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MORE NETWORK BLOG

Thank you for visiting us! Please find our latest blog right below and the rest of them at the bottom of the page, organized chronologically. Enjoy!

 

ByDiane Fietje on Monday, December 13, 2021

Christmas Memories from Around the World

Diane Fietje By Diane Fietje on Monday, December 13, 2021

 

Christmas is a special time of the year because we celebrate the birth of our Saviour, Jesus Christ! There are so many memories and traditions tied to this celebration adding to the wonder and anticipation of Jesus’ birth and His coming again.

Our staff at MORE have lived all over the world, and they have shared some of their favourite Christmas memories. We hope you will enjoy reading them!

Cassie (Nepal)

At the school I went to in Nepal we used to put on a Christmas play every year. We’d practice for weeks, and I loved learning so many new songs each time!

One special Christmas my parents gave my sisters and I a puppy! We’d been begging for one for so long. Our family was finally feeling settled in Nepal after an intense year of travelling and transition. So, it was time! We named her Angel and she was our dog for 16 years. We were even able to bring her back to Canada with us.

Every year my mom gets a children’s picture book about Christmas and reads it to us on Christmas Day. Even though we are all grown up now, it’s still a family tradition. I never get tired of hearing the Christmas story!

Paul (India)

As a 5-year-old MK in northern India, I remember peeking into one of the 45-gallon barrels that Dad and Mom used to pack all our things in and seeing a treasure trove of gifts for Christmas. I had never dreamed of such beautiful gifts.

Reminiscing years later, it spoke to me about how they had planned years in advance for special events and reminded me of their sacrificial lifestyle in caring for us kids. Mom and Dad took 2 furloughs in 22 years. The first furlough was after 8 years on the field, and the second was after 6 years so that was a lot of foresight and planning!

Malik (Senegal)

One Christmas tradition my family had in Senegal was to eat watermelon during the holiday season. It turns out that in Senegal pastèque (French for watermelon) is in season in December! Because it’s red and green, it makes a great Christmas food!

Mark & Ruth 

This Christmas will be, I believe, the 60th straight year that I will watch the 1951 version of ‘A Christmas Carol’ with Alastair Sim as Scrooge. Ruth has joined me for the last 45.

We received a little paper manger diorama one Christmas in the first years of our marriage. It has been lovingly placed in the centre of our Christmas tree each year in a bald spot among the branches - we MAKE one if the tree is unfortunately too regular - and our kids (now grown adults) still look for it. Christ must be at the centre.

Anna Marie

My favourite Christmas memory is putting up our wooden Nativity set. We would also bring a few favourite Christmas ornaments with us no matter where we lived and put those around our apartment to remind us of "home" and it helped to have continuity of tradition. If possible, we would buy an artificial Christmas tree and decorate it.

Ben

We were overseas and Dec 25th was not celebrated, but New Year's on January 1 was certainly celebrated. One of the first Christmases we didn't have a lot of decorations, so we traced the handprint of our son, who was young at the time, multiple times and colored them and cut them out and made a make shift tree on cardboard, using his handprints as the needles.  We made other home-made decorations and still have a few of them.  It was fun to use creative ways to come up with simple and inexpensive things to brighten up our place. We felt a long way away from family and needed to be creative to assist us in our putting down roots in our new country.

Wilma (Austria)

My favourite memory is of Christkindle Markt in most Austrian towns during Advent, and the electric advent wreaths strung in some street intersections.

Virginia (South America)

Navidad is the MOST IMPORTANT yearly event in South America. It is not Santa Claus who is believed to bring the presents but "El Niñito Dios" (Baby Jesus). Everybody leaves a pair of shoes by the windowsill or in a corridor in the house and, after midnight, you are sure to find one (or two, max) presents on top of every pair of shoes!

We don't have to leave cookies or milk for Baby Jesus, but we do have to go to the midnight mass to church for the "La Misa de Gallo" ("Rooster's Mass"/"Shepherds' Mass;") in which we are reminded of the REAL gift of Christmas!

