Holiday Cheer

Flickering lights. Greenery. People bustling about. It’s all part of something so familiar to us Western society dwellers. Here in Rwanda, we have all the lights, greenery, and people, but it’s not the same. The lights flicker because the fluorescent bulbs are burning the ballast (that could be your problem Cristy/Elisa), the greenery vaguely describes everything in sight, and people go about their daily business. You ask, “Is Christmas even a holiday in Rwanda?” It most certainly is. School no longer occupies the children. It’s a day of no work, well except in a hospital.

To what do we attribute holiday cheer? What is the source of it? Elaborate feasts? Yuletide carols? Exquisite decorations? Family and friends? Uncharacteristic generosity? Brisk winter air with a hint of apple cider or hot cocoa? Nightmarish shopping sprees? When none of these present themselves, then what? For a Western culture, Christmas without these is like a rapper without his moocher thug posse or a Sigg without its dents; the identity has been lost. Only those who have been there all along to witness all the highs and lows can really understand. I find that despite my best efforts, Christmas has simply not come to town because the typical characteristics are, well, somewhere else, somewhere colder.

What am I doing to get in the holiday spirit? First of all, I created an extensive Christmas playlist on my iPod and have been through it countless times. While many of you are enjoying (or loathing) the snow, daily thunderstorms mesmerize me. I have even been drinking the local version of hot chocolate, laced with sugar to cope with its shortcomings. But more than any of these, I have been thinking about those who support me all over the world. Whether it’s people mocking Karsten and me from the islands, spiritual challenges and reflections from Central America, random 30-second stories from Asia, catching up on the latest news from Southern Africa, or the skype calls from America, you are all helping to bring the season of cheer to me, the Holiday Cheermeister, "...the soul at Christmas who needs it most..."

When the term holiday cheer is separated, I can better relate. On holiday, what happens (stereotypically)? You go to some tropical country where you don’t speak the local language, food is way overpriced because you’re a tourist and it’s “ethnic”, and living more simply is desirable? And that’s a grandiose vacation? After a week of this, you return to your dull American life but have very fond memories of some far away land. That’s the cheer from your holiday. You can imagine me in a hammock, listening to the Beach Boys, eating fresh pineapple, and watching the sunset because that’s the plan after work tomorrow. That’s some good holiday cheer! But this isn't vacation, this is daily work and life.

FDR and his New Deal, Obama’s flurry of everything, George W. Bush and his dictionary of new words – all began in the first 100 days of stepping up to the plate. Today marks the 100th day of my arrival in Africa. What have I done and how has it been? Four countries, four projects, forlorn efforts to learn foreign languages, forfeited luxuries, forays into business and cultural politics, foreseeable improvement, forever changing circumstances, fortifying of my belief I’m doing what God wants, forged friendships. Forgettable? I should say not. Forty-percent done (technically 40.8%), but the forthcoming bit will be the most formidable.

Here are a few pictures. There is one of a memorial to the Rwandan Genocide that happened almost 17 years ago. It's less than 100 meters from my house.