Lori Morley Your Link to the Simbari People 
Christmas Under the Sea
In my last update I wrote that I was going to the coast for a vacation. I spent one week at our mission center having doctor and dentist appointments, visiting with friends, and “chatting” on the internet with friends and family. Then Oggs, myself, my German friend, Natalie, and another family flew to a coastal town where Natalie, Rachel Ogg, another boy and myself took the diving course. I’ve snorkeled off and on for years and I felt ready to go to the next level. My co-workers are divers and I’ve often enjoyed hearing their descriptions of the things that they see when diving. The diving course went well in spite of some interruptions and setbacks. The course took 5 days instead of the intended 3 and it included 5 dives. The first 3 were not what I would consider enjoyable since I was busy getting familiar with my diving gear and learning how to maintain neutral buoyancy in the water but for the last 2 dives I was feeling more comfortable and greatly enjoyed the things that I saw around me.
After returning to the tribe on the 18th, I was busy preparing for Christmas. David and Shari Ogg’s anniversary was on the 21st and the kids and I decided to have another restaurant at my house like we have done on many previous years. We were wracking our brains for a theme when we decided to carry over our vacation into Christmas and so we came up with “Christmas by the Sea”. We decorated my little Christmas tree with shells and made napkin rings and a centerpiece out of shells. We served pan fried fish with dill sauce, deviled eggs (“They’re called deviled eggs?!!!!” asked Jason incredulously. “Yes, devil with an -ed on the end”, I said however I was unable to explain why they were so named.), and a wilted spinach salad (“Wilted spinach salad?!! Yuck!”, said Jason.). Some of our menu was concocted from a lack of other available vegetables but I enjoyed the chance to be creative. We served caramel apple crepes for dessert and a fun time was had by all.
After Oggs’ anniversary, only a few days remained before Christmas. Our Christmas guests, Bill and Lynette Cottam, arrived on the 23rd and then the festivities really began…pizza on Christmas Eve at my house, ham and potatoes on Christmas day at Oggs’ house, plenty of snacks and desserts, not to mention the New Year’s Eve celebration.
Simbari Celebrations
The Simbari people also enjoy celebrating the new year with games. This year the games were held at our village and so Simbaris came from near and far to compete in basketball, soccer, volleyball, archery, foot races, machete cutting races, etc. The Sunday after Christmas the Simbari believers decided to depart from our regular service and do something different. They performed a Christmas drama. They came up with the entire thing themselves. It started with the angel appearing to Mary to tell her that she would bear a son, the angel’s appearance to Joseph, the birth of Jesus, Mary and Joseph’s flight to Egypt, Jesus’ ministry, arrest, death, and resurrection. To me it demonstrated that in their minds the birth of Jesus is not separate from his life. In celebrating his birth, we are really celebrating his life, aren’t we?
They concluded their drama with some beautiful music. While a quartet hummed “At the Cross” in 4 part harmony (I didn’t know they could sing like that!), a man came forward with a burden on his back bemoaning his hard life and the weight of his sins. As he stood there in grief and helplessness, “Jesus” came, laid his hand on his shoulder, and said, “I have come to take away your sin. I will take this burden for you” and he took it off the man’s shoulders. To my surprise, both of the men in this drama were brought to tears and could hardly speak at the thought of the burden that has been lifted from their own shoulders. I pray that any unbelievers in the audience understood the message and as a result trusted in Christ as the payment for their sins.
May you be blessed this year with the thought of your sins having been forgiven.
Happy New Year!
Lori
“Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1: 29b
