The Christmas Drop: Unconcealed Joy that Transcends Hardships
By Hannah Padinit
Celebrating this year’s Christmas is unlike any other we had in the past. Usually, the season is full of busy dates of parties, children singing carols, and the community in Christmas’s bliss. However, the pandemic brought a halt to what seemed a joyous celebration.
In this tough time, can we still experience the Christmas joy?
Many felt that the world has stopped, but the work of God continues to move forward. The Lord wants His people to utilize everything they have for the furtherance of His Kingdom. Thus, Evangel Family Church continued its yearly Christmas giving project.
This Christmas, the church gave out 110 food packs to each of the families of the various outstation works. It was a combined effort of the church and all church members putting all their resources together to give gifts that point people to Jesus. Nothing is stopping the church from giving, not even the hardships and the pandemic. Many have participated and contributed to the project.
During the giving, the team followed pandemic health protocols and guidelines to ensure safety. Beforehand, volunteer workers informed their members to prepare and meet up at a specific place to pick up the food packs.
On December 22, 2020, the Christmas Drop project started. The team distributed to various families from Canitoan, Balulang, Consolacion, Puli, PN Roa, Quadruplex, Pagatpat, Calaanan, Bugo, Molugan, Paglaum, Indahag, Gango, Paglantaw, Indahag, and Oro Habitat. Each of these families joyfully received the gift.
Others might have enough prepared for the Christmas Noche Buena, while others didn’t even have a decent meal. Receiving a food pack is more than just receiving food for the table on Christmas eve. The simple gift they receive might be the only visible act of hope and joy this Christmas. Though the mask and face shield covered their faces, the joy they felt was priceless, and the mirth in their eyes was visible. The gifts were a reminder to them that even in this season, there is hope. Even when they can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel, God’s hands continue to move and guide them in their journey.
This pandemic might have either covered or blurred our future or it might have stolen our joy, but we have hope in Jesus, our Emmanuel; we can choose to focus not on our adversities but on sharing love, joy, and hope with people around us. Although the season is rough, and circumstances are beyond our control, God wants us to focus on Jesus, our Savior, the source of our joy. The world may go upside down, but with Jesus, we have joy and peace that transcends hardships, and it will shine and influence others.
