Celebrating Christmas 2006

We had a wonderful Christmas party on December 29th. We all felt like a great big family of 52 people coming together: the staff and 4th grade and 8th grade children from orphanage-internot #4. We rented some rooms at the Christian retreat center downtown with a special Christmas dinner of my favorite holiday foods. The dinner was followed by a program prepared by the kids and adults, and then the exchange of presents. What was special this year is that we introduced the children to the idea of saving their money from the stipends (we give them $1 a week) to buy a present for their special friends. A lot of special people in the children’s lives turned out to be their supervisors, teachers, Paul and I, and even our taxi driver Roman. Singing Ukrainian and American Christmas carols was a great end to the evening.

This year the Lord provided funds to buy nice sweat pants for the 8th graders and warm pajamas for the 4th grade children as Christmas presents. Our friends from Panama City sent beautiful slippers for all the children. They enjoyed their presents very much and thanked the Lord for them that night before going to bed. Thank you all so much for participating with us in providing a wonderful celebration of our dear Savior’s birth for the children and staff. We know that we could never do these things without your help and the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

God’s blessings be upon you and your household!

Paul and Tania Becker