Well...what a Christmas that was! Last year, we had a huge Sefton Village Party on Christmas Day ... but it had become far too big and the kids were being neglected on the big day. So we decided to have parties by department.
So my first was the SBTC party on Dec 12th. We had a great night. I bought a Lechon (suckling roasted pig - above) for the students as a 'Thank You' for all their hard work during the Tri-District Conference. But first we played some great games in the Fire Centre and had a great laugh. The last game was one that Gowan and I used to do back in Scotland - Egg Roulette. Take 12 eggs, hard boil 6, let them cool, put them in an egg box and give them a number. Take 12 gullible people and let them choose what egg to hit on the other person's head ... result - a great huge laugh ... and a lot of mess!
On the week before Christmas I went down to Manila, bought a heap of last minute shopping and stuff for Sefton Village and then picked up the Strachan family at Manila Airport. We travelled straight up overnight (they were brave) and we were rally rushing because wee Josiah was singing and dancing in his School Christmas Performance. Well, we were doing pretty well and then, one hour from Sefton, we had a flat tyre! Middle of nowhere ... pouring rain! Disaster!
David 'Mr Fixit' Strachan made a grand effort to get the spare wheel off, but to no avail. Away Pastor Danny went to find someone. 'Fat chance', I thought! Middle of nowhere. Not even Danny, with his millions of uncles, brothers, friends and mother-in-laws could find someone on this mountain!
But, would you believe it ... back he came with a wee guy in tow, "He is a vulcaniser' beamed Danny. And a vulcaniser he was! This wee guy was like Asterix the Gaul or Popeye! He changed the tyre in seconds and soon we were on our way ... with a few laughs on the way home! Bad news ... missed Josiah by 10 minutes. Good news ... we didn't miss much - it was a 'no show' day for the wee man!
After a bit of a rest it was all go for parties. So on Friday 19th we went to the Cornerstone Party - a few games of bowling and then back to the church to eat. All the pastors with their families were there ... great night. It was also Peter Strachan's 16th that week .. so we got the big guy a cake and celebrated Cornerstone style!
On Saturday morning Lydia was performing at her School Christmas Performance ... now she was a star! Her class recited a Christmas poem and did a fantastic ' ' dance! I had hoped to have downloaded already, but our Internet has been terrible these last few weeks) Someone in the UK had given David & Grace money to take the children's Home to McDonalds ... and that was a great time.
I had a great week because poor David was the popular choice for all the Christmas events and parties - jail ministry (twice), Sunday services, Men's Ministry, watchnight services etc. He worked like a Trojan! I was his official driver! One of the highlights came on Christmas Eve in Nagassican. What a night!
The place was packed with people. All excited. Most had very little of this world's possessions but I guarantee you could not find a happier place on earth that night. We sang, the youth danced and David preached. David went out and put on his Santa's outfit ... you should have heard the gasps from the Filipinos! No-one here has even seen anyone dressed as Santa. So David brought the house down.
The kids were all given a gift (chosen and wrapped by Pastor Danny and his wife Jane) and the kids just hugged and held their present for ages, before opening. Some kids never even opened their gift .. and I asked the parents "Appai? Why?" Because it is the only gift they will receive on Christmas day and they want to open it tomorrow.
Selah.
I will take up the story again ... tomorrow! Goodnight ....
So my first was the SBTC party on Dec 12th. We had a great night. I bought a Lechon (suckling roasted pig - above) for the students as a 'Thank You' for all their hard work during the Tri-District Conference. But first we played some great games in the Fire Centre and had a great laugh. The last game was one that Gowan and I used to do back in Scotland - Egg Roulette. Take 12 eggs, hard boil 6, let them cool, put them in an egg box and give them a number. Take 12 gullible people and let them choose what egg to hit on the other person's head ... result - a great huge laugh ... and a lot of mess!
On the week before Christmas I went down to Manila, bought a heap of last minute shopping and stuff for Sefton Village and then picked up the Strachan family at Manila Airport. We travelled straight up overnight (they were brave) and we were rally rushing because wee Josiah was singing and dancing in his School Christmas Performance. Well, we were doing pretty well and then, one hour from Sefton, we had a flat tyre! Middle of nowhere ... pouring rain! Disaster!
David 'Mr Fixit' Strachan made a grand effort to get the spare wheel off, but to no avail. Away Pastor Danny went to find someone. 'Fat chance', I thought! Middle of nowhere. Not even Danny, with his millions of uncles, brothers, friends and mother-in-laws could find someone on this mountain!
But, would you believe it ... back he came with a wee guy in tow, "He is a vulcaniser' beamed Danny. And a vulcaniser he was! This wee guy was like Asterix the Gaul or Popeye! He changed the tyre in seconds and soon we were on our way ... with a few laughs on the way home! Bad news ... missed Josiah by 10 minutes. Good news ... we didn't miss much - it was a 'no show' day for the wee man!
After a bit of a rest it was all go for parties. So on Friday 19th we went to the Cornerstone Party - a few games of bowling and then back to the church to eat. All the pastors with their families were there ... great night. It was also Peter Strachan's 16th that week .. so we got the big guy a cake and celebrated Cornerstone style!
On Saturday morning Lydia was performing at her School Christmas Performance ... now she was a star! Her class recited a Christmas poem and did a fantastic ' ' dance! I had hoped to have downloaded already, but our Internet has been terrible these last few weeks) Someone in the UK had given David & Grace money to take the children's Home to McDonalds ... and that was a great time.
I had a great week because poor David was the popular choice for all the Christmas events and parties - jail ministry (twice), Sunday services, Men's Ministry, watchnight services etc. He worked like a Trojan! I was his official driver! One of the highlights came on Christmas Eve in Nagassican. What a night!
The place was packed with people. All excited. Most had very little of this world's possessions but I guarantee you could not find a happier place on earth that night. We sang, the youth danced and David preached. David went out and put on his Santa's outfit ... you should have heard the gasps from the Filipinos! No-one here has even seen anyone dressed as Santa. So David brought the house down.
The kids were all given a gift (chosen and wrapped by Pastor Danny and his wife Jane) and the kids just hugged and held their present for ages, before opening. Some kids never even opened their gift .. and I asked the parents "Appai? Why?" Because it is the only gift they will receive on Christmas day and they want to open it tomorrow.
Selah.
I will take up the story again ... tomorrow! Goodnight ....
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