A very Himalayan Christmas

I'm back...finally! Since I last wrote on here I've been in Delhi, Bangkok, Singapore, and Chiang Mai. That means I have lots of pictures to share, but let's start with Christmas...

Here I am playing Uno with the Sharmas, our landlords. They came to our house for a Christmas party and it was great fun for everyone. I dominated in Uno. Of course, it was the first time everyone else had ever played but I don't believe in letting people win.

The day after our party the rest of our team came! We made a lot of really great food, watched Christmas movies, and sang a lot of Christmas songs. We also had a Jesse Tree ceremony, which was part of my countdown during the Advent season. Pictured above is April and me by our lovely leaning Christmas tree. Don't we look festive?

Here's a nice shot of everyone on Christmas morning. Could we be wearing anymore clothes? I don't think so. It was a little bit chilly, but delightful nonetheless.

You might be impressed to know that six single people can make quite the Christmas dinner even though we live out in the middle of nowhere. Kyle even found turkey. The rest of our menu included dressing (not stuffing), broccoli and cheese casserole, sweet potato pie, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, and way too many desserts.

Well this is a very general and unoriginal post but it's hard to write about things that happened several weeks ago with the same zeal I usually have. Christmas is a beautiful time of year though. I'm sorry it's over. I'm also sorry that people have tried to make it a winter festival or a happy holiday or about family and friends. Why celebrate something earthly and temporal and imperfect when you can celebrate something divine?

O come, Desire of nations, bind

In one the hearts of all mankind;

Bid Thou our sad divisions cease,

And be Thyself our King of peace.