Lasting Peace
December 20, 2021A New Name
December 28, 2021
The Saturday before Christmas, I spent all day with my family at a wedding of a couple in their church. Stephanie had decorated the sanctuary, so after the ceremony I helped her dismount and store the cloth, flowers, and garlands. As usual, we waited for hours at the reception site while the couple took pictures elsewhere, then feasted on rice, chicken, beef, potatoes, salad and cake.
On Sunday, my son Afonso, who is studying at a university several hours ago, surprised me by showing up at church! He explained that he’s now on break for the holidays.
Monday morning found me at the Immigration office, renewing my annual residence permit as the fourth anniversary of my arrival in Africa is approaching. After work that day, I made 96 breadsticks. Stephanie helped by coating them with olive oil and garlic. I was quite pleased with how they turned out, and though it’s been years since I’ve tasted Olive Garden breadsticks, I do believe mine were a close rival!
On Tuesday, with Darcy and Leah’s help, I made the rest of the meal to serve to our organization’s employees that afternoon: lasagna, salad, and apple crisp. Everything was made from scratch, and our co-workers relished the annual experience of foreign food at our party. Bonifácio spoke about Jesus’ offer of living water to the Samaritan women, and we gave boxed sets of six water glasses as our gift to each colleague.
At noon on Wednesday, that afternoon’s Christmas tea for expatriate women was abruptly canceled by the hostess. Stephanie, who had been planning to accompany me, quickly agreed to my idea of hosting the event at our house, and the new location was announced. I left work and stopped by the store for tea and cookies, but on my way home it became evident that it would be more convenient to meet on the other side of town, where everyone else lived. So Stephanie and I hopped on a bus and had a lovely time visiting with our friends there. My gingerbread cookies, made with molasses a friend had brought me from the US due to its lack here, were a hit. Handel’s Messiah playing in the background inspired us to schedule a sing-along of that Christmas classic a week later.
Our annual food distribution for the elderly was scheduled for 2:00 on Thursday at our house. However, Bonifácio and Stephanie didn’t arrive until 4:30, because he was leading the funeral of a fellow pastor whose son had suddenly dropped dead the previous day. He’d explained this to me that morning, asking me to entertain the guests in the meantime, so I played violin for nearly an hour and they conversed among themselves for the rest of the time. Though it started late, the food distribution went smoothly, including Bonifácio’s Scriptural message. The twelve elderly ladies were very grateful for the rice, beans, fish, oil, sugar, soft drink, soap, and clothes they received.
Friday was a relatively calm day at home, cooking and cleaning in preparation for Saturday. The all-night service scheduled at our local church was canceled so its leaders could spend the night with the bereaved family. The cancellation allowed the others of us to be well-rested for the big day.
On Saturday, nearly sixty relatives from both sides of the family gathered at our house for a festive Christmas dinner. By 2:30 pm, the serving table was loaded with rice, pasta, beef stew, roasted chicken, fried potatoes, lettuce salad, cabbage salad, potato salad, sweet potato casserole, meat turnovers, cookies, chocolate cake, lemon cake, apple crisp, and sweet peanut butter balls. The last two items and the sweet potato casserole were my contribution, with most of the rest prepared outside by the ladies while the men conversed and the children played. After the meal, Bonifácio addressed the group, encouraging them to seek Christ for salvation, resolve marital conflicts, marry their common-law spouses, work hard for their children’s benefit, and unite in helping needy relatives. Many headed home as darkness fell, but others were still dancing at 10:00 pm to lively music blaring from Bonifácio’s new speaker.
On Sunday evening, our family finally found time to open the gifts under our tree, and I showed them (on my computer) the Christmas photos, cards and letters we’d received from various friends. Thus we rounded out a full and happy week of celebrating our Savior’s birth. “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” (Luke 2:14)
