Je comprends aujourd’hui mieux que jamais ce que tu veux transmettre (maintenant que nous vivons à 6000 km de chez nous). Ce n’est donc que bien tardivement que je prends conscience de la solitude qui fut parfois la vôtre dans ces circonstances spéciales, et je le regrette. On comprend toujours un peu tard, mais jamais trop tard pour commencer à faire le bien.

Marie-Line qui est à coté de moi en ce moment, alors que je viens de lui lire ton texte, voudrait même qu’on le traduise pour que des gens de l’assemblée de Québec puissent le lire et prendre soin de ceux qui sont loin parcequ’ils servent le Seigneur. Fais-moi connaitre le montant des droits

Embrasse Joy et salue les enfants de notre part, nous vous souhaitons un Joyeux Noel avec ceux qui vous entoureront cette année.

Un de ces français qui continueront de vous aimer pour un bon moment encore,

Bertrand

Thank you for expressing your feelings about Christmas so well.

As a father who would love to be on the mission field, I have long experienced not having a son and family at home for the celebrations. This means that every year your children are on the field, you have a big empty spot in all that celebration that goes on. In the last week we celebrated a birthday in your son’s family. We said at that time that it would be the last one for a long time because they were heading for the mission field shortly.

Probably the sad part of Christmas celebrations is that the church seems to have lost out on the real celebration of the event. We don’t have Christmas services even as we don’t have Good Friday and Thanksgiving (a secular holiday that provides a believers a great chance to give thanks for country and God). It is fortunate that Easter falls on a Sunday or we probably would not have an Easter service either.

We should never sacrifice family for serving God, but neither should we sacrifice worshipping God for family. I am proud that you do not do that.

A father who loves you very much.

Thank you for your observation about Christmas when you are away from home. I remember that when I was in Togo- the missionaries told me that for Thanksgiving- they made an American meal, then they had a touch football game. I was there over Easter, and I directed a special music program using even the doctors with their musical instruments- That was on Palm Sunday. They seemed glad to do the program together. I am sure that Christmas could be a sad day, if you didn’t plan otherwise. We sent Pastor Jim Gerhart, Christal and their three children to Togo, via France, and they will be in France by themselves this Christmas. All the other students are leaving and they will be alone. So- they would understand what you wrote.
Blessings and may your Christmas be joyful! (With a big turkey!) BTW-In Togo-
I had to cook every third day and the other two missionaries told me to roast the turkey that was in the freezer. I looked and it was like you said- about 5- 6 pounds. I was glad for the experiences. Helps me understand what you missionaries face!

You’re right – it was certainly more difficult back in the dark ages before the great communication tools we now enjoy. But we will still miss our family intensely while, at the same time, we relish the wonderful relationships we have with the Silseths, the Mittens, and our many listener friends. Like you’re family, Mildred and I are making new traditions. I may miss our son and the rest of our family, but I can never be lonely with Mildred here at my side. Feliz Navidad!

I read over your blog and and can identify with what you wrote. This will be our first Christmas since we arrived on the 30th of October and already we are wishing for France. We attended a Christmas program in our of our supporting churches – a real production, very well done, but yet – how I longed to attend as before in Moissy or even Brignoles. I can’t explain but what we attended here just wasn’t the same.

Thanks so much for putting into words what we feel in our hearts about a Missionaries’ Christmas.