Week 26: Merry Christmas!

BUON NATALE, TUTTI!!!!!!

I don't have a lot of time for email today, but I want to wish you all a Merry Christmas and share some of my favorite holiday insights with you.

In Italy, Christmas is very different. Santa Claus (Babo Natale) has only existed for the last 40 years. Instead there is a witch who comes down the chimney on 6 Jan. and stuffs stockings. A lot is the same as far as the tradition goes, she is a good witch and they leave pasta and water out for her so that she can make it through the night. She leaves the coal from the fireplace in your stocking if you are not bravo. But Christmas is for celebrating the birth of Christ. It is crazy. There are more Nativities set up than Christmas trees here. I love it :) But there is still the emphasis on making sure that Christ is at the center of Christmas, they think that they are too worldly in their Christmas celebrations and I am just thinking, "Wow this would never fly in America."

But especially as a missionary, all of my Christmas celebrating has been in focusing what I am giving to Him this year. My lovely friend Lita (serving in Richmond, VA) said last week that she and her trainer were talking about a Christmas song that says something about the gift we will bring to lay before our King. So I want to give my King a gift this year. I am trying to consecrate every day's service to Him and do what He would do. The other cool thing has been thinking about Him as the gift of Christmas. We did some finding using that and the video from the church called He is the Gift, and I am just so grateful to have a Savior who loves me, and who loves our Heavenly Father. I am thankful that Heavenly Father loves me enough to sacrifice His Son. I am grateful to my family for all that they are sacrificing for me to be here right now, and I am grateful for this chance to serve my King.

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas this week, I love you all, and "I'll be home for Christmas, if only in my dreams!"

Merry Christmas!

Con amore,

Sorella Decker

Christmas Nativity reenactment with Slla Barazoto

Natalia and Vasile

My apartment in Rome 5 (Passo Corese)

Julien and Veronique

Ostia Beach