At midnight, the church sounds its bells in celebratory mode while townsfolk set off their biggest and best fireworks and we go home to the hosting family, among bells and sparkling skies to celebrate Baby Jesus being born, family and love.

We start with a toast of cider and the kids are included, although most don't really like it, and we eat different kinds of asado meats (barbecue), salads and deserts. The most important desert is the Pan Dulce (Panettone).

Since this is THE MOST important gathering in our culture, the number of family members gathering at one place, travelling from all corners of the world, can be from 20 to 50 or more! While adults get to catch up about the family events and news, after we all opened our presents, we eat and drink until 4 or 5 in the morning while the children play with their new presents or try on their new clothing and go on the street to launch their baby fireworks or fall asleep due to tiredness and too much sugar! All this against a warm summer backdrop, flooded by fireworks smells, floating paper lanterns and the constant singing of the cicadas....

Judy (Philippines)

My first-born child (daughter) was born in December of 1994. I truly identified with Mary that year and was impacted by the concept of "Mary, did you know". I can only imagine her joy and sorrow at being the mother of the King of Kings, Son of God.

A more humorous overseas memory is from 1986 when I was living in the Philippines, hearing Christmas carols over the store speaker system of the one major department store in Manila in July! The whole "Christmas in July" was not a popular concept back then!

Mike (Thailand)

Growing up in Central Thailand in the seventies there was absolutely nothing in the culture to remind us of Christmas, so my parents invited some fellow missionaries over for an advent wreath once a week for 4 times before Christmas. We sang Christmas hymns, read Scriptures, and reminded each other of Jesus’ birth. We continued that tradition even once back in countries where it was a lot more obvious that Christmas was nearing and now our family keeps it up also.

Diane (Peru)

It’s hard to pick just one Christmas memory! Over the years we established different traditions in our family which have led to fond memories.

In Peru, some of my favourite memories were when our kids would join their other MK friends from school to come carol at our house and when our family joined the other families for the Christmas program at their school. Also, each year about half an hour before midnight we would climb on top of our flat roof and spin around 360 degrees to watch the spectacular show of fireworks going on all around us until just after midnight.

A favourite memory and tradition that we have been able to bring with us and continue is having advent services once a week before Christmas. Each week in December we light a candle to represent Jesus as the light of the world. By the fourth week all four candles are lit. The increasing brightness of the light as we light more candles reminds us that His return is nearer. We have enjoyed sharing this time with friends and family over the years.

Your Christmas Memories & Traditions

We've enjoyed collecting and sharing these memories with you! What about you? What is your favourite Christmas memory? What traditions do you celebrate in this season? How has where you lived, or your family story affected your Christmas traditions and celebrations? As we celebrate and anticipate the coming of Christmas celebrations, let's remember to wonder at Jesus' birth and anticipate His coming again!


Diane Fieje collected these Christmas traditions & memories from our MORE Network team! Diane serves with the MORE Network as a part-time administrator and full-time MK champion. Along with her husband Mike and their children, they spent 20 years in Peru with a mission organization serving children at risk. Having experienced transition back to Canada, first Mike after growing up as a missionary kid in SE Asia, and then as a whole family returning from Peru, they know how hard it can be to readjust to life in North America and are delighted to be able to help others in similar circumstances.



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Did you miss our past blogs? Check them out below!

 

Deny Yourself: My Story of Self-Denial & Abundant Life

“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” -Mark 8:34

I still remember the moment I heard the words of Mark 8, grasping their significance for the first time. Sitting amongst peers while at university – I was largely preoccupied by ambition and my pursuit of excellence.

I didn’t know a lot back then about what it means to follow Jesus, but I did know Jesus as the Saviour who pulls little children closer, drowning out harshness with His greatness. His hands had sheltered my heart throughout my youth and brought along gifts of companionship, discipleship, and understanding. I felt cherished by Jesus and it was his inordinate compassion towards me that kept me tethered to Him. 

