Every year that we are here in Nepal for Christmas Ryan and I like to have some sort of outreach for the children that we know. Every year we have gathered a group (or a few groups) of them and made "biscuit" houses. Nepalis call cookies and crackers "biscuits" and they are available EVERYWHERE in Nepal. It is much easier than trying to make pieces of gingerbread for so many kids. This year we had about 25 kids over. It was really a fun time. Some of the kids were kids from my neighborhood, some are just friends from my community and others were our national partners children. We spent the first hour and a half building these houses and then Ryan shared the Christmas story with them and why it was so important for Jesus to be born and who He is. We gave them each a little book to take home called, "Happy Birthday Jesus" which tells the story of Christmas along with some sheets to color. Everyone seemed to have a really great time. The kids also loved playing with Keane and Gracie's toys and watching Christmas movies. Keane and Gracie did so well and really enjoyed having all of the kids there. They played with them and let the older kids carry them all over.
I pray that these little children will come to have a relationship with Jesus. I was walking home with some of the kids after the party and the huge Tibetan Buddhist stupa was lit up for a Buddhist festival. One of the little boys turned to me and said, "Kristin, it is all lit up for Christmas" and my heart broke as I turned to him and said, "No, even though the lights look like they are for Christmas unfortunately they are not. Buddhist people don't celebrate Christmas. Buddhist people don't believe in Jesus." Even though he is a Buddhist I could kind of see a little sadness in his eyes. My heart just broke right then for the people. Even though it may look like Christmas, they aren't celebrating Christmas at all. They aren't celebrating Jesus' birthday. Many of them don't even know that they should. They don't know who Jesus is. I look forward to sharing more with my little friend. It is amazing how Christmas opens up so many doors to share about Jesus. I am so thankful for that. We really had a special day.
Happy Birthday Jesus!
Thankfully, we can get all of this great candy here!
Houses in Nepal don't have pitched roofs. Most of the roofs here are flat so making houses from these small biscuits is easy because they look like the houses the kids are familiar with.
Keane and Gracie with Lhakpa and Numtso. K and G loved eating all the different candy!
One of our Nepali friends showing Gracie the "Happy Birthday Jesus" book we had given them and some of the other kids looking at the book.
Keane with some of the boys!
Most of the kids in front of our Christmas tree
Me and some of the girls
Me and Gracie with Kaysang our downstairs neighbor. Kaysang LOVES to play with Keane and Gracie. She loves to bring them snacks and carry them around outside.
Keane being carried around by Pema. She spent most of the afternoon with Keane. Keane was happy to have someone to play with! He is all wet because he hasn't mastered drinking from a cup yet!
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