My favorite memory started the first year we were in Zambia and it continues on at my mom and dads house even now. Our first Christmas in Zambia was spent with the Garrison and Waddill family at their farm. We had a wonderful time putting on a nativity play, swimming on Christmas (which was new to me since Zambia is HOT at Christmas) and a great Christmas meal together. But my favorite memory started a tradition in our family and it taught me the true meaning of giving! My parents told me we were going outside to give Christmas to the workers. The farm workers gathered outside of the Waddill's house and each one received a gift. A blanket, and I don't remember if they got anything else but to me as a child who just moved from America(the land of Plenty) it didn't seem like much to get a blanket for Christmas. But the first person in line that I got to give a simple blanket to and I got to see their face light up... It changed my outlook on gifts. Of course as a child I loved having toys and barbies but that first Christmas taught me that Christmas gifts can be simple and no matter what it was it was fun to give!
Well our family took that tradition and applied it to our family and the guys that worked for us. We had a gardener and a night watchman. Before Christmas mom would take us to shop for those special boxes we would put together for our guys. We bought oil, corn meal, chicken, salt, sugar, tea, soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, charcoal and things like that. Then we bought something special for each man and for their wife and kids. Daka our gardener, always wanted a new pair of work gloves. Our night watchman got a flash light or something like that. Then my brother and I would wrap each item even the oil and sugar. It was so much fun and even more fun to watch them unwrap it. In a country that never celebrated Christmas or gave gifts, it was a new experience for all of them. I think I enjoyed watching them unwrap it as they enjoyed the unwrapping each item. It was awesome! Every year we did this growing up and mom and dad still give the gifts. I looked forward to giving them gifts every year because they were so happy even with basic food items and their joy was contagious! Watching that Joy on their faces is my favorite memory of every Christmas!
I hope you have a wonderful Christmas full of memories and fun!
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Tabitha, we do the same thing. I love to see them get all excited too! One thing new we are doing this year is that we gave Justin and Hannah each 50,000 kwacha and they are to find someone to give it to or to see a need and give towards that. It can not be someone they know like a friend or themselves. We'll see how it turns out! Merry Christmas!
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