“BS - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, December 23, 1998 Faith, food and song bring people together By HEATHER BELLAMY IMAGINE A_ Chrisimas with no snow, no carol music on your car radio, no festive lights strung on trees and homes —- none of the fun sneaking around trying to find a gift that will] make your loved ones’ eyes light up.... 1 hed to admit those were some of the things I missed my first Christmas in Pakistan. My co-worker, Cindy, was going home to Indiana for the holidays, leaving me alone in a big house. J felt as mourmful as a lone wolf howling at the moon. In this Muslim land, 1 wondered how the minority Christian communily celebrated Christmas. My thoughts wandered to the poorest of the poor in my neighbourhood — the Christian Punjabi-speaking Street sweepers. They lived in mud-home slums and toiled in the heat of the day, sweeping up the refuse dumped on the streets. I bad often stopped to say hello to them as I walked to school and was dazzled by their quick snuiles and dancing eyes. Yes! I’ve got it! A shiver ran up my neck. I7Il throw a Christmas Eve tea to honour these humble folk for their hard work in our com- munily. I ran outside to pass the idea by our gate guard. Mr. Rafiq rattled on his in- comprehensible masala mix of Punjabi, Urdu and English. But I understood from his broad grin that he thought it was great idea, too! Who do you Heather Bellamy He put the word out to our local sweeper folk, “Christmas Eve noon, be there or be square!’’ I began making all my favourites — carrot cake with maple icing and almond puff slices. Christmas Eve noon, I had hauled my kitchen table out into the courtyard and loaded it down with my baking, a big blue bowl of oranges, a huge pot of chai (tea) and a salty peanut snack, Rafiq helped me string up shiny tinsel garlands and then surveyed the table. He frowned, ‘‘Where are the chips, they like chips!”’ “Boy, Pd better get this right,’ 1 thought and sent him off quickly to the market across the street for some bags of chips. We sat dawn and waited. By 12:30 I] wondered if maybe they had misunder- stood the time or day. By 1 p.m. I sent cur Mr. Rafiq to scout out the streets but ina few minutes he ran back breathless, ‘‘They’re com- ing!’’ They came in shyly, women first followed by the men, Each bearing gorgeous bouquets of winter roses entwined with cedar bran- think Santa calls on December 26? ches. [ was later to discover that they had been late for this very reason. As they scoured the neighbourhood, they picked other peopie’s flowers! Since I didn’! have much of the language, Mr. Rafiq raised his hands to heaven and gave thanks for this spe- cial reason to celebrate...the coming of Jesus, the Light of World. Then, as is their custom, they closed in around the table and stood there chew- ing down til stomachs and pockets were Full. “We should sing!’ Rafiq our unofficial party host bel- lowed out. Another fellow began to drum on the blue plastic bowl that had held the oranges. Suddenly the air swelled with the most wonderful singing [ve ever heard, Who knows what lan- guage the angels sang to the astonished shepherds that first Christmas night, was it maybe Punjabi? “Glory to God in the Highest! We sat in darkness, