Families and Traditions

            

Happy New Year from the Mahoneys!

         A few days ago, it was quite chilly outside (60 degrees or less, and yes that most certainly is chilly for this time of year here;)) because it had been raining so much…so I took the opportunity to make a wonderful, hot & creamy cup of hot chocolate—yum!  To most of you reading this, you might simply glance over the importance of what I just said.  Today is the 7th of January and we have already celebrated Christmas & New years without a bit of snow, “weather outside [being] frightful”, cold air or anything!!  I don’t even like the cold, but it doesn’t feel right to sing certain Christmas songs (especially “Frosty the Snowman” or “Walking in a Winter Wonderland”), hang stockings by the fireplace or wear a nice scarf or Christmas sweater (not the ugly ones that your grandma wears) when you are sweating much of the time.  Likewise, it doesn’t feel the same when your extended family is not with you to share this special time of year. 

            But nearly two years ago before we started this journey so far away from family, God showed me a promise that He had made long ago in Matthew 19:29—“And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold…” in another gospel (Mark) Jesus adds at the end “in this life and the life to come”….

Everyone except Eli (our photographer) & Allie who was asleep

     And He has certainly answered that prayer time and time again as we reflect on all His blessings this season.  First, we were so blessed to spend a Christmas meal with our ‘Malagasy family’ who also happen to be our workers.  We shared the Christmas story, ate together and laughed together—we thank God for each of them!!  

We ate together

We laughed together!

            

 Then Christmas Eve, we were blessed again to share a meal with our close friends here in Tana.  We enjoyed sharing in their new tradition of eating cheese fondue on and just enjoying time spent together.  The night ended with gingerbread cake, coffee and excited kids who didn’t want to go to bed!  

All the kids at Christmas Eve (except for Allie)

 

My friend Karina & I

Christmas day and New Year’s day, we enjoyed time with just our own family making new memories and traditions.  

Christmas Day: getting ready to hear the Christmas story

 Perhaps we started a new tradition that when there is no snow for a snowball fight, on Christmas day, you improvise with a water gun fight (especially when it is over 80 degrees outside).  

She loved getting wet!

Confetti!

Happy New Year from the Mahoneys!

 We enjoyed a new meal for Christmas of meatloaf and scalloped potatoes (maybe another tradition started with inspiration from Andy’s family).  We finished with a yummy chocolate birthday cake for Jesus with store bought frosting from America (thanks to our Mill Family)!  For New Years Eve, we baked homemade chocolate chip cookies and started a new tradition of making confetti to throw to bring in the New Year (or at least close enough for Eli’s sake).  The girls brought in the New year as the most adorable sleeping beauties! :)

Sleeping Beauty #2

Sleeping Beauty #1

More fun with confetti on New year's day

She was a big fan!

            

But by far, our favorite tradition we had this holiday season came after the new year.  We had the opportunity, as a family, to visit a nearby orphanage to love on the children and share the gospel with them.   

We talked to about 55 children plus some adults

What a huge blessing it was to our family, to share the gospel with the kids through making salvation bracelets with them, and loving on them (especially the babies)!  It truly warmed my heart so much to see Eli playing soccer with the older kids and holding hands with the director of the orphanage as we walked back from the baby's/ girl's home.  As we were driving home, the kids were talking about how they couldn’t wait to go back and love on the babies again.

      Then Eli asked, “Can’t we just ask them if we can adopt ‘em?”  I wish sweet boy—I really do. 

 

 Unfortunately, this organization doesn’t yet have the ability to legally do this.  Especially during this season when families gather together, it really saddens me to think that none of these precious children will have families to call their own.  But then I am encouraged when I think of what God did and what He has promised in Galatians 4:4-7— “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.  And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’  So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.”

       
          Just look how many times it mentions son or father or adoption!  You see, God allowed His Son to leave His forever home to live with an ‘adopted family’ in a temporary place, so that these children (& each of us) could be adopted by God, into His forever family, being co-heirs with Christ and living in His forever home that Jesus has prepared for us.  They (& each of us) can cry out to Him at any point in time, in any hour of need as our one and only Abba Father who loves us more than any earthly father or mother and can fully meet our needs.  He is the only gift at Christmas time that truly lasts and satisfies our souls!