Dykstra Family Christmas Card
Consider this our unorthodox Christmas Card. Admittedly, an electronic "card" does not reach out and touch you in the same way as paper, ink and a picture but hey, we are living in Zambia (but not really because at the moment we are currently living in our old house with our not so old in-laws/parents) which seems like enough of an excuse to not be doing a traditional Christmas card.
Anyway, thanks to this Blog, you have either A) A pretty good snapshot of our year already or B) The (not recommended) opportunity to sit down and read a Christmas letter on steroids.
So, instead of looking back on this last year, which has in many ways been one of the richest of our lives, we will give you a quick current snap shot and a brief (though unofficial) look into the future.
We have also compiled the Best of 2006 on our Photo page.
Most of all, we just want to tell you, our friends and family, that you are the best part of our lives - hands down.
Current Recap: Bennett is, for all practical purposes, back to normal. An active and energetic five year old who likes to wrestle and "pretend" shoot you. We remain grateful that we were able to come home and have a quick and successful surgery. The rest of us have made the most of the unexpected gift of being home. It has been great to see many of you, for the girls to realize they still have a home and a place here, and in general, enjoy the conveniences and pleasures that are unique to home. I (Jeff) took Mackenzie and Clara to Colorado to see my family in Grand Junction and to spend a couple days in Breck. with my sister and her family...Fun to be in the promised land.
We have also felt a strong pull back to Zambia. As much as we miss Minnesota, we know being in Zambia is the right place for us in this season. We are heading back Christmas Day (to re-enact Jesus and His parents fleeing to Africa after his birth...Actually, it was the only day we could get tickets...) So we will be back in Lusaka to bring in the new year and all of the unknown and promise that it holds.
Looking Ahead: As we contemplate going back, we feel like we have been given the chance to start our time in Zambia over again without the hassle of setting up a home, finding the store, getting lost etc. Being in Minnesota has sharpened our vision for being in Zambia in a way that we could not have anticipated. We feel simultaneously a keen awareness of all that can be done (and an excitement to jump in) without any illusions of our being able to fix everything.
We received the sad news yesterday that Dorothy, our friend and housekeeper, lost her sister -- her death created two more orphans in a country where over 1 million kids have experienced the same fate. Dorothy will be taking these two children in as her own which, in our paradigm, she can't afford. As Molly and I read the news last night, we both silently wondered if Dorothy's sister's life could have been spared with the $15 (or less) that we could have provided had we been there.
So, why do we feel the pull back to Zambia? Because 13 million orphans across Africa is just an ugly, overwhelming statistic. However, two children that are now connected to our family though our friend Dorothy are not statistics -- They are two kids, created in God's image who need love, support, food and education that we can help provide. We are excited to go back because in Africa it is sometimes so easy to help radically change the arc of someone's life.
The good news for us long term and for those of you not living in Africa right now, is that we can all make a difference from whereever we are sitting...A sincere prayer offered up, a financial gift that provides a home, an education or a meal, a neighbor visited, an encouraging letter written and on and on...It all matters.
May God richly bless you with exactly what you need (and at least some of what you want...) this season of Christ's birth.
Warmly,
Jeff, Molly, Mackenzie, Clara and Bennett
Anyway, thanks to this Blog, you have either A) A pretty good snapshot of our year already or B) The (not recommended) opportunity to sit down and read a Christmas letter on steroids.
So, instead of looking back on this last year, which has in many ways been one of the richest of our lives, we will give you a quick current snap shot and a brief (though unofficial) look into the future.
We have also compiled the Best of 2006 on our Photo page.
Most of all, we just want to tell you, our friends and family, that you are the best part of our lives - hands down.
Current Recap: Bennett is, for all practical purposes, back to normal. An active and energetic five year old who likes to wrestle and "pretend" shoot you. We remain grateful that we were able to come home and have a quick and successful surgery. The rest of us have made the most of the unexpected gift of being home. It has been great to see many of you, for the girls to realize they still have a home and a place here, and in general, enjoy the conveniences and pleasures that are unique to home. I (Jeff) took Mackenzie and Clara to Colorado to see my family in Grand Junction and to spend a couple days in Breck. with my sister and her family...Fun to be in the promised land.
We have also felt a strong pull back to Zambia. As much as we miss Minnesota, we know being in Zambia is the right place for us in this season. We are heading back Christmas Day (to re-enact Jesus and His parents fleeing to Africa after his birth...Actually, it was the only day we could get tickets...) So we will be back in Lusaka to bring in the new year and all of the unknown and promise that it holds.
Looking Ahead: As we contemplate going back, we feel like we have been given the chance to start our time in Zambia over again without the hassle of setting up a home, finding the store, getting lost etc. Being in Minnesota has sharpened our vision for being in Zambia in a way that we could not have anticipated. We feel simultaneously a keen awareness of all that can be done (and an excitement to jump in) without any illusions of our being able to fix everything.
We received the sad news yesterday that Dorothy, our friend and housekeeper, lost her sister -- her death created two more orphans in a country where over 1 million kids have experienced the same fate. Dorothy will be taking these two children in as her own which, in our paradigm, she can't afford. As Molly and I read the news last night, we both silently wondered if Dorothy's sister's life could have been spared with the $15 (or less) that we could have provided had we been there.
So, why do we feel the pull back to Zambia? Because 13 million orphans across Africa is just an ugly, overwhelming statistic. However, two children that are now connected to our family though our friend Dorothy are not statistics -- They are two kids, created in God's image who need love, support, food and education that we can help provide. We are excited to go back because in Africa it is sometimes so easy to help radically change the arc of someone's life.
The good news for us long term and for those of you not living in Africa right now, is that we can all make a difference from whereever we are sitting...A sincere prayer offered up, a financial gift that provides a home, an education or a meal, a neighbor visited, an encouraging letter written and on and on...It all matters.
May God richly bless you with exactly what you need (and at least some of what you want...) this season of Christ's birth.
Warmly,
Jeff, Molly, Mackenzie, Clara and Bennett
posted by The Dykstra Family at 3:17 PM
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