I just wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas from JSS Istiqlal (Just north of Baghdad). I just got done stuffing myself with mash potatoes and turkey so if my sentences get short that means I'm starting to nod off. Christmas was pretty laid back out here today. To the Iraqi's it was just another Thursday. A couple of them came by for meetings..and we reluctantly let them in the gate. (I think they are getting us back for bugging the crap out of them during the recent EID holidays).
To me it was probably a Christmas where the meaning of it all hit the most. Being away from the busyness of what we have made Christmas in America, helped me get a deeper understanding of the significance of God fulfilling his word and coming to earth. For some reason it had a greater impact when I read how because of Herod's census, Mary and Joseph had to go back to their tribal town, in the later stages of Mary's pregnancy. And just like that Mary gave birth and a prophecy written hundreds of years earlier was fulfilled when the birth took place in Bethlehem. That was just one of many prophecies written long before Christ took place....too much to be coincidence. Even though many of us all know this, it's another matter to really have it sink in. It gives you great joy and awe to realize that the Creator of the Universe took this day a couple thousand years ago to do what he said he would do. So to me (this year) Christmas has become more then giving gifts and worrying about food. It has even become more then getting together with loved ones (although that would be really nice). It is about celebrating a time in human history when our Creator fulfilled a promise. The most important promise. When God himself came to the world as a man and lived like one of us. I hope that realization will continue to grow.
I can't wait to celebrate Christmas next year with Katie, the little ones, and other family and friends. Getting to see some snow would be nice too. My short term gift that will be really great will be to see our replacements starting to arrive...getting closer...can't wait.
Iraq over here is changing. I attached a link of a news story that caught my eye. I spent a couple days in October at this JSS. One of Saddam's old shopping malls. It was an 5 story hollowed out structure. People would live and work on the inside terraces...which were completely gutted and dark. Felt like I was living in a Mad Max film. The soldiers their called it the Death Star. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28384657
Will hope you all have a great Christmas. Thank you for the prayers... they work, I can tell you more about that later. Look forward to seeing many of you in a couple months.
God Bless,
John
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