Celebrating Christmas in Cambodia

We have done lots here to make it feel like the Christmas season. There a couple of reasons why this season feels so different in Cambodia. One is it continues to be 80 degrees outside. Two, we are not around our family. Three is most people do not celebrate Christmas as we know it, not even the Khmer Christians. Most Khmer Christians do not put up a Christmas tree or give presents to their children. To celebrate they go to their church on Christmas for a service and have a dinner together. On one hand it is so encouraging to know that the Christians here are getting it right. Their focus on Christmas isn't about the decorations and the presents but about being thankful for Jesus being born. On the other hand it is hard to not see Christmas lights on houses, decorations in stores, and Christmas music being played on the radio. Of course there is a bit of that because of the foreigner population here.

Since the start of December we have done something "Christmasy" each weekend. We went to a craft fair put on by NGO's helping women and children in Cambodia. We made Christmas cookies, helped decorate a friends fake tree, made two pecan pies, and ate a delicious potluck christmas dinner with our staff. Not to mention all of our decorations in our school classrooms. It is so fun being able to really celebrate the real reason for this season with our classes. In pre-k3 I get to tell the Christmas story every day in the month of December. Last week I had two students come up to me and say, " Mrs. Walker, I love Jesus" It was so heart warming to hear them say that. I responded, " He loves you too." Later on in the week one of the students told me, " I love Mary." It made me a little sad knowing that his statement of his love for Jesus was nothing more than letting me know he can remember then names of characters in a story we are learning about. I know it is a seed planted in their hearts. As they grow and learn more English they will continue to learn about who God and Jesus are!

For the last 12 days of school before Christmas Gideon's 5th graders are doing an Advent Challenge. Each day they have to do something that is encouraging or helpful to others. For example on the first day they had to give 12 people a high five. On the second day they had to open a door for 11 people and so on and so on. He is so creative.

Please enjoy the pictures of our Christmas celebrations! Leave us a comment and let us know how you have been celebrating Christmas!