They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so today our
blog will be short and you can read the Christmas story on the faces of God's
precious Swazi children!

On Saturday we celebrated our first Christmas party with no
snow, no Santa, and no beautifully decorated tree – but let me tell you it was
Christmas nonetheless! About 500 kids got to enjoy a fun-filled day of playing
games, doing crafts, hearing a Christmas story, and eating a Christmas feast
which included meat (a real treat for the children as they rarely get to eat meat).

They had so much fun and at the end of the day, they had
another surprise in store– they got a big bag of gifts which included a brand
new backpack for school, a toy for the younger ones, and a bag full of treats
–cookies, chips, and candy.  It was
such a gift to be a part of this celebration, and to see their little faces
light up throughout the day. It was a picture of the real Christmas story – of
God sending His son Jesus to make a way for us to have life and to experience
real love and real redemption.

These kids have a rough life, and many of them have lost
their parents, and have had to grow up really fast and take care of themselves
in many ways. How humbling and awesome it is to be part of the process of God
stepping in and redeeming these tough circumstances by bringing life, food,
water, love, and joy. You are part of something wonderful here, and together we
ARE making a difference in these lives.

Love,

Marius and Jodi