If any of you know me well you know how much I love Christmas. I LOVE Christmas! I love the lights, decorations, and family traditions. But most importantly, I love getting to celebrate the birth of Christ! The one and only Jesus! He is literally the savior of the universe and I get to celebrate his birthday! (I also love birthdays)
I have to be honest I was worried about this Christmas. I love how my family celebrates Christmas. We have traditions that I love and would feel weird not doing. I knew this Christmas would be different. It had to be. I was on the other side of the world in a country that didn’t really celebrate Christmas. I mean there were some decorations in malls but not much around town. Jordan is a Muslim country so why would they even acknowledge the birth of Christ let alone celebrate it.
Before I left on the race I was hoping that this Christmas was going to take me to a country that was more likely to have a white Christmas. As someone who was born and raised in Southern California, I have not experienced that before and was hoping that I could cross that off the bucket list. The Lord had other plans however. Since we were Jordan, one of the places a lot of people go is called Wadi Rum. It is a place with a vast desert that a lot of people believe to be the place that the Israelites wandered for 40 years. It is also a place that the film industry uses to film movies in desert terrain and scenes that appear to be mars. Fun fact! They filmed famous movies like Laurence of Arabia, The Martian, Dune, and a few of the Star Wars films.
(Me and three of my squad mates about to enjoy our lovely “jeep“ tour)
(We go to explore a canyon and climb a large sand dune!)
Spending Christmas in the desert was not what I had envisioned but, it was definitely so special. Was it a white Christmas – no but it was filled with so many amazing experiences. When we first arrived I got go on a “jeep” tour around the desert. We got to see a canyon in a mountain and run up and down a large sand dune! I even got to spend Christmas Eve on the back of a camel and see a beautiful sunset over the unique scenery. My squad got to worship together and celebrate the birth of our Savior together and we got to show the Bedouin men around us how the love of Christ brings so much freedom and joy. We sang worship songs together and have a candle light service and pray with one another.
(this was one of our first nights and we got to listen to some Bedouin songs and we also got to share some worship songs with the men there)
(My sunset camel ride!)
(From our candlelight ceremony)
Christmas was not what I had expected but it was an amazing experience that I will remember forever. While I missed Christmas morning with my family and our traditions I also will look back on this Christmas that was filled with joy and laughter.
(On our way back to Amman after Christmas we got to make a stop at Petra!)
And to finish off our time here in the desert we visited one of the wonders of the world…Petra! While it did not look like a Christmas back home it was still precious and I will remember it forever.
Although we weren’t with our families, I am so glad I got to spend the holidays with YOU!!
i love that you love Christmas. And I love that you love spending it with your family and look forward to the traditions that your family shares. However, I agree with you. This past Christmas was special and I’m thinking it will always hold a spot in your heart. 1) It was different than the Christmases you had with your family (and isn’t it supposed to be?) 2) You spent Christmas in a lovely country with so many Christian roots, 3) You got to share the love of Christ AND see some sights most people just dream of seeing!