Last night Jack and I stopped by the Wube familiy's apartment to drop off some food.  The boys were dancing around the room showing us all the packages under the tree and playing CD's of American Christmas music (Santa Baby, won't ya come'on down my chimney tonight).

I sat in the chair holding the new baby, Merhowe.  He is one month old and he weighs 10 lbs.  He is beautiful.  The older boys were jabbering away in English.  Abrehet was putting together English words to join in the conversation and Mekonen was relaxing after a long day of work.

Exactly a year ago we were welcoming this refugee family from their homeland of Eritrea.  They'd spent years in a refugee camp and they arrived in the snow and ice with nothing but the clothes on their backs and the sandals on their feet.  We were teaching them to use running water and a stove, refridgerator and microwave.  Now they shop and cook and run their household with minimal help from outside.

I was rocking Merhowe and thinking about how their lives had changed in just a year.  Then I realized how our lives have changed as well.  The Fishers and the Hills have two boys that have become new members of their families.  Pat Ward, Pat Reid, Susie Koriath and so many others are playing grandmother every week.  Shannon Crittenden and Blake Koriath and Abby Auer are studying lessons they have long since forgotten as they tutor Keflome and Tesfome.  Janet Swearingen delivers diapers and Circle Three has adopted the whole family.  The entire congregation is changed because of this family.

Holding Merhowe I think of the baby.  The one that changed the world.  I look at this baby and see how he has changed ours.  Suddenly I can hardly wait for Christmas to sing Joy to the World and thank God for these infants and the promise and hope they bring to us.