Another tradition we have, is to enjoy the Christmas cards and newsletters we recieve while we do our Advent candles, and then pray for the giver.  Then I display them on the garland in our stairwell. 

The newsletters and pictures that arrive I put on our refrigerator.

Last night one of the newsletters we recieved was from some missionaries I met in our Sunday School class a few years ago.  They are a young family with several children in Germany.  It was fun listening to the lady, who shared what her life is like, raising her children in a foreign country.  She told of taking her littles ones by bus to the market for food (because that is how it is done in Germany.)  But she just couldn't get into the German mentality to shop for only that day.  Can you imagine taking bags of groceries home by bus???  Well, she was determined to make her American traditions work, to the utter amazement of the Germans!  She had each boy wear a backpack, even the baby!  After purchasing her items, she'd stuff everyone's backpacks, yes, even the baby got to carry something home! A few things had to be carried in bags.  I don't think anyone was school age yet, however, they needed to be rather independent.  As the bus pulls to a stop where you want to get off, you need to be quick getting off because others are coming on and the bus is ready to move on.  Therefore, like a defensive tackle, she was ready!  When her stop came, she quickly took over the door, tossed out bags, then shooed children out and finally herself with the baby on her back (remember the baby has a backpack too!) In the meantime, those wanting to get on the bus stand clear of the flying objects....

I have loved praying for this family and learning about customs in other countries.  A few years ago, my son needed to do a prayer project and write a letter to a misisonary.  I thought he'd lilke to use this family for his project, since they had children, and the oldest boy shares the same name as him. 

Well, yesterday as I opened their prayer letter, I wondered what all the envelope contained.  It was rather bumpy.  I pulled out the creative newsletter which we all enjoyed last night.  I pulled out a new picture of their growing family (six children now) to put on our fridge.  And I pulled out this... 

Isn't this too cool?!  It smells wonderful...orange and cinnamon!  I'm looking forward to enjoying some German tea, while I ponder how I could bless them back?  Any ideas?