Many of you may have heard about the first ever Christmas Sharing Tree being offered by the Lutheran church here. It was something completely new for them, but they took to it real well! The hardest part of the whole thing was getting people to ask for their
needs or wants. We received a gift request for a family with 5 children....but all they would write down as a need or want is, "the children would be happy with anything the congregation wishes to give"....I think I can safely say that we were all touched and humbled 
by this humble request. It took a little doing but we managed to get the ages and genders of the children so that appropriate gifts could be purchased for them 
We also put gift tags on the tree for daily needs like soap, toothpaste and basic living items. The congregation at the church gave generously, with all sincerity of love and caring that Jesus, I'm sure, was very pleased with. May He bless them 10 fold for their generous spirit of giving!
needs or wants. We received a gift request for a family with 5 children....but all they would write down as a need or want is, "the children would be happy with anything the congregation wishes to give"....I think I can safely say that we were all touched and humbled by this humble request. It took a little doing but we managed to get the ages and genders of the children so that appropriate gifts could be purchased for them We also put gift tags on the tree for daily needs like soap, toothpaste and basic living items. The congregation at the church gave generously, with all sincerity of love and caring that Jesus, I'm sure, was very pleased with. May He bless them 10 fold for their generous spirit of giving!Now...for the little hiccups.....and maybe I don't need to mention this, but I do because it shows a certain focus here in Slovakia about Christmas that I do not see back home in the states. I was, unfortunately, called home to my dad's side a few weeks before Christmas and was not here to facilitate the delivery of the Christmas gifts. Due to factors beyond anyone's control, the gifts were not delivered before Christmas. I was heart broken when I found out....but there really was nothing to be done. When I returned back to Martin the middle of January, I began the mission of trying to figure out how to get these gifts to everyone. Within a few weeks, we had the first of the families (13 children) delivered to....and they were so grateful, they didn't even care that the gifts were not delivered before Christmas - in fact, and this is what I want to share with you - Christmas here is about God and the gift He gave us, His Son Jesus the Christ. It isn't about Santa Claus and all the gifts he brings.....it is Baby Jesus who brings the gifts - and He can and does bring them all throughout the year!! What a fresh perspective! How incredibly joyous it was to deliver what I thought would be less than impactful gifts at a less than impactful time of year, to people who not only were impacted, but who impacted me!! God is so incredible - the gifts HE gives are timeless and always leave an impression of His love and goodness on us! Hallelujah!! Today - the last of the gifts were delivered and received with as much joy as if it were the 25th of December. Thank you Lord God for showing me the beauty of your plan, your wisdom and your love in sharing yourself with everyone everyday! Merry Christmas Everyone!
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