Promise Home Christmas Party

We enjoyed a very special evening at Promise Home celebrating Christmas on December 22nd. The family spent much time decorating the house and then arranging a gift exchange for all of the children who attended. Big invited the landlord and his wife, who made this delicious fried noodle treat that was sweet and sour together. It was like caramel corn with the sweet glaze, raisins and then it had chives and mustard for the tart. It was delightful. The pastor from the Akha church that Big and Fon attended was there with his family as well. Pastor Paz and Bishop Ariel from Asian Mission Outreach and other members of their team made a surprise stop with lots and lots of ice cream.

Big, Fon and the children prepared a lovely dinner for us to share in fellowship. There was steamed rice, fired fish with spicy tomato sauce on the top, Massaman curry, pork soup and of course the treat from the landlords wife. Fon made another special treat of sticky rice which she cooked in bamboo sticks over an open fire. I have had this treat before and it is delicious!!! Then we had to have ice cream and a wonderful carrot cake that Pa Ann brought for us to share. Needless to say, Vannessa and I were completely stuffed when dinner was over.

Tin with the curry, fish and soup

The landlords wife and her noodle treat in front

Carrot cake

After dinner the children put on a short program with readings, singing and dancing. Of course it was in Thai so Vannessa and I did not understand most of it, but the heartfelt message and meaning of the day was clear. After the program was the gift exchange which is always highly anticipated and very exciting. There was trash and paper everywhere which reminded me of so many Christmases at my house growing up where the floor could not be seen because of all the paper. Vannessa and I received these beautiful warm knit hats and mine was even Broncos colors.

Christmas presents!!!

The evening ended with us sending lanterns into the night sky. This is a wonderful Thai tradition where you send your cares and worries away and ask for luck and well being for the new year. It is a special time to share with the kids who wanted to do a lantern with each and every one of us. There were several in the sky at one time and we followed them until they went out. It was the perfect ending to the perfect evening.

It is Christmas Eve morning here in Chiang Rai and we will be sharing the evening with our friends at Bethany Children Home, enjoying their Christmas program and gifts. While we miss our family and friends back in the United States this holiday season, we are enjoying the chance to spend this holiday with our Thai family.

Our family wishes you and your family a blessed holiday and a prosperous New Year. God bless all who have helped enrich the lives of the children and it is my hope that I have been able to convey the tremendous impact your gifts of giving have made on their lives. Each one of you have touched them in on way or another and it has made a world of difference to them.

Merry Christmas and Seasons Greetings to all!

Till next time...

God Bless,
Heather