We had many Christmas parties... these were taken at the college scholar party. There were about 300 scholars there, some sponsored by the Diocese, some by Karitas Germany and the rest are sponsored by Oikos. However, regardless of who sponsors these kids, the Oikos Sisters are in charge of their religious formation and keeping up with the requirements of their sponsorship. They also hosted the Christmas party.
I was given the task of coming up with a Christmas play for the in-house Oikos scholars to put on. This was something new for Oikos. Usually their programs consist of singing and dancing, but Sister Minerva wanted us to do something very Christ-centered. So, our play began with a silent reenactment of the first Christmas with "Mary's Boy Child" playing in the background. These are some of the scholars with their costumes on for Act 1. Then, Act 2 had a modern-day setting and asked the question, how would you respond if Mary and Joseph knocked on your door today asking for a room to have their baby in? Joseph and Mary knocked on 5 different doors... an elderly couple, scholars, party boys, a mother with children and finally a couple house-sitting for friends. The script was funny and entertaining, and the message in the end was a good one, about opening our hearts to everyone this Christmas because it really is Jesus we are welcoming in and helping. Sister Minerva was very pleased with it, which made me really happy!! And the kids had a really good time with it.
Below are most of the Oikos Scholars after singing at the Singba Gabi mass. They were magnificent!!
I mentioned in one of my blogs that my family sponsored the food given out to the poor on Christmas morning. Below are pictures of the preparations for the giving and pictures of the people we gave food to. Many thanks to my parents, brothers and sisters and one of my nieces, Margaret, who helped to pay for the candy bags the girls are filling below for the poor children.
The following preparations were made on Christmas morning at 4am... after going to bed around 3am!! But what a fun day it was, and I experienced with the sisters and scholars the true spirit of giving on Christmas. So beautiful!!!
Here is a picture of our Christmas tree!! It is made out of empty prescription boxes, courtesy of Oikos' newest sister, Sister Michelle.
In between Christmas and New Year's we went to the south to the Pilgrim Church, St. Anthony's Parish. It is where people go to ask God for special, important things or to give thanks to Him for answered prayers. We went to give thanks for a year of blessings and to ask for God's continued love and guidance for the new year. We stopped here for our breakfast.
One side of St. Anthony's Church is all statues. The custom is that you kneel down and ask for your prayer, then you get in line with people and stop at each statue, asking the saints and Mary to join you in your prayers.
On my birthday, December 31st, I was greeted, at 4am, with singing and this birthday cake!! It was really sweet, even at 4am!! The rest of the day was fun, with baking and cooking, celebrations and prayers. A beautiful birthday!!
Sister Michelle and I have taken to going to mass early, then walking on the beach. It is so beautiful, and is the perfect start to the day!! I just have to learn how to take a selfie and look good at the same time!! Ug!
Here is a picture of me and Abby. She was very shy with me for about 3 and a half months, but now we are best friends. She gives the best hugs in the morning!!
So, that was a picture synopsis of my last month. Now, for the month ahead, we are already preparing for the medical/feeding/dental/construction mission coming on January31st from the Joliet Diocese in Illinois. Today we spent the day going to barrios in the south to find a few that we can go to for the feeding program. It makes me both happy and sad to visit barrios like we did today. I mean the people there have lost everything in the typhoons and are unable to climb out of their misery alone. They have little to no livelihoods and some are almost prisoners in their barrios because they have no way to drive themselves to the bigger towns and to pay for a ride is just too expensive for them. However, hardly ever have I met more smiling, welcoming people. People who have nothing else to cling to, so they cling to God, and it gives them a kind of hope that I wish to have. And when angels like the Oikos Sisters come and offer help, give these people what little they have in thanksgiving. I am so grateful to have these experiences of meeting amazing people and have the opportunity to help them, as little as that may be. I hope God has more of the same in store for me!! xxoo
