One of the things my family used to love every December was the steady trickle of Christmas photo cards in the mail. The kids and I washi-taped each family’s or friend’s photo to a growing collage in our dining room. All year long, loved ones smiled on us until we replaced them with new photo cards the next year.
Our first Christmas on the mission field, our walls were bare. We were still building our community from scratch, and no one sent photo cards.
Missionaries grip what appear to be contradictory realities. In one hand is the immense privilege and joy of gospel ministry; in the other is the very real loss of home and loved ones. Of course, no two missionaries are exactly alike, and no two areas of service are alike. The challenges vary person to person and place to place. But for those already suffering, Christmas and the holidays can accentuate their tender spots.
