by Joanna Morrison
Christmas at Iris begins early. Since products come and go in the shops, we tend to pick up gifts as we see them throughout the year and put them away in the container, marked clearly Christmas. As we unpacked the recent container and I came across boxes of beautiful t-shirts or jackets, I marked them Christmas and set them apart. In November, Kalina and I took a Pinzgauer truck to the container and loaded up all the boxes marked Christmas. This year we used the Visitor Centre as our sorting room.
The Lotens who visited us last year had carefully packed a bag for each child, and even included bags for new children. These had come on the container, so we were well on our way. We needed to go through each bag and take out anything not quite right, and add the extra things we had collected. Our administrator, Mo, had printed out lists, and was anxiously awaiting our list of ‘gaps’ so that he could go shopping. Kalina started the process, sorting the bags according to house. We began to add the special things we had found, and carefully sized up the kids in our minds. I would say, ‘No, that will be too small,’ and Kalina would respond, ‘But that will be took big.’ We pondered over our girls who are growing up so fast, as to whether or not they would appreciate a doll. (As it turns out, they all would appreciate a doll!)
In the meanwhile, I had the tailor working on suits for the girls. I had measure them all, and the tailor worked six days straight to complete them in time. Unfortunately, we had a misunderstanding in measurements and many of the blouses were too short, which I have yet to rectify. Still, those that fit look beautiful.
While Kalina and I worked on the Iris bags, there was another project under way on the base. We had 1500 bags to pack for village children. Mo, Alison, Sue, and many helping hands, worked an assembly line to fill the bags with rice, cookies, sugar, candy, soap, 2 cups, 2 plates, a pen, a pencil, a notebook, and a toy. These gift bags were distributed in six different locations through our network of pastors. Kalina went to Chipita. In her words: “Patrick took me to the distribution on the motorbike. That was fun, especially as we headed up into the foothills. We started off singing some songs, and then the Iris children sang for the kids. Papa Hedson told the Christmas story. It was about being joyful. There were 100 names on our list, so they lined up and came as their names were called, one by one. The children were young and so happy. Aunty Sue prayed for the children after they received their gifts, and then they went home. Daddy presented the chief gifts, and gave a football to the village. They were so happy about that. They were trying it out right there. Then we loaded up into 2 Steyrs, a Pinzgauer , and a motorbike.”
And that wasn’t the end of the Christmas bags. We also had 80 staff bags to prepare. This is always a highlight as all of our staff gather in anticipation. We call out their names and bless them one by one. It is a great way to thank them for their service. Their bags included a Chichewa New Testament this year, thanks to our Chartwell family. I wish you could have seen their faces as they opened the bags. The Bible was clearly the prized possession, amongst sugar, oil, rice, soap, and even a bag of maize. Ruth is the single mum of 4 children, and she works hard every day washing and cleaning, and her face glowed as she pulled out her Bible.
At last, Christmas day arrived. I woke early to quickly pack my last four bags, for Kalina, Daniel, Patrick, and Mo, and to mix the dough for our traditional cinnamon buns. At 8 o’clock, we all met at the visitor centre for gifts. What a surprise! No one was late. We sang some carols, and I read the Christmas story as told by Julie Vivas (a personal favourite), and then the distribution began. Every year it takes a little longer, but we try to keep it personal by presenting the gifts to individuals. This year everyone received brand new sheets provided by friends in Canada. Each house also received a ball. Though we get to see the faces, there are many who contribute to this day of joy, and we are so very grateful for each one.
As children eagerly delve into their bags, we retreat to our home for our missionary brunch. We have a unique team here, each one playing their part, according to God’s call on their life. We are not always the best communicators, but through God’s Spirit it works and there is unity. We enjoyed a lovely brunch together.
At 3 o’clock the preparations began for our evening feast. At our house, we had a lettuce chopping, and carrot grating party, to make 2 big pots of coleslaw. At the Smith’s house, the barbecue coals were hot and ready for 32 chickens. At the children’s kitchen, the mothers worked on cooking a huge pot of rice. How do they do that??? Mo and his helpers laid out our desert cookies in neat rows, eating the occasional ‘broken’ one. By 6 o’clock all was in order and the feasting began!
Our bodies cried out for bed at about 8 o’clock, but we had some dancing to do to work off all that chicken. Also, the sugar from pop and cookies had yet to be used up. We finally fell into bed at about 10 o’clock on Christmas Day, 2012!
