The Essence of Christmas: Visit to Mosop Orphanage

(Photography by Jeremiah Galat, 24 December 2008)

On Christmas Eve, Heather and the kids went to visit the children at one of three orphanages supported by the ministry of Tenwek Hospital. Jeremiah, at first, was not excited to go, thinking that staying at home and playing with friends would be much more enjoyable. However, the experience had quite an impact on all our kids, mostly because of the way they were treated as visitors to the orphanage: being greeted with a program, songs, bananas, oranges, mangos, hard-boiled eggs, chai, and unlimited soda. Heather mentioned how humbling it was to be given so much by those who had so little. Later that evening, our family watched “The Nativity Story” on our surround sound home theater system (our laptop, with Sam’s Club Bose speakers), celebrating the birth of Christ. Amazing how the King of the Universe humbled himself to be born as a helpless baby in a stable. And the baby’s visitors, the wisest of the wise (Magi) and the lowliest of the low (the shepherds) demonstrate the fact that Christ is for all people who realize that on their own, if left to ourselves, and by our own means, all is hopeless. More paradox…

1 Cor 1:27-31 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things--and the things that are not--to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God--that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.