My sister Carly was at Good Shepherd's Fold from November 2-present adopting her fifth child, Wayne. It's been a joy to spend the last few months with Carly and hear a fresh perspective as she shares her experiences in Uganda. I love everything Carly writes, so I asked if she would write a post about the holidays (Thanksgiving & Christmas) at GSF. As you read, please keep Carly and her family in your prayers as they work to finalize Wayne's adoption.
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving at Good Shepherd’s Fold is actually a two-day event. (And I’m not referring to “Black Friday.”) The missionaries enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving meal on Thanksgiving Day - (expensive) turkeys are purchased, stuffing and potatoes and corn casserole and other side dishes are divvied up and prepared by the missionary families, and pie recipes are dusted off. (I am still salivating over the chocolate pecan pie, compliments of Katie Fox.)
 |
| A Thanksgiving meal with the Global Outreach missionaries! |
One of the overarching themes of the day was obviously gratitude, and the shared meal together and the fellowship afterwards made me thankful for the people who God has placed in Corinne and Daniel’s lives here at GSF. Sure, they aren’t family, but the shared relationship with Jesus Christ can make “co-workers” feel like family. Celebrating American holidays here take a lot of time and effort, but these shared experiences bring a taste of “home” to this far-off land.
The day after Thanksgiving, Good Shepherd’s Fold had their staff “thanksgiving service.” While Americans were putting up Christmas trees or standing in line for a “Black Friday doorbuster,” GSF was still enjoying Thanksgiving in the form of a day-long service. Daniel and Corinne helped me pack up the children and walk to the chapel, on the other side of the GSF property, for the big bash. We knew when it was starting because we could hear the music. (This is a common reference point for “the start” of all Ugandan-sponsored events!)
 |
| Thanksgiving Service |
The “thanksgiving service” was energetic! There was a series of presentations, in the form of dancing or singing or both, with designated worship times and a Bible message. The room was full to capacity, and the presentations were intriguing enough that none of us got uncomfortable during our hours on the long, wooden benches. A big meal, full of Ugandan staples (rice, pork, matooke, fruit, etc.), was served in the early afternoon. I took my kids home for naps but we were some of the first (and only) to leave; we could hear the music pumping until past four in the afternoon. The Ugandans never lack “celebratory stamina!”
Christmas
I feel like the Christmas season at GSF has to be one of the most bittersweet times of the year. I wasn’t sure how to put my thoughts into words, so I decided to think through how the holiday can be so celebratory but so sad.
The Sweet
* The charming Christmas tree at the pavilion, which is equal parts homemade decorations (courtesy of the GSF kids) and bare spots.
* The sounds of voices caroling as the missionaries begin singing Christmas carols at one side of campus until more and more kids join them and they all end up at the pavilion on Christmas Eve.
* The happy time for some of the GSF kids who leave for several weeks to visit relatives over the holidays (this coincides with “school break,” which runs from mid-November to the end of January).
* The cozy sight of the all the children gathered around “Auntie Claudia” on the rug as she reads them a Christmas story on Christmas Eve.
* The happy faces of the children as they open up stockings full of little presents on Christmas Day.
* The excitement over the big Christmas meal, topped off with soda (orange Fanta!) and a big “Happy Birthday to Jesus!” cake!
* The awesome day-long staff Christmas party, when staff members present songs and dances all day long (I’m talking eight hours) with a big mid-day Christmas dinner to top it off.
The Bitter
* The fact that, in Uganda, the month of December really does feel like any other month. These children don’t have special Christmas parties at school or “cookie decorating” with mom or special Advent readings with family.
* The lack of that “magical Christmasy feeling” that we feel in the States - some may grumble about the materialistic side of Christmas, but the Christmas carols playing in stores and festive outdoor lights and trees merrily trimmed do cue our senses for the anticipation of celebrating Christ’s birth.
* The dreaded time for some of the GSF kids who do not like to leave GSF to visit distance relatives over the holidays (the GSF social worker limits some of the “dreaded visits” to just a couple days).
* The fact that there are several kids who have no traceable relatives (or safe relatives) to visit over the holiday break, and remain here.
* The fact that the happy faces opening up presents on Christmas Day don’t have parents to share the experience with; there aren’t any “just for you” gifts from mommies or special toys to assemble together with dad.
For my children and I personally, it was a Christmas we will never forget. We might have to carry our own plates and utensils down to the pavilion for Christmas dinner (and be urged “not to eat the pork! - it smells funny!”) but we did get to enjoy the beautiful sight of Christians showing Christ’s love to the least of these.
 |
We watched Ungandan aunties on the ground, scooping ice cream into the eager mouths of the special needs kids. We saw the “baby house aunties” assemble the babies for a picture in coordinating new “Christmas clothes.” We witnessed the efforts the missionary families went to preparing the stockings for the children (when most of them have their own children to make “Christmas special for”) and presenting them to the grateful GSF kids. We saw staff there serving the orphans when most of them probably had family at home celebrating Christmas without them.
 |
| Christmas meal with the GSF kids |
 |
| The babies stopping mid-bite for a Christmas pic in their Christmas clothes |
The bittersweetness becomes sweet in the knowledge that some of these children may have never been exposed to the Gospel without GSF. And that God’s plan is better than mine, and He predestined each of the children to be here, living here, experiencing Christmas 2015 just like they did. The Advent season reminded me that God came as the least of these - a baby - for the least of these, for children like the ones here at Good Shepherd’s Fold. I am praying each of the children here grow to know Him as their Lord and Savior.
-Carly
 |