Deny - the word sprang out at me, convicting and exposing me. 

What did that mean? 

I was well positioned to pursue the American Dream and succeed at it, and denying myself in any way was not really part of the plan. So tangibly struck, I fumbled to respond to those words within our group, finally landing on, “I don’t think I’m doing that”. 

“For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.” -Mark 8:35

Oh boy, somehow denying myself was connected to losing my life and that was not anywhere on my to-do list. I was on track for a comfortable life, full of all the perks of a first-world society, with no regard for the reality that no one avoids suffering anyway...

Read more...

Ministry at the Speed of Relationships

Building relationships is the first and foremost thing we should be about - everything else comes out of relationships. Building relationships with people from other cultures is so important, as humor; lifestyle; values; and beliefs are so different to ours, and don’t translate well. Living next to, and working with other nationalities, requires relationship.

Jesus taught us that building relationships is the greatest and most important thing we do - no strings attached.

So, how do we build Christ-honoring relationships in our life & ministry? In this article, Paul draws on wisdom from the Bible, underscoring the importance of humility, forgiveness, trust, and genuine care in developing deep and meaningful relationships. And he challenges us, first and foremost, to approach ministry (and life) at the "speed of relationships!"

Read more...

The Bittersweet of Travelling as an Adult TCK

Over the last year, I took more flights than I ever have within a single year. I’ve had more time to be in these liminal spaces than ever before. As an adult TCK (Third Culture Kid), this has invited me to reflect more deeply on why I am where I am in the world, and how that continues to shape my identity. In these spaces I momentarily re-enter into the journey of transition and grief.

In this article, Malik shares about his recent travels, and offers advice on how to process complex feelings while traveling and staying connected to multiple cultures.

 

Read more...

Risk-taking in the Canadian Wilderness

What first came to mind when I was invited to the “Canadian wilderness” to help lead a Wilderness Camp for adult third culture kids (ATCKs) this past July was the book Hatchet by Gary Paulsen.  

All spring I relished these thoughts: an adventure of “humans against the elements” with a group of young adult TCKs and ATCK co-leaders who “got it.” Overcoming challenges together is a great way to bond quickly, and with other ATCKs, I knew those bonds could form quickly in the right setting. Having grown up in the mountains of Vermont and in the highlands of Kenya, hiking, camping, paddling, and climbing in wild places is revitalizing to me. 

We were headed into all the key elements of adventure: horseback riding, rock climbing, kayaking, and hiking in the mountains where elk, moose, and grizzly bears roamed, living in tents that had just been resurrected after a literal crushing storm. In between, we would split wood and help with cooking, and immerse ourselves in outdoor life—axe throwing and bonfires, outhouses (let’s be real) and camp cooking, fast changing weather, and the sweetest air you could imagine. For me, that kind of life isn’t about a contest so much as it is about finding harmony with elements that can give wonderful gifts and can also kill you. Risk in its essence...

Read more...

Wilderness ReBoot: What to Expect

Designed for adult MKs (Missionary Kids) seeking a deep encounter with God amidst the beauty of the Canadian back country wilderness, Wilderness ReBoot is a co-ed retreat for MKs (Missionary Kids) ages 21-35 willing to be challenged physically and spiritually, while deepening their relationship with God by seeking His direction in their lives. 

Benjamin Reed, the Program Director for Wilderness ReBoot shares the purpose behind the retreat and a behind-the-scenes look at what you can expect. 

Read more...

Updates & Reflections from My Trip to India

Paul shares stories, updates and reflections from his recent trip to India. God is at work!

Read more...

Wilderness ReBoot: Solitude, Community & Mission

Ben shares about how his love for the wilderness first started, and gives insight into what adult MKs (Missionary Kids) can expect at Wilderness ReBoot. 

Read more...

The Busyness of an MK (Missionary Kid)

I love airports.

The hustle and bustle. People of every nationality streaming past me. The endless possibilities of flights to every corner of the world.

As an adult now, I can admit that in trying to get my family from one country to another, an airport can be a stressful place; endless lines, tight timelines, lost luggage, too much opportunity for things to go wrong.

But, as a Third-Culture Kid (TCK), and specifically a Missionary Kid (MK), the airport glitters like a yellow-brick road into the unknown, and it excites me, especially that hustle and bustle, that busyness of international travel.

Airports are synonymous with the word “busy”. This word, busy, seems also to be the first word used by people to describe life where I now live, Southwestern Ontario. If you have a casual conversation with just about anyone older than 20, they describe life as busy. Life is busy ... but why? I can’t speak about your particular situation, but I can tell you about my situation: there are just so many things to do. Good things. Important things. 

How do you figure out what God is specifically calling you to do when there are so many ‘good’ things that need someone to do them?

Read more...

Adult Third Culture Kid Research

One of the main reasons I decided to pursue doctoral studies was to conduct research. Not just any research, but "Adult Third Culture Kid" (ATCK) research. For many years, I worked with children, teens, and adults from various mission agencies, preparing them for international ministry and helping them transition back to Canada.

As I listened to their stories of joy and heartbreak, accomplishments and struggles, I realized that there is so much more that we, as caregivers and organizations, can learn from these international workers and their families to contribute to their transition and healing. In particular, we need to find new ways to help them help themselves, long after the end of the transition retreats and workshops we offer.

The question I am exploring for my research is “How can spiritual self-leadership encourage identity development and sense of belonging in ATCKs in order for them to fully realize their potential and value contribution in the workplace?”

Read more...

Deny Yourself: My Story of Self-Denial & Abundant Life
“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” -Mark 8:34 I still remember the moment I heard the words of Mark 8, grasping their significance for the first time. Si...
Read more...
Ministry at the Speed of Relationships
Building relationships is the first and foremost thing we should be about - everything else comes out of relationships. Building relationships with people from other cultures is so important, as humor; lifestyle; values...
Read more...
The Bittersweet of Travelling as an Adult TCK
Over the last year, I took more flights than I ever have within a single year. I’ve had more time to be in these liminal spaces than ever before. As an adult TCK (Third Culture Kid), this has invited me to reflect more ...
Read more...
Risk-taking in the Canadian Wilderness
What first came to mind when I was invited to the “Canadian wilderness” to help lead a Wilderness Camp for adult third culture kids (ATCKs) this past July was the book  Hatchet  by Gary Paulsen.   All spring I reli...
Read more...
Wilderness ReBoot: What to Expect
Designed for adult MKs (Missionary Kids) seeking a deep encounter with God amidst the beauty of the Canadian back country wilderness, Wilderness ReBoot is a co-ed retreat for MKs (Missionary Kids) ages 21-35 willing to ...
Read more...
Updates & Reflections from My Trip to India
Paul shares stories, updates and reflections from his recent trip to India. God is at work!
Read more...
Wilderness ReBoot: Solitude, Community & Mission
Ben shares about how his love for the wilderness first started, and gives insight into what adult MKs (Missionary Kids) can expect at Wilderness ReBoot. 
Read more...
The Busyness of an MK (Missionary Kid)
I love airports. The hustle and bustle. People of every nationality streaming past me. The endless possibilities of flights to every corner of the world. As an adult now, I can admit that in trying to get my f...
Read more...
Adult Third Culture Kid Research
One of the main reasons I decided to pursue doctoral studies was to conduct research. Not just any research, but "Adult Third Culture Kid" (ATCK) research. For many years, I worked with children, teens, and adults from ...
Read more...
6 Gospel Truths for TCKs
Ethan, an adult Missionary Kid, shares 6 gospel truths for Missionary Kids & Third Culture Kids ... "While there are many positive things about growing up as Missionary Kids, we face unique challenges and personal ...
Read more...