I never imagined what Christmas would be like without being with family. Only once have I been away on Christmas Day, to go on a trip for a high school graduation present, but I was still with my Aunt, Uncle, and Cousin (still with family). We were able to celebrate together at least before we left for this amazing trip. This year was a little different. This year I will be away from family for a whole year! This Christmas I am in Hungary, which is about 6,000 miles away from Texas. For the past few months, now being at my site for officially 4 months, I have gotten to know the people in my communities. As Christmas was drawing near, a few people in the community asked me what I would be doing for Christmas..."would I be going back home to America?"..."would I be meeting up with the other volunteers in Hungary?" As I have gotten to know my community, I have been welcomed into many homes and sometimes I even have just asked if I could come over. As Christmas was getting closer, I was wondering what I would be doing. No one asked me to their house yet. I knew though, that no matter what I wouldn't have to spend Christmas alone, that something would work out. I could always ask. God is with me too, now and always. Our YAGM program director, Julie, sent us a message: "The birth of Jesus brought a light into our world, an amazing mystery of God with us in human form. As you reflect on what Christmas means for you, I hope you will remember that the light of Christ shines in each and every single one of us, no exceptions. As always, we are grateful for the lives you’re leading, for the relationships you’re building and for the love you are sharing." Immanuel - "God with Us", our thoughts for this YAGM year as Christmas is upon us. Where do we see God during our YAGM year? I see God through and in many ways in the past four months. Christmas is just one part of this year. I shouldn't worry what will happen at Christmas, but what the whole meaning of what this year is for. What I am doing here? How am I leading this life as a Missionary? Through the relationships I am building and the love I am sharing. Christmas time away from family and friends might be challenging, but it could also be exciting! I had a few sad thoughts, but I was also excited to celebrate Christmas in another country. How it would be similar or different than in America with my family traditions. I was excited to celebrate Christmas in a new way, with my new "family" and friends in my community, no matter where I would be. I was excited to make memories that I would always remember during this YAGM Christmas. I never know what other years may hold....some Christmases may be away from family again, but there will always be people around who I can share Christmas with. December and the holiday season in its entirety were pretty busy for me. The pictures above are events that have happened in the month of December leading up to Christmas. The youth put on a Christmas program (of Bethlehem) during our advent day (csendes nap), at the church in Nyírtelek, at the beginning of December. Being a girl from Texas, who has hardly seen "actual snow" (enough to build a snowman), I got to see snow and took pictures with friends/places from my communities. They were happy for me, and more is yet to come :) In Budapest, I attended a symphony with the staff of the children's house and my mentors. Talent is shown in many ways! Members of this symphony were Roma, who are usually considered minorities in Hungary. It was good to be with my friends of the children's house (in a Roma community) and see how talented and special they are. At the end of the evening, we took a picture together at one of the Christmas markets in Budapest, by St. Steven Basilica.
One celebration in Hungary, that is not celebrated in the United States is Mikolas "Santa Claus" Day, which is on December 6th. In Hungary, "Santa Claus" comes on the 6th of December instead of Christmas Eve night. The night before Mikolas nap (Santa Claus Day), you are to leave your winter shoes by the door or window, but they are to be cleaned/shined, so that Mikolas can leave a present in them. Usually this present consists of chocolate, other special snacks, or little gifts. "Mikolas" came to visit the children at the Children's house, where I volunteer, on December 6th. He brought the children chocolate and a stuffed animal. On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, the birth of Jesus, is what is celebrated. At Christmas, presents do not come from Santa, instead the presents that are found under the tree, come from the Christmas angel, Baby Jesus, and family. I like how Christmas is celebrated here a lot better! Instead of having Santa Claus and Jesus's birth at the same time, what is most important about Christmas, is the only focus at Christmas. "Jesus is the reason for the season." Also, a Christmas Tree is not decorated until Christmas Eve here. Families decorate the tree together, either during the day or at night. There were even presents for me (winter clothes, ornaments, homemade gifts, and perfume). I even got hand-made jewelry from Pastor Misi's family from Slovenia. It was a very nice thought and things I will always cherish, but I didn't need anything. I just enjoyed being there. The photos, below, leading up to Christmas, are Advent Day (csendes nap at Görögszállás), an advent concert with a famous Hungarian Christian singer, decorating the tree a few weeks early at the Children's house, Christmas markets in Nyíregyháza and Debrecen (with an advent wreath and Nativity scene at each market I saw, including Budapest), making a snowman with a family in Görögszállás, and Christmas celebrations at the church and Children's house. The past few days of celebrating Christmas were busy, but in a good way. I was not celebrating Christmas alone, but were with four different families! We shared meals of traditional Christmas food in Hungary (fish or stuffed cabbage, even trying baked goose fat); we played games that were familiar to me from the U.S., but even some new games (Christmas present game-roll dice and take a present if you roll a 6, steal if there are no presents left in the middle, direction reverses if you roll a 1); and I attended services at the three different churches our church is apart of in my community (the Sunday School had a play on Christmas Day, that I helped with); and I just enjoyed the presence and traditions of Christmas in Hungary.
24 Comments
|
AuthorHello, my name is Megan. I, along with 92 others, are apart of the Young Adults in Global Mission program through the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America! Through God, I am called here in Nyírtelek and Görögzállás, Hungary. I will spend a year here to serve, share God's love with others, and walk along side my global companions. ArchivesCategories |