Brazilian Christmas

I got to spend Christmas at my friend Louise's house with her whole family -- a real Natal Brasileiro! We started with a family dynamic (a type of icebreaker/party game) and then shared our favorite Bible verses and prayed. We ate dinner at 1 a.m. Christmas morning! After dinner, we exchanged presents and finally went to sleep at 4:30.
Christmas day was a day at the beach -- a fine idea, as it was about 100 degrees outside, and Christmas night was spent at a church service commemorating and celebrating the birth of Jesus, the Messiah. His coming was long-awaited and expected by those who lived in His time, and today His followers are awaiting His return. We celebrate His first coming and await His second, when we will be with Him in glory.