EMANUEL MEXICO MISSION - DECEMBER 2021

Nativity - Navidad

In English or Spanish,  Nativity or Navidad the meaning is the same, the birth of Jesus Christ.  The miracle message that our Savior, our Emanuel came to be with us.  

As I look around the house there are many reminders of this magical time of year.,  The tiny vintage Christmas tree decorated with ornaments from Christmas past.  Colorful ceramic Christmas trees decorate the kitchen as well as the living room and let´s not forget to admire that once a year tradition of seeing grandma´s hand painted ceramic gingerbread house on display.  There are snow globes that sparkle as the pretend snow slowly drifts down over there unique Christmas scenes. Pine scented candles send that once a year Christmas aroma throughout the house.  Then there are the four very unique Nativity scenes.  Let me describe each one.  

One was a gift from last Christmas.  A beautiful one piece scene of the Nativity with the words to that classic Christmas hymn, "Joy to the World" on one side.  The entire scene is embedded in an antique looking Bible scroll.   
Another is of a tiny wooden stable with miniature figurines standing each in its proper place while looking at Jesus in the manger.  

Then there is a very special one that took years to make just perfect.  A large wooden stable with a rustic roof and each year a new ceramic figure was added to this beautiful Nativity scene from an open market in Mexico.  Large palm trees over look the manger and the shepherds with their flocks looking at the new born King. 

Finally the forth Nativity is made of a very special wood and came from a very far away place.  Rustic in its design.  Simple and unique in the way a carpenter designed and hand crafted and carved each piece.  It´s from Israel, Jerusalem to be exact and made from the very trees that Jesus traveled through, olive trees and probably as a child he too carved wooden figures.  Unique indeed.  A hand carved manger and Jesus placed in its fold.  Coming from the very place that God came to earth in the form of a baby born and placed in a  manger, in the city of Bethlehem.  God our creator came to live with us and was placed in a lowly humble stable.  King of Kings, Lord of Lords, God in all his glory and infinite love came as a child and they named him Jesus.  Our Savior and Lord

We truly thank you for sharing in so many different ways during 2021.  Many gifts were given so that the true meaning of Christmas the Nativity could be shared all year long here in the inner city of San Luis Potosi, Mexico.  Children, youth and adults were touched by your generosity.  Countless individual and families were ministered to through the ministry of Emanuel Mexico Mission.  The list seems endless, but to put it all in one word, that would be, Nativity or Navidad.  We celebrate the message of Christmas everyday with everyone because of the birth of Jesus Christ.  

Born to simple folk, lived his youth as a carpenters son, stepped into ministry with twelve unknown and unlearned men that would later turn the world upside down, all because of his birth in that lowly humble stable.  God came to earth and with that he brought us the greatest gift of all, Salvation.

We celebrate the Nativity at E.M.M. just like many of you.  There will be Christmas carols sung at church and share gifts to those less fortunate that us.  The Nativity story from both the Gospel books of Matthew and Luke will be read.  The kitchen will be filled with the wonderful smells of a Christmas Eve midnight meal that will include Christmas punch and of course what Mexican Christmas meal would not be the same without a variety of warm delicious tamales and atole.  
        
Every manger scene helps us to remember the very true meaning of Christmas .  The glorious way that God came to earth. Thankful, blessed and knowing that Emanuel means, "God with us" and indeed he truly is.

Feliz Navidad - Merry Christmas

Thank you and may God bless your Christmas beyond belief this year.  We are truly blessed by your gifts and prayers so we can share the Nativity - Navidad to an inner city and beyond.  

"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."  Luke 2:11

Wishing your the very best this Christmas season and New Year with all its new opportunities.

Jose Manuel Gonzalez
David and Sheri DeBolt

---