When our children were in second grade, they had to present a family tradition to their class. Jonathan talked about the special things we did around Chinese New Year while Annabel described the Chinese tradition that required the mother of a new born baby to "sit a month" inside the house. Well, you might have sensed that we kind of persuaded the kids to present family traditions with a Chinese flavor. In real life, their most talked about family tradition is our Christmas celebration. It seemed magical to them when they were much younger and they still have not grown out of it.

The other day Annabel recounted how Daddy put up the Christmas tree with help from her and Jonathan. Her vivid description transported me back in time to our previous home in Amherst several years ago. With Christmas Carol music playing in the background, a big box was brought into the house from the garage. Then pieces of the artificial tree (a Christmas gift from grandparents on Daddy's side after Annabel was born) were taken out of the box, along with ornaments and lights. Two pairs of little feet busily ran around the room and sweet voices eagerly pleaded, "Can I put this branch on the tree, Daddy? Can I?" Soon the tree was put together and Daddy lifted up one child to put the star on top of the tree and the other child to hook up a lighted angel figure. It took a long time to hang up all the ornaments as well as strings of twinkling light. But eventually the work was done. We got to watch and enjoy the children's delightful reactions with excitement. Later in the night, wrapped presents would mysteriously appear under the tree waiting to be opened on Christmas Day.

Since 2004, we had not been able to celebrate Christmas at home the same way we did before due to short term mission trips to Europe. Now as missionaries, we no longer have Christmas celebration with just our immediate family. We are called to celebrate with others from our extended family of God, and we are called to seize the opportunity to reach out to the lost souls with the good news of Jesus Christ. There is a greater urgency to do so this year, for it had been a tough year for many people. We have received so much bad news from families and friends lately. Some lost their jobs and had to move to new places; others had serious health problems or relationship problems that were beyond cure. Christmas celebration will never be the same for them. And the hardest would be for those who had lost their loved ones. Is it even possible for them to continue their family tradition for Christmas, if there had been one? Only when their hearts are turned back to Christ will they find hope and reason to celebrate Christmas again.

"Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy. It is for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord."(Luke 2:10-11)

As we prepare for Christmas, may the Lord help us to take time from our busyness to pray, that we may reflect upon the wonder of God's love and let the story of our Savior's birth to touch our hearts and minds once again. May our joy be deepened, our worship more sincere, and our lives worthier of all that He has done for us through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Updates and Prayer requests:
This Christmas at the COCM mission center, we will be holding a family Mandarin camp for the first time. This camp was a result of the over booking situation at last year's end-of-year Mandarin camp. To give priority to seekers and students we had to turn down most families with children. None the less, with the additional camp this year we are still facing the same over booking situation at both the family camp (12/24-27) and the student camp (12/28-1/1/09). Of course we welcome this "good sign" problem, even though it means heavier workload for everyone involved.

We will have 21 Short Term Mission team members plus 7 children from Boston area to come to support these two Mandarin camps. For those who will leave Boston on December 22nd to fly to England, they will not be able to have their normal Christmas celebration with their immediate families in their own homes. From personal experience we know that this is not an easy thing to do, and we thank the Lord for the willing sacrifice they and their families make for the sake of the gospel.

Please pray for the STM team members and COCM co-workers as we are doing our final preparation work. Pray for the first STM team to find time to celebrate Christmas early with their families before their departure. Please pray for travel mercy of all STM team members as they come and go on different dates. Please remember those of us who will be at the two back to back camps to have the physical and spiritual strength to remain healthy and energized.

There will be more than 100 people at the family camp, of which more than 40 are children. Please remember the special needs of the children's program as we have very limited space and have to be really creative in planning activities for various age groups. The second camp might push the number close to 150 as we are try to work things out to take a few more from the long waiting list. Please pray for the hearts of all camp participants. May the Holy Spirit work among us so together we will establish a new family tradition to celebrate Christmas and proclaim the good news of great joy for all the people.

Ling & Henry

PDF Version