A Thai Christmas

This year I spent Christmas with my adoptive Hmong family and did as they do for the holiday season. Most Thais don’t celebrate Christmas because they are Buddhist, but a large number of the Hmong population is Christian. Unlike Western tradition where we have a Christmas service at church, independent of our individual family gatherings on the 25^th, people here celebrate Christmas with the church and don’t tend to have the individual family gathering. Because the Western date for Christmas (Dec. 25^th) overlaps with Hmong New Year celebrations, church members get together and decide what day Christmas will be celebrated. This year Christmas happened on the 20^th.

                              My Hmong Family With P'Pla Sitting on the Far Left, With Her
                              Kids and Husband Next to Her, and Her Niece on the Far Right

On the morning of the 20^th, I was picked up around 10 a.m. and taken to my Hmong family’s home. There we began the preparations for the celebration that would take place later that evening. In Hmong culture it is a custom that every family should cook an entire chicken with rice in a soup to take to the celebration for dinner. 72+ eggs were also boiled to give out to as they symbolize the beginning of everything. Goody bags filled with kanom (candy), fruit (apples or oranges), and juice boxes were also made and handed out at the party. After everyone arrived and ate chicken soup, we all went inside the church where welcoming disco lights of green and red danced around the room. The service started with a few song performances by various church members, followed by the children’s Christmas play. You know, the one that happens at every Christmas service. Except this one was quite different. Normally back home Christmas plays center around the nativity scene, where here, they almost skipped right through that. The play highlighted the creation; how Adam and Eve sinned against God and brought the fall upon us. Then they moved to birth and crucifixion of Jesus; focusing on the redemption of our sins. The play then ended with the second coming of Jesus. They concluded by explaining that Christmas was celebrated for the reasons surrounding why Jesus was born; to redeem our sins and come back for the faithful some day. After the play, a few dance performances followed, and then father’s day was celebrated.

The Women in the Church Performing a Song

In Thailand, father’s day is celebrated on the King’s b-day, December 5^th, for he is considered a father figure to Thailand. Likewise, Christians in Thailand celebrate father’s day on Christmas, because it is a representation of Christ’s birthday, and He is seen as our ultimate King and father. So the dad’s in the crowd took a seat on the stage, and while someone strummed on the guitar, the children made their way to the front where the fathers prayed for them one by one. Following this procession, the raffle madness began and concluded the night. Leaving everyone with a gift to take home.

Table Holding the Gifts Brought for the Raffle and Eggs to be Passed Out

Just like that, Christmas came and left without snow, Christmas trees or houses covered in Christmas lights.

Exceeding Expectations

Despite coming to Thailand with no expectations, the absence of expectations did not do away with the element of surprise. Perhaps because even though I thought I had no expectations, I still felt very sure about certain things—that I would learn about Thai culture, that I would sweat a lot, and that God would provide some level of community for me, because he so very well knows my heart. So okay, I had a few expectations. I just didn’t have any plans as tends to be the case. But the way things unfolded makes me so happy I failed to be myself in planning what was to come. So you may ask me if I’ve learned something about Thai culture, if I constantly sweat a lot, and if I have found some level of community. Questions to which I would answer with a yes, but… (and here are the details).

When I arrived in Mae Rim, I had been looking for a church to go to on Sundays. I thought I would have to take a 45 min. ride into the city on a songthaew (Chiang Mai's form of taxi) for this, because as far as I knew Mae Rim did not have a church. 

This is a Songthaew

I was figuring all of this out when I ran into SE Asia Christian Service—a mission to the Hmong (a link with information about the Hmong is provided at the bottom) in South East Asia. I walked through their door and explained to the lady inside that I was a Christian and was looking for a church in town. It turned out the office is a ministry that currently houses around 44 Hmong children who range from 3 to 17 years old; a good number of which are students at my school. They come from the hills of northern Thailand where most of their parents have stayed behind--this hostel makes it possible for the children to go to school, and receive an education otherwise not possible under their circumstances.

The Lady, P’ Pla, said they had church for the children on Sundays and they’d love to have me join. As I was invited to check out the hostel I was filled with soooo much joy, it didn’t even bother me my schedule had been changed for the evening. When we arrived, the children were gathered around tables in an outside kitchen eating dinner. A sight that froze me and brought goose bumps to my skin. I was so overwhelmed with love at seeing 44 children sharing a meal. A meal I had been invited to join. More honored I could not have felt.

Kids Washing Dishes After Dinner

After dinner we gathered around inside a building they call their chapel. We sat in a circle and I fought back the tears that choked me as the kids began to sing to the strumming of a guitar. I didn’t understand anything because it was in Thai, but that didn’t bother me because I couldn’t believe I had stumbled upon this place. At the end of the night I almost didn’t get home because P’ Pla’s car broke down. Which only gave me an excuse to remain there longer.  

Most Of Us the Following Sunday After Church

Since my arrival in Thailand, I have learned more than Thai culture, I’ve learned soooo much about the Hmong. I’ve gained community in the form of 44 children I communicate with through pictures, mimes, and some English/Thai sprinkled in between. I feel so blessed to get to build community with these beautiful children. God has been so good and marvelous though I’ve complained and worried. Through this experience he has gently reminded me that he IS in control and though I do not deserve a single thing, he gives abundantly.

The Kids and I Making Key Chains

The Kids Unloading Grass For the Front of the Office

Not familiar with who the Hmong are? Read about them by clicking on this link!

http://www.hmongculture.net/hmong-people