Our Christmas in Uganda

This was our first Christmas in Uganda as long-term missionaries.  There is definitely a different “feel” to Christmas in the tropics.  First, it’s hot (85 F or so).  Jack Frost doesn’t come here.  Second, there are no street decorations.  Kampala City has little budget for…well much of anything.   There is Christmas music in big Western-style stores.  I’ve never heard “Feliz Navidad” so much than here in Kampala.  Ah, the irony.

Anyhow, we’ve tried to bring a Christmas feel into our house as much as possible.  We brought an artificial Christmas tree from the states.  Although plastic trees are available here, they are grossly expensive and look incredibly artificial.  A synthetic-looking 5 foot tree costs is about $100 or more.

Lily played some Christmas songs on her computer, and that helped develop some Christmas atmosphere.

Anyhow, I gave Lily a new sewing machine.  The machine we brought from the US broke in transit and can only sew backwards.  The new machine will be a blessing to the whole family.  Gabby wants to learn to sew too.

One of the challenges in shopping for Christmas gifts is that not much is worth buying here (or it costs twice as much as in the States).  We gave Joseph a watch.  Benjamin got an African thumb piano among other things.  Gabby got several small gifts, including a slinky.

Lily has blessed us all with some great food this week.  She made Chinese pork buns and other family favorites.  She also cooked bok choy harvested from our garden.

We spent Christmas morning at church, a Ugandan tradition.  The church was full, and we all heard a great message.  We had Christmas dinner at a friend’s house.  He served Indian food (rice, goat, lamb, etc.).

We hope you had a Happy Christmas.  We are thankful for the Christmas cards and e-mails photos some of you sent us.

We are now planning for our return visit to the US in February.  We will see you all soon!

 From Kampala,

John Eastham

New missionary to Uganda