dvi silkes

My Texan cousin and her husband have a unique flair for sending us goodie packages that make our eyes go wide with excitement one minute, and run with tears of laughter the next. The box they sent us at Christmas this year was certainly no exception, and we have been enjoying every bit of it; from A&W Jelly Beans to the Frosty-the-Snowman-boxer-shorts!

Included in this fantastic box of surprises was a ‘little’ something that they sent us once before: an enormous box of Ghirardelli white baking chocolate. We had used up most of the last box having an amazing fondue with some friends, and this time I wanted to try something different. I’ve discovered that this brand of chocolate (OK, white chocolate isn’t technically chocolate, but it tastes just as good!) melts beautifully, and is surprisingly forgiving of my culinary ineptitude. So, over a double boiler of online recipes and imagination, I stirred in a bag of yummy dried cranberries that came from Nathan’s parents, then added a package of cute foil candy cups that a friend gave to us, tossed in a few ingredients from the store, and came up with three wonderfully sweet treats that we can share!

Individual white chocolate cups with cranberries or toasted almonds go great with a cup of tea:

White chocolate and cranberry ‘bark’ is seriously addicting, and the steamed pudding technique of baking on the stovetop works pretty well with Blondies (brownies with white chocolate instead of cocoa).

We would love to invite you over for tea and white chocolate goodies, but (*lick*) I don’t think they will be around much longer!

It’s no surprise that I am very fond of order. While being married to someone who manages to locate his socks whether they are lined up in a row or tossed in a drawer has considerably lessened my organizational cravings, “a place for everything and everything in its place” still fits me well.

Perhaps then, it is a bit incongruous that Christmas is my favourite time of year. After all, the mayhem of Christmas shopping, the dozens of last-minute gatherings and details that inevitably arise, and the absolute impossibility of fitting everything into a tidy schedule all create an avalanche that obliterates my attempts at maintaining calm order. Still, the wonder of Christmas, the smells, traditions, music, and of course, the story of a baby born in Bethlehem, all have very special meanings to me. And so, once a year, I take a step outside the cozy room of predictability, and jump onboard the hayride of Christmas (especially if there will be hot chocolate at the end!).

Here are a few highlights from this year’s busy (but fantastic) ride…

Snow – and lots of it!

Our little tree

Meals for the homeless on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at the Salvation Army. Also went to a local shelter to share a meal and fellowship with some men who live there.

Helping to sort food and raise funds to help the poor through the Salvation Army Food Bank.

Serving a meal to a group of homeless people who came to our church unexpectedly (fantastic!).

Dinner with friends on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, too (we were spoiled).

Opening gifts mailed by our crazy families and friends!

…which meant that our Christmas hayride really did end with hot chocolate ☺

So, the season may not have been particularly tidy, or tucked neatly into manageable time slots, but that’s OK. After all, the reason for Christmas didn’t come delivered on a convenient schedule and wrapped up in a perfectly tied bow. With straw for a bed and twinkling stars for nightlights, perhaps a little bit of mess at Christmas is just a good reminder of how it all began.

Amidst the flurry of activity that blankets the Christmas season, small moments can provide great opportunities to participate in meaningful giving. There are lots of possibilities for creating significance, from gifts of time, to homemade specialties, to that special heartfelt present. One such opportunity is offered through the World of Hope catalogue: a publication of the Evangelical Free Church of Canada Mission. The catalogue details a wide range of projects that EFCCM workers are engaged in throughout various regions of the world.We are excited that the catalogue gives us an opportunity to expand the visibility and resources of a small church here in Klaipeda (the Salvation Army), and the church’s efforts to assist the poor and homeless with both their physical and spiritual needs. Our project, entitled “A Step Up,” is raising funds to buy much needed food supplies for the church’s food bank. Even a small gift can have a lasting impact, as the story of one recipient reveals:Shuffling her way through the front door of the hostel where she lives, few people would pay much attention to the elderly woman as she clutches a bag of groceries. In fact, not long ago Renata was one of society’s forgotten; her makeshift home a collection of discarded trash at the garbage dump, and her food scavenged from the filth. Twice a month, however, a van would come carrying loaves of bread, hot tea, and sometimes a candle for lighting the darkness. The van also brought a priceless gift: hope. As the team handed out food and poured tea, they also talked about someone who loves us despite our filth. Through the concern demonstrated by the people in the van, Renata slowly grew to trust that they truly cared for her, and learned that Jesus loved her. When they warned that the dumpsite would be closed and urged people to move into the city to find work, Renata listened. The investment made by the church group who used to take food to the dump has developed into a lifelong friendship, and the chance for a new life. The church supported Renata through the difficult days of transition to life in the city, giving her food when she had nothing, and welcoming her into their church family. Today, Renata does odd jobs like cleaning, and picking mushrooms or berries to make enough money to pay for her place at the hostel. She visits with the people from the van at church on Sundays, and though sometimes she leaves with a bag of groceries in her hand, she always leaves as a friend.Helping the poor and homeless is often a long process that requires commitment and generous amounts of patience. One church in Klaipeda is working hard to make a difference in the lives of people who are caught in the grip of poverty. A single bag of groceries can be the difference between complete despair, and hope for another day, and the impact of the relationships built can last an eternity.