Merry Christmas from Myanmar,

We drove from Phillip Island to Melbourne just over a week ago through unexpected heavy traffic (due to a big fire) and just made our first flight.  In the next 24 hrs we traveled into and out of four airports and countries,  claiming and re checking our luggage,  going through customs, security etc... each time.

We finally landed on our box springs in the hotel here in Yangon and learned we were perched neatly atop a karaoke bar and the cacophonous sounds seemed amplified through the drain pipe in our bathroom. That first night, after the humor had dissolved from the situation, let's say 3 a.m. we still had plenty of karaoke left.  Eventually it became very difficult to remember what we'd thought was funny to begin with and when the karaoke finally let off about 4 a.m. The pigeons just outside our window took up, and their cooing seemed just as pitchy and out of tune as the bad karaoke.

So ended our first day in Myanmar.  Shortly thereafter I got quite sick and Beatrice followed.  Here is the point though.  Far from staying on the edges of our experience God has entered into it. He has met us in our suffering, added His tender mercies and infinite love and in so doing somehow has increased the beauty and richness of our time here,  augmented the depth and significance of it. We've been overwhelmed by the kindness,  warmth and openness of these humble, beautiful people,  touched deeply by their musical giftings and the passion revealed in their worship and we have so enjoyed their food and diverse culture.

Three times, in home churches packed and bursting with believers and Buddhists, I've had opportunity to share a message God put on my heart just as we arrived.  It's a simple message about a journey. In the contexts of the Shoemakers' journey,  my spiritual journey and the earthly journey of Jesus Christ,  I've tried to encourage the audience to consider their own life journey. Using Joshua 24:15 "choose this day whom you will serve. .." I've suggested that our choices and decisions determine not just the quality of our journey, but also where we will spend eternity. Using the original Christmas Story as laid out in Luke chapter 2, I've encouraged that as God has given His very best should not we at the very least give our whole hearts,  our whole lives?

I feel I need to make this appeal one more time to those of you now listening. If there is anything at all in your life not fully surrendered to the Lord what are you waiting for?  What might you lose by entrusting your future,  your dreams,  ambitions, relationships, your fears, or whatever you may be holding onto, to the Omnipresent,  Omniscient,  Omnipotent Creator of this vast universe who loves you so much He sent His son out of paradise to a lowly manager and then to a cross?  Think on that a little this Christmas. Meditate on how much He loves you, how much you can trust Him. "Choose this day whom you will serve. " You can't repay God for the amazing gifts He has given,  but you can give what He's asking for -- your whole heart.

Please tell us how things are in your life and how we can be praying for you. From the bottom of our hearts we wish you a warm and very Merry Christmas!!!

Kenny, Beatrice, Joshua and Gabriella Shoemaker