Many of you are 12-13 hours behind me, if in the States, so I’ll wish you an early Merry Christmas from Laos!

If you’ve been keeping up on my Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/connie.wieck.5), you’ll notice I’ve been busy even after our term ended. Meetings still have continued onward at the Center every Monday morning as we wind things down, discuss building repair work needing to be done, complete lesson plans for the files and plan for the next term. Suher (caretaker) and Santi (office manager) left already for holidays at home. Suher for Hmong New Year (Hmong is an ethnic minority, of which Suher is one) and Santi for his hometown, a very long 18 hour journey away. Days off for the Center are officially December 25, 26 and January 1, 2. Laos, being a non-Christian country like China, only gives January 1st as a day off to governments and schools, along with cultural days of significance. For Santi and Suher, they both added extra days from their 10-day-a-year vacation time allowed to spend longer with loved ones.

Quiet at the Center

For myself and intern Shaloom, it’s been rather quiet at the Center. I’ve been turning off and on lights at the Center for security reasons at night and dashing over early morning to turn them off again. With Suher gone until today, that’s just a part of the duties a director has, yes?

Open Houses: Still continuing!

Then we have all my open houses and visits to my Christmas home.

The English Corner adults enjoyed their potluck in my home as did the Lao staff for our special Christmas gift exchange gathering.

For those not a Facebook fan, I’ll include my Christmas Day morning post here:

It’s here!! Christmas Day has arrived in Laos. I’m getting ready for yet another visitor welcome, a Christmas potluck with my New Guinea neighors, a Lao family of 4 kids and a few others. A wonderful woman from the Philippines (on the access road adjacent to mine) makes special platters called Pancit Palabok. Loaded with a noodle base, shrimp, pork and hardboiled eggs, this was a huge hit at the English Corner potluck. I have no doubt it will be the same for this evening. Pictures will follow.

Winnie already knows something’s happening as I’m moving furniture around, which means I’m not watching her. She continues to steal stuffed animals from under my tree to entertain herself with. One of them didn’t fare too well, the miniature reindeer. I won’t share that picture with you. It would have to be followed with a warning before viewing. When all come down next week, tucked away into my many bins, she’ll be bored stiff. 

Here’s hoping your Christmas Day is one full of joy, merriment, family, friends and the spirit of God’s love sent to all. Merry Christmas!!

P.S. Hard to see as she blends in so well, but in that open-door photo above, there is Winnie in the chair around the table, awaiting guests. Come on in, folks! And be sure to pick up your Santa and reindeer head adornments as you enter, on the coffee table to the left.