My First Christmas in West Africa
Reflections from a Visiting Relative of an IMB Worker

What is Christmas in West Africa like? The first thing that comes to my mind is hot. There are no sleigh bells ringing in the snow! Christmas in West Africa is beautiful and simple. There is no glitter of tinsel, no sparkling lights, and no Santa Claus or reindeer. Jingle Bells doesn't play on every other radio station; in fact, it doesn't even play on one radio station. There are, however, twinkling stars, clucking chickens, an occasional dog bark, and the sound of women pounding millet in the distance. It is life as usual here, very much like it was that day more than 2,000 years ago when our Lord came as a baby laying in the manger. It seems that the whole world was unaware of His coming, just as tonight when many people in West Africa will go to bed, unaware of the significance of Christmas Day.

Second, it's a swirl of mixed emotions. It feels lonely at times and it's hard not to be able to pick up the phone today and call my family to say "Merry Christmas." But then, I am filled with an overwhelming happiness that I have friends and family to celebrate with, even if at a great distance. Many here in West Africa do not have this privilege. People in this West African country are predominately Muslim, and to be Christian, and to celebrate Christ's birth means alienation from family and friends. West African Christians are often considered infidels and are rejected. Once they lose the support of their family, they lose everything. The family unit is the social security system, the emergency loan system, the health insurance system...everything. Then I realize that I really don't know what loneliness feels like. So, pray for the lonely Christians. Ask God to give them encouragement, joy, and the peace that passes understanding. Pray for the Church throughout West Africa. And pray that the Church in America will understand what these West African Christians know - that Christ really is EVERYTHING!

In the last 2,000 years, the message of Christ has traveled throughout the world and has finally arrived in West Africa, one of the most remote parts of the earth. The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore pray that the Lord of the harvest will send out workers unto His harvest. Pray for a bountiful spiritual harvest this New Year!