Holidays Far From Loved Ones

Years ago holidays for our missionary family were spent with other expat missionary families.  When our boys were small and we lived in the big city of Fortaleza, there were always special plays and holiday programs at the school for missionary children.  Even after we moved to Bahia there were plenty of missionary families to share in the festivities and with whom we could enjoy a Thanksgiving meal or a Christmas dinner or a New Year's brunch.  

A few years we had family from the USA here in Brazil.  That was always exciting for our boys.  Nowadays the pickings are slim.  There just aren't any more families around and our own boys are all in the United States.   As missionary empty nesters the holidays can seem rather unexciting.

2017

In 2017 we were in the States for the holidays and dear family friends went along with us for Christmas.  That was an incredible year.  We saw and enjoyed snow.

In 2018 we were back in Brazil and our empty nest.  Our friends invited us to join them and visit their family in the far southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul.  It was an unique experience. We visited a town that decorates for Christmas.  We went to a holiday choral performance all in German.  And we got to see a whole different part of the country.

2018

In 2019 there was a missions team in town from the Wordless Ministries.  I remember opening gifts with Byron and he went out to help give out gifts to children all around Sobradinho where we had some outdoor Bible clubs.  I don't know what else we did!  I may have napped all afternoon before we had to head back out with the team.

2019

In 2020 we had a big Christmas outreach in Abreus and on Christmas day itself it was just me and Byron.  We had a picnic lunch up at the tilapia farm because Byron had given his worker the day off.  Quiet, but nice.  I'm sure we talked with family, but I think that was the sum of our day.

2020

In 2021 we had the big idea to go to the USA for one month.  We arrived on Christmas day if I'm not mistaken.  We were tired, but happy and had a wild crazy day with all the Potters and Athas.  Later that week we saw more family.  We stayed for about five weeks.  We saw some snow.

2021

In 2022 we had an expat friend over for a traditional holiday meal.  It was simple, quiet but full of conversation.  No snow, hahaha, just sweat in tropical Bahia. 

2022

This year 2023 we took a long trip to visit with our dear friends in a far off city in western Bahia.  What a drive!  We arrived at 1am on Christmas Day.  Our little "nephew" was the happiest of all and made the trip worth the time.  The town was nicely decorated and our friends made sure we were well fed.

2023

Sometimes it's easy to be blue during the holidays, but I am so grateful to know that my family in the USA were together at different times, they are all happy and healthy, and we will all be with each other soon enough once more.

I was happy to have friends that care about us nearby [well, not so near!], and glad for my man.

I look forward to my next "Family Christmas," but I wonder what we will do for Christmas in Heaven? I can only imagine, but I bet it will be once special moment.