SIYAJABULA KUTSI JESU UNATSI!

Merry Christmas in Swaziland is Siyajabula kutsi Jesu unatsi (see-yah-jah-boo-lah goo-tsee Jay-soo oonah-tsee). "We are happy that Jesus is with us!" It is wonderful getting to celebrate it with my son Michael who arrived last Friday. This is our 3rd Swaziland Christmas party. We had the biggest one in Swaziland on Dec. 6th (4,000) and a smaller one in the more remote area on Dec. 7th (900). The smallest one is the Mbabane party where there are 2 CarePoints of which both are sponsored through the Oasis church. It is shocking to say our smallest one was for 500 children!It is summertime in Swaziland so often it is hard for us Americans to get in the Christmas spirit when you are getting sunburned. At our party it was cold and rainy and was beginning to feel a lot like Christmas! Not really but it's the closest we could get.

It was a great day with jumping castles, soccer, face painting and dancing. Please note that the local orphanage where Pepe stays was also invited and Pepe is doing great and is in the dancing photo below. We had hot dogs and ice cream. Each CarePoint performed for each other and signed a thank you banner for the Oasis Church!It was so much fun to see the children having such a great time praising Jesus and doing things they rarely have had the opportunity to do (last year's Christmas party). We all want to wish you a Merry Christmas and say Siyabonga! (see-yah-bow-ngah) "We thank you"!