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.