Christmas Eve was a big day. For several hours before church we heard the loud bell ringing to call all the people. We walked to church at 8:20 a.m. for the service, which started at 9. The place was already packed! I had not been to a place where the people were so early! We worshiped in liturgical style for over an hour in the Indonesian language. We sang "Joy to the World", in the same language "Hai Dunia Gembiralah, dan sambut Rajamu!"
After church everyone flowed out of the service to mingle in the streets. It is culturally appropriate to shake hands and greet everyone. Can you spot Nate in the crowd? We learned the morning greeting, "Pagi!" and the greeting for Christmas, "Selamat Hari Natal".
We really got a taste of local culture when we were invited to a wedding feast. I tried to mingle with the Indonesian ladies using a few words I had learned, but mostly I just got them to laugh at me trying to speak. I noticed the houses we visited all had nice tile floors and many decorations on the walls. Here in the Philippines a lot of floors and walls are just cement and there are not as many decorations. Perhaps that is for a number of reasons, one being that there is gold and spices available for trade in Indonesia. Indonesia is where the spice islands are located, and we even picked some clove leaves and cinnamon leaves right off the trees.
The unusual specialty foods that were served to us while we were in Indonesia were DOG, RAT, and BAT. Also the food was VERY spicy and I almost exploded! Here is a picture of the dog before they cooked it for lunch.
Here is that same dog being barbequed for the feast. Oh, I tell you I was not brave enough to try eating any of these three items.
After a few tears were shed over the fact that it was my first Christmas in my life away from my family, I was finally able to praise God that we can celebrate Christ anywhere in the world. We had a very special celebration that night as a "family" in Christ. We had rice and chicken for dinner with ice cream and fudge for dessert. Then we sang carols just like my family does. We also included the Becker family tradition of reading the Christmas story and adding the pieces of the nativity as they are read. We exchanged gifts and ended with "Silent Night" in the dark and with prayer. With my eyes closed I could not notice a difference from being with my family and being on the other side of the world. Truly God blessed us with His wonderful presence and peace.
Christmas Eve was a big day. For several hours before church we heard the loud bell ringing to call all the people. We walked to church at 8:20 a.m. for the service, which started at 9. The place was already packed! I had not been to a place where the people were so early! We worshiped in liturgical style for over an hour in the Indonesian language. We sang "Joy to the World", in the same language "Hai Dunia Gembiralah, dan sambut Rajamu!"
After church everyone flowed out of the service to mingle in the streets. It is culturally appropriate to shake hands and greet everyone. Can you spot Nate in the crowd? We learned the morning greeting, "Pagi!" and the greeting for Christmas, "Selamat Hari Natal". 
We really got a taste of local culture when we were invited to a wedding feast. I tried to mingle with the Indonesian ladies using a few words I had learned, but mostly I just got them to laugh at me trying to speak. I noticed the houses we visited all had nice tile floors and many decorations on the walls. Here in the Philippines a lot of floors and walls are just cement and there are not as many decorations. Perhaps that is for a number of reasons, one being that there is gold and spices available for trade in Indonesia. Indonesia is where the spice islands are located, and we even picked some clove leaves and cinnamon leaves right off the trees.
The unusual specialty foods that were served to us while we were in Indonesia were DOG, RAT, and BAT. Also the food was VERY spicy and I almost exploded! Here is a picture of the dog before they cooked it for lunch.
Here is that same dog being barbequed for the feast. Oh, I tell you I was not brave enough to try eating any of these three items. 
After a few tears were shed over the fact that it was my first Christmas in my life away from my family, I was finally able to praise God that we can celebrate Christ anywhere in the world. We had a very special celebration that night as a "family" in Christ. We had rice and chicken for dinner with ice cream and fudge for dessert. Then we sang carols just like my family does. We also included the Becker family tradition of reading the Christmas story and adding the pieces of the nativity as they are read. We exchanged gifts and ended with "Silent Night" in the dark and with prayer. With my eyes closed I could not notice a difference from being with my family and being on the other side of the world. Truly God blessed us with His wonderful presence and peace.
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