Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Christmas Challenge

We are now between Thanksgiving and Christmas. I have had people from the states ask me if I was ready for Christmas, and what was it like here this time of the year. This has been my response........
We received word that our container is in Kampala and might actually be delivered to our house this week. This year for Christmas our gift to everyone in the family is our container being here for Christmas. When we asked our kids a month ago what they wanted for Christmas it was a unanimous, "Our container!" So, no fighting the lines at the mall or running around trying to find someone that one thing they have to have and all of the stores are sold out.( not that those things are even an option here)
There is absolutely no signs that Christmas is just a few weeks away. No decorations around town, no radios with Christmas music playing, no Santa's ringing bells outside stores, no snow or even a hint of cool weather. While I enjoy the beautiful weather here, palm trees swaying in the breeze and every day being sunny and 80 degrees, it makes it hard to get into the spirit of the season.
I have been thinking about the past year and how things have for us here in Uganda since we came and the anticipation of finally having our "things" arrive. We are truly blessed to have a roof over our head that doesn't leak, running water and power at least 50% of the time and food on our table for 3 meals a day. This is so much more than 99% of the people here have. So for Christmas I though that I would put out a challenge for all of you living in 1st world countries struggling with all of the holiday pressures and less than grateful children.
Instead of telling them that they should be thankful for what they have and not be so demanding about what they want for Christmas try this.........
For one day have them live like the rest of the undeveloped world. This will make an impression on them like nothing that you could ever tell them.
For one day the family has no power... no lights, no t.v., no computer, no x-box or playstation, no dishwasher, washing machine, blow dryers, straightening irons etc.. ( you get the picture)
No running water... they have to go outside to the hose or spigot and carry buckets full inside to flush the toilets, wash dishes, wash clothes and take baths with.
No preparing food with boxed or prepackaged/frozen meals.
Transportation is your own two legs, public transport or calling a taxi.
No telephone, cell phone or any other modern convenience (microwave) I would say no using the stove, but going outside and cooking on a fire might be a bit challenging.
Do this for one day and let them know this is how everyone lives in 3rd world countries and see if they don't appreciate what they have more afterwards as well as really getting an idea of how missionaries they might know and the "truly poor" in the world live.
I would love to hear your feed back, so those of you who are willing to take the challenge please let me know how it goes.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!


1 comment:

steffany said...

Wow! Ouch! I would love to take the challenge. My 1st world comfort zone thoughts are thinking, should I wait until spring to do this challenge or now in the middle of an Ice storm at 20 degree weather? Then I realized people in the 3rd worls would not even have a choice!