Christmas at the Y

I do realize that Thanksgiving has only just come and gone and I've put "Christmas" in the subject line. Don't be scared away, or fooled that I'm super organized. (Because I'm not!)

Much like I imagine it is in the States at this time of year, Christmas is in full swing here, and has been since Halloween. After the first lights start to appear, I'm able to just ignore it. Well... that is until the 4 weeks before. This past weekend was that weekend. In honor of that, the residents and staff at the YWCA decorated the Y for Christmas, which of course included hot chocolate and Christmas music, followed by a seasonal film.

I'd totally forgotten this was all happening. That is until I walk into the Y Sunday night very hungry, late for dinner, needing a toilet, too hot and very brain dead from having just had a 6 hour discussion about Christian marriage, and I walk right into the middle of Christmas!

Needless to say my heart isn't in it.

But one of the residents, Polina, is having a totally different reaction. (Polina is from Russia). She tells us, face literally glowing, "I feel I am 5 years old again!" (She's about 28.) With wonder she asks what hot chocolate is, how do you put toppings on it? And the decorations... she was like a child in a candy shop! After she asked if this is what we did every year, she told us that in Russia they don't decorate till at earliest the 25th of December, but they don't celebrate "Christmas" till New Years. Then it's 2 weeks straight drinking of vodka. (Ya'll, I thought that was a stereotype about Russia, not a truth! )

As the other residents share about their country's Christmas traditions, Polina looks at me and asks me what traditions do I follow.

Typical me, I don't understand what she's asking and I just word vomit. Is she asking about American Christmas traditions or is she asking about my family's traditions? (Because America as a country doesn't have any traditions...!) Polina then asks if this (a special weekend to decorate) is normal, is this Christmas? (again, is she referring to me or the whole country?) In my mind I want to say yes, the weekend after Thanksgiving traditionally is when you decorate for Christmas. But she is from Russia, Thanksgiving means nothing to her. Then my mind goes to Advent, this weekend is also always the 1st Sunday of Advent, 4 weeks before Christmas. She's not a Christian, what is Advent? My brain... Thankfully I'm sitting next to another American, Sara, who at this point enters the conversation, clarifying and answering the question. As I listen to Sara explain Christmas for Americans and how it's different for all of us, I realize Polina could have gotten 2 very different versions of Christmas. One being the secular Christmas, the other being the Christian Christmas. It begs the age old question, what IS the reason for the season?

 Christmas Festivities at the Y

Why have I shared this long story with you? Because I realized I need you guys to be praying for me and opportunities to share the gospel with my fellow residents just in the next couple of weeks leading up to Christmas. Chances are that when I am going to be interacting with the other residents, I am going to be brain tired and just the thought of engaging makes me want to shy away, but please pray that'd I'd not shy away. But rather in my weakness, God would be glorified. (Because He's the one that's going to be having to give me the words to say!) But seriously, is there not a better time of year to talk about the gospel than Christmas?