Last summer, Aoife travelled to Kabwe, Zambia to support Habitat's work with Orphaned & Vulnerable Children. Read her Advent Reflection below:
With the season of Advent drawing closer to an end and Christmas fast approaching, it is easy to forget that this really is the most wonderful time of year. We may think it is wonderful because of the decorations, gifts that need wrapping and preparing many beautiful meals. However, many of us don’t take time to reflect on how wonderful it is because of love. This week in Advent we focus on what love really is – Christ coming to earth because of his love for us. We should be preparing time to spend with loved ones, cherishing the memories we can make over this festive season and realise that other things are not necessities.
In July, along with eighteen other volunteers, I had the privilege to travel to Kabwe, Zambia. Something that is really evident during my trip was the love that was shown throughout the community, the people and country. Each one of the volunteers were welcomed with open arms, and were loved by each family we had the pleasure of meeting. At the end of the trip, we were delighted to present two families with a key to their own, new home. These moments watching two families lives change, is a memory that will last with me forever.
The families might not have much materially but they can teach us about respect and unconditional love for each member of their community.
This advent, we should try and set aside some time with our loved ones to show how appreciative we are of things that we quite often take for granted.
Prayer
Lord, we thank you for allowing a period of waiting and reflection during the season of Advent before Jesus Christ, our Lord is born. We pray that during this Christmas season we take time to enjoy the most important aspects of our lives – family and friends. We thank the Habitat family for changing lives with such love. Amen.
