Christmas Newsletter - 2010

Dear Family and Friends,

I found this beautiful Christmas blog template on the Internet and decided to use it for our final Newsletter this year! Doesn't it put you in a Christmas mood? I love the Christmas season, decorating the tree, preparing the Christmas meal, looking at shop windows and houses that are decorated and the overall joyful and merry atmosphere. Christmas is a time for sharing but most importantly to give thanks to our Saviour. 

While I am writing this letter I cannot help to think back over this past year. I think it is normal to reflect on the year and it is important to rejoice in the good things and to put the bad things behind you. We sure had our down times this year but the good times outweigh the bad times by far. During this past year we were fortunate to meet so many interesting people. They were from all over the world and when they left our Hostel, they left their footprints behind. Andrey and I watched photos yesterday of the guests that we've had and we still remember their names and where they came from. The year has not come to an end yet and we are expecting more people here for December.

But the Christmas period can also be a sad time for many people, including us. While everybody are celebrating with family there are some people that spend this time of year alone or far away from their loved ones. So as the days to Christmas are drawing closer we start to miss our families more and the Christmas celebrations we had in both Russia and South Africa.  Together we get nostalgic, talk about the good times, bad times, wipe a tear or two and watch a movie on Christmas eve.

We always watch the same two movies: "Home Alone" and "Planes,Trains and Automobiles". They put the smiles back on our faces. In Russia they celebrate Christmas on 6 January but all Russians in Argentina celebrate Christmas day on the 25th as well.

We would like to thank everybody for all your support,love and friendship over this last year. If you are travelling on holiday, please drive safely.

I want to end our newsletter with a Christmas prayer:

Loving Father, help us remember the birth of Jesus,
that we may share in the song of the Angels,
the gladness of the Shepherds,
and worship of the wise men.

Close the door of hate and open the door of love all
over the world. Let kindness come with every gift and
good desires with every greeting. Deliver us from evil
by the blessing which Christ brings, and teach us to  be
merry with clear hearts.


May the Christmas morning make us happy to be thy
children, and Christmas evening bring us to our beds
with grateful thoughts, forgiving and forgiven, for
Jesus sake,


Amen


Merry Christmas from Hostel Tinktinkie.

Andrey &  Nelieta

http://www.tinktinkie.com