friend Patrick

Ava playing with the ladies in our backyard

Merry Christmas from the Noor Self Help Group!

HIV and AIDS Advent Journey

A d v e n t

Our friend and colleague, Patty Card, just sent us this wonderful link for an HIV and AIDS Advent Calendar that we are now reading each day as we journey through Advent. We invite you to follow the link below and join us as we pray for the power, and presence, of Jesus the Emmanuel (God with us!), to come into the lives of people infected and affected by HIV and AIDS.

Please pray this Advent for the countless families of Subsaharan Africa that are struggling with issues of health, poverty and insecurity. May the light of hope in Christ, dispel the darkness within all of our lives this Christmas!

Online Advent Calendar

http://server68.hostpoint.ch/~eallian/adventcalendar/

Advent 2009

Advent candles mark our journey

as we prepare for the coming of Christ

Emma lighting the first advent candle

"In the beginning when God created

the heavens and the earth..."

Genesis 1:1

Our Advent Wreath

This year we are using a little booklet called "The Messengers for the Messiah" by Peter Mead as inspiration for our family advent devotions and candle lighting. Each day we gathering to pray and meditate on a different messenger (someone or something that points us to Jesus). Based on the themes in Mead's booklet, we will light five candles over the coming weeks. Today we lit the CREATION CANDLE: throughout this week we will be thinking about the ways that God communicates with us through creation.

We're decking the halls and trimming our tree

On Saturday, we had a wonderful rainy day at home decorating for Christmas. Since moving to Kenya, Christmas has become an important link to our memories and experiences of life in Canada. For some reason, the smoke of a fire and smell of apple cider steaming on the stove help us feel connected to a long a deep past.

New Traditions

Along with the old, we are incorporating new traditions into our Kenyan Christmas celebrations. One of our favorites has been making our own wrapping paper. We gather all the old markers, crayons, and coloured pencils together and start drawing and colouring our images of winter and Christmas on old newsprint and flip chart pads. The real fun is just sitting together and joking around with our kids.

A little masterpiece!