Friday, January 13, 2006

an international christmas!

we did something different this christmas — we celebrated it with about 75 friends from around the world. when people come to canada to study, sometimes they're not able to get home to spend the holidays with family. so we got to be family to one another this christmas.

we were out at camp iawah in eastern ontario, enjoying cross-country skiing and tobaggoning outdoors, the rock-climbing wall, soccer, volleyball, and many other activities indoors. (above and right: the thrill of agony, the victory of defeat... or something like that. as you can see, we take our foosball very seriously!)

in quieter moments, we enjoyed group discussions on each other's cultural and holiday traditions. international students and their families were amazed and thrilled by a visit from santa himself (looking somewhat more korean and thinner than most canadian portrayals), who came bearing gifts for all of the good boys and girls (and some of the others as well!).

one of the highlights of the week was the international dinner. students from most of the nations represented got together and prepared at least one dish from their country. what followed was one of the most amazing buffets ever — outstanding food from korea, sudan, china, iran, germany, congo, taiwan, and thailand. some of us (in our enthusiasm) ate a tad too much; but it was delicious, and a hint of what is to come at the wedding feast of the Lamb!

and they sang a new song, saying, “worthy are you to take the book and to break its seals; for you were slain, and purchased for God with your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.

revelation 5:9

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

We went to the Christmas camp, too! We were on the santa committee. We dressed up as reindeer and helped hand out gifts. One little girl said "You're not a real reindeer- are you?" It was lots of fun! We really enjoyed ourselves because it was warmer than where we live, and we got to meet nice people from all over the world.

B&N