“Shipping Day”

In our family there is a holiday that the kids anticipate more eagerly than Christmas.  Impossible, you say?  Well, I’ll tell you.  While we’re here in PNG, birthdays and even Christmas can come and go without the usual trappings we might expect back in the US.  “Stuff” is just difficult to get here, and so often we have to prepare ahead of time for those special occasions—many months in advance.

For example:  In December, someone sent us a beautiful calendar by airmail.  It arrived in March.  We bought this year’s birthday presents for the kids last October and sent them via sea freight to PNG hoping they’d arrived in time for Claire’s March birthday.  They arrived this week…with the rest of our belongings.

So for the past couple of days we’ve been celebrating Claire’s birthday, Thanksgiving and Christmas all in one.  Thanksgiving because we’re so grateful to have our own pans, pillows, toys, tools, and fuzzy robes again.  And Christmas because ripping open those almost forgotten plastic bins was a bit like tearing into Christmas gifts.

It may not have much spiritual impact like Easter or Christmas—but seriously, our kids have been looking forward to and praying daily for “Shipping Day” since we arrived back in Ukarumpa!  But if I really think hard, I probably could tie some spiritual aspect into this holiday…like waiting for our shipment is a test of faith, or a reminder of how Jesus’ return could happen at any time….  <smile>