Here in Guatemala “Silent Night” and nice poems about the night before Christmas when “no one was stirring” do not fit with the Christmas culture around us. Here, many families stay up late making traditional tamales and then blasting the midnight sky with fireworks in displays that would fit right in with many fourth of July celebrations in the USA.

This is our ninth year of experiencing Guatemalan Christmases. We’ve come to enjoy the focus on family gatherings at this time of year and even shoot off some fireworks of our own to celebrate.

Whether this is a quiet night or one filled with noise for you, we pray that your hearts will be filled with the peace because Jesus Christ came and lit up this world so many years ago.

Merry Christmas!