Our big outreach project this Christmas was cookies. This is not a Panamanian tradition, and our friends and neighbors love to try these delicious novelties. Kris spent several weeks making as many varieties of cookies as we could with the supplies we could find. Then, we printed up a brief Gospel message and Christmas wish "from our family to theirs." We passed them out in all the stores and businesses that we frequent in Aguadulce and Pocri, and the Police Station. Then we passed 
them out to all our neighbors up and down both sides of our street.
Not only were the cookies well received, but many people stopped immediately to read the note that we had placed on the top of each one. Although no one has come to discuss the message, several people sopped by with Traditional Panamanian Christmas food. As we pass them in the street, or shop in their stores, they seek us out and incresingly want to visit. We thank God for these opportunities.
This year we were ready to celebrate, not only our traditions, but also some of the Panamanian ones. On Christmas Eve at midnight, everyone goes out in the street and shoots off fireworks—big ones! For at least a half hour it sounds like we’re under heavy enemy fire. You can imagine what fun this is for boys. We were prepared, this time with our own arsenal, and Josh especially could hardly wait to begin the celebration.Then, after a late night, while the town was hushed in slumber, our boys were up Christmas morning to open their gifts. (They tried to tell us that since we live in Panama, they should be able to open them at midnight like everyone else.) Two of our teens came that afternoon to see Paul and Joshua’s gifts and spend the day with us. They even practiced their English with our family back home on Skype. The one thing
that sticks in my mind the most about the day was when Josh said, “Christmas is for-giving. Get it?” It was in response to something Paul had said. That’s really what Christmas IS all about, and it’s why we’re here. We are the messengers of God’s gift of Forgiveness.