I am of the first generation of Christians in my family. Most of the brothers and sisters in Hong Kong churches are like this. So, no matter how much we warmly celebrate Christmas and work hard to prepare for Christmas caroling, evangelistic outreach and worship services, these things are just for a minority of society. Christmas light displays, Christmas sales, Christmas banquets are all good opportunities for business people and consumers, but those who seriously consider the meaning of Christmas are still a small minority. So, for me, Mid- Autumn Festival and Chinese New Year have a lot more atmosphere to them.

On our mission team there are three Americans and three Filipinos. They are already the second or third (or even more) generation of Christians. They decorate their homes, play Christmas music, and even wear Christmassy clothes. When we got together to sing Christmas carols, share food together, play games . . . I started to feel a little Christmas atmosphere.

Christmas to me used to be a church festival day, and now it is my work. Thank God! Because I need to prepare messages, I need to think through the central aspects of Christmas again and find its meaning for us today.

However, I have made no new discoveries, so I do not plan to share with you here, but I will just share my activities during the Christmas season:

• the earliest, on December 12, in Takeo Province 's " Coconut Village " was my first Christmas worship service;
• Dec. 19th was Prek Thei FMC 's Christmas worship; in the afternoon was Phnom Penh Thmei's Christmas celebration;
• on the 20th was the missionaries' Christmas celebration;
• on the 23rd, I preached at the Treuyslaa Christmas worship service;
• on the 24th I attended the university students' Christmas evangelistic outreach;
• Dec. 25-27, and again Jan. 1-3, I am covering for missionary Chris Wilkins in Kampong Cham Province over the two Sundays, preaching for services in the morning and at another location in the afternoon;
• Dec. 31 is the Kaoh Ksachtunlea East and House of Joy combined Christmas celebration.

I hope that in the midst of ministry I will encounter God Himself, just as Simeon saw that the infant Jesus was God's salvation; and just like on the road to Emmaus, the two men recognized the risen Jesus.

Wishing you a happy Christmas and a blessed New Year!

In the Lord, 
Rebecca

Prayer requests:

• Please pray for our field supervisor Rev. Paula Guazon. Her health condition is changing. Pray for her to have peace as she returns to Hong Kong for a medical check-up and treatment..
• Pray for rescue for those suffering from the tsunami.