African Insights Blog Newsletter

Christmas 2009 

Little Axum visited me the other evening just as the sun had set.  I was on my porch, dusting off the Christmas tree from last year, testing lights.  He approached me with questioning eyes – “What’s that?”   

I was amazed, here was a boy now about 5 years old, and had not seen a Christmas tree…but why should he?  Why spend money on something that could be spending on food, on rent, on water, even medicine. 

Most Western children take Christmas for granted, it is celebrated, lavish gifts are given, and people celebrate with food and drink, with get family and friends gathering. 

When I was like Axum, I lived in Post-War Germany, the country of my birth.  I was born a few months before the war ended in the British Zone, then lived in both the French and American Zone. 

In those days, people went without.  When my father returned from being Prisoner of War camp in the UK it was Christmas, I remember the wool coat and hat he brought me, the Cadbury Cookies and chocolates, the cocoa, my mother a dress and nylons, it was a lovely day, it was like Christmas. 

My family was fortunate, we had a house to live in, and my grandfather had regained the house he had lost during Hitler’s time because he had belonged to the wrong political party.   

In those days, there was a lack of everything, food, coal to heat your house, meat, clothing of most types, shoes.  We raised rabbits for meat down in our basement, my father got into the black market and we bought things with Coffee and Lucky Strikes or Camels. 

When Christmas came it was special, somehow we found a goose in a nearby village, home made noodles, winter vegetables.  Life was tough but in spite of it we celebrated the moment, the gift of life, the reason for the season with Christmas Carols, Church services and family get together. 

One Christmas I remember the daughter of the Pastor coming to our house with a large package from a family in Wisconsin.  It contained canned cheese, I had never seen yellow cheese before, but it tasted great, the powered milk, the cocoa, the coffee, the other things made Christmas a very special time. 

As I look around in Uganda, my childhood is a reason is one of the reasons I am here.  It has caused me to understand the meaning of true compassion and the difference between it and pity.  Children like little Axum need compassion that empowers, that stands by no matter what and believes that there can be a Christmas in spite of the poverty that surrounds. 

This Christmas I will be celebrating the 25^th with children like Axum except most of them come from families that have even less than little Axum.  There will be over 500 to 800 children that will come for the celebration, the food, the laughter, the loving acceptance and just maybe a little gift that will brighten the day for a child that lives in hopeless situation where lack is the rule of the day. 

Normally we have been able to buy Christmas gifts from an NGO for a reasonable price, this year there are but a few things to give out to them. 

In the many years I have been writing African Insights, since I have not used these email newsletter as a means of raising funds for the children of Africa, my concern has always be to inform.  

However as I have traipsed through some slums for the last three weeks in search of a family that a family in the US wants to help I saw once again the agony of daily life here.  The struggle for existence, the need for education, for medical care, for water, for a book or a toy that will just cause a child  to dream of a tomorrow where life can be better, where the curse of poverty can be broken, where the poverty of spirit is replaced by hope and faith. 

2000 some years ago, there was no room at the Inn for child that was to be born in Bethlehem.  At his very birth he was rejected, the kids I encounter are toss-a-ways of society, many of them live with someone else than mother or father.  Having a Christmas tree is the least of their concerns, knowing that someone cares is much more important. 

This morning an email greeted me as I opened my mail.  It was from a woman in Scotland, she wanted to help, send a donation, and send some books. I was touched by her email and encouraged.  There are people who care…who out of compassion reach out into a world that quite different where children have a harsh life at a tender age. 

More Holiday Reflections African Style

 

Saint Nicholas Day:  Reflections from Africa on December 6.	Christmas African Style:  What Christmas is like in Uganda East Africa.  Different traditions, same spirit.	Christmas Thoughts from Africa: Reflections of Emmanuel - God with us	Advent with an African touch:  Reflections on Advent the Season of the open door.
Christmas 2009:  Children and their future in Africa and what it means to be a child here.	Christmas Party 2009 for Kids born into Slums:  A lovely celebration it was.	Christmas all year long:  The spirit of Christmas that goes beyond the Season.	No, they don't know it is Christmas - AIDS and the children of Africa
It is still not Christmas in Northern Uganda: a look back to Christmas of 2006 in Northern Uganda	It does not feel like Christmas-Joseph Kony-Christmas 2008: Thoughts on the LRA	Gathering at the Table: Thanksgiving Reflections on Africa, poverty and the plight of Africans.	Childhood lessons on New Year's Eve applied in Africa
Thanksgiving in Africa:  Thoughts and reflections on thanksgiving from Africa.	Easter in Africa - Reflections:  Reflections from Africa on the Easter Season.	Africa's Children-Section:The joys, the sorrows, life for children in Africa. Pictures & Stories	Life in East Africa-Section: Life in Africa - What is it really like?

 

 

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