On Christmas eve, New Hope School was buzzing with excitement as children exchanged gifts with each other and prepared for the Christmas assembly. The whole school (2 year olds, 3 year olds, 4 year olds, first grade, second grade,third grade) gathered in the sanctuary for a special Christmas assembly. We sang Christmas songs and the third graders peformed a play about Jesus being born. The kids sang happy birthday to Jesus and they also received cake. They were of course very happy!
Josh and I celebrated Christmas at Matt and Nary McCullough's home. We went over to their house on Christmas eve, slept over and spent Christmas day with their family. It was cute seeing their daughters Miriam and Rachel open their gifts in front of a web cam, where Matt's mom was watching from Canada. Josh and I helped cook the Christmas lunch which consisted of: a huge turkey stuffed with rice, potato stuffing, peas, marshmallow salad and sweet potatoes.
In the evening, Josh and I returned to New Life in Christ church where we had dinner with Pastor Keat and Sally and their staff. We gathered on the highest floor of the church which is under construction and has just received a roof. We sang songs and ate a Cambodian meal of: papaya salad, vegetable pastries, mango slices, corn, brownies and sweet potatoes.
It was not a usual Christmas of course. It was completely different from the kind of Christmas that Josh and I would have celebrated in Canada, but it was good. It was our first Christmas as a married couple and away from home.

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