Advent in the Village

Dear Family and Friends,
   Recently I saw on the internet lots of ads for "Black Friday" sales!  What a shock!  I found myself saying, "Really?  Is it that time of year?"  In this part of Tanzania, the weather is tropical year round.  We do not have dependable electricity or internet service so we really don't get news on a regular basis.  Tanzanians don't celebrate Halloween or our American Thanksgiving so there's no "build up" for Christmas.  And here it is November 28th and we've yet to hear the first Christmas song---anywhere.  No T.V. so no Charlie Brown Christmas Special (or the Grinch or Rudolph or Frosty  or anyone for that matter.)  One day often seems like the next here.  The sun rises at 6 a.m. and sets at 6 p.m---everyday.  The temperature starts at 64 degrees and reaches lower 80's ---everyday.  Except for 3 days of rain, there's been only dryness and sunshine for 5 monnths now.
   So------no colorful ads in Swahili newspapers---only black and white pictures and articles about the "Gov't Move to Sell Ivory Stockpile Faulted"(last week's headline).  No clever commercials on T.V. for stocking stuffers or that holiday party!  Tanzania in December is the same as Tanzania in October when we arrived---sort of just another day.
   I wonder if that's why the shepherds were so shocked on that Holy Night 2000 years ago.  Their life was probably somewhat like life is today for many village people in Tanzania.  Each day is the same---filled with the goal of survival---getting enough water for their livestock, selling enough tomatoes or bananas or mangos so they can buy some eggs from their neighbbor's chickens or some milk from the scrawny goat tethered to the nearby tree.
   In America, Jesus comes in the sparkle and glitter of the holiday season. 
   In Tanzania, Jesus comes into the dust and dirt and poverty of everyday existence.
   I don't know what to make of all of this yet---but somehow I expect that Christmas will be very different for Tim and me this year. . .but if it's anything like what we've experienced so far, Christmas will far surpass our expectations.
  No matter where we live, may we all use this time of Advent to truly prepare our hearts for the incredible blessing of the birth of God's Son.
   With much love for each of you,
     Tim & Diane