Thanks to our honeymoon in Thailand, this will probably be the first winter I have even been tan. I have not written a blog post in many moons because Amith and I were busy, y’know, getting married and stuff. So consider this my Christmas post, and shortly I will continue to write about my thoughts from this past year.
Although, understandably, this Christmas has rather snuck up on us, I thoroughly enjoyed our first Christmas as a married couple. On the morning of Christmas eve my husband and I danced around our room singing, “Feliz Navidad” in a goofy way. Afterwards Amith would not shut up singing, “Feliz Navidad.”
God graciously blessed our Christmas worship services, and it causes me again to muse upon the miracle of God incarnate leaving His home in heaven to come live with us out of love, who despised and rejected Him. Although I too have left my homeland and comfort zone, I have not endured suffering even half as intensely as my Saviour has.
I pray that God will continue to grow me and strengthen me in order to glorify Him. Here’s to a very Merry Christmas!
The following was written by “Rachel” who lives in Djibouti:
On the first day of Christmas the expat life gave to me, A friend in nearly every country.
On the second day of Christmas the expat life gave to me, Two weeks of jet lag and a friend in nearly every country.
On the third day of Christmas the expat life gave to me, Three foreign languages, two weeks of jet lag, and a friend in nearly every country.
On the fourth day of Christmas the expat life gave to me, Four tropical diseases, three foreign languages, two weeks of jet lag, and a friend in nearly every country.
On the fifth day of Christmas the expat life gave to me, Five weeks of diarrhea, four tropical diseases, three foreign languages, two weeks of jet lag, and a friend in nearly every country.
On the sixth day of Christmas the expat life gave to me, Six skillz with squatty potties, five weeks of diarrhea, four tropical diseases, three foreign languages, two weeks of jet lag, and a friend in nearly every country.
On the seventh day of Christmas the expat life gave to me, Seven different currencies, six skillz with squatty potties, five weeks of diarrhea, four tropical diseases, three foreign languages, two weeks of jet lag, and a friend in nearly every country.
On the eighth day of Christmas the expat life gave to me, Eight pics for Instagram, seven different currencies, six skillz with squatty potties, five weeks of diarrhea, four tropical diseases, three foreign languages, two weeks of jet lag, and a friend in nearly every country.
On the ninth day of Christmas, the expat life gave to me, Nine identity crises, eight pics for Instagram, seven different currencies, six skillz with squatty potties, five weeks of diarrhea, four tropical diseases, three foreign languages, two weeks of jet lag, and a friend in nearly every country.
On the tenth day of Christmas the expat life gave to me, Ten reasons to honk my car horn, nine identity crises, eight pics for Instagram, seven different currencies, six skillz with squatty potties, five weeks of diarrhea, four tropical diseases, three foreign languages, two weeks of jet lag, and a friend in nearly every country.
On the eleventh day of Christmas the expat life gave to me, Eleven strange hand gestures, ten reasons to honk my car horn, nine identity crises, eight pics for Instagram, seven different currencies, six skillz with squatty potties, five weeks of diarrhea, four tropical diseases, three foreign languages, two weeks of jet lag, and a friend in nearly every country.
On the twelfth day of Christmas the expat life gave to me, Twelve cultural faux pas, eleven strange hand gestures, ten reasons to honk my car horn, nine identity crises, eight pics for Instagram, seven different currencies, six skillz with squatty potties, five weeks of diarrhea, four tropical diseases, three foreign languages, two weeks of jet lag, and a friend in nearly every country.
Merry Christmas from my international family to yours!
Anna Sojourning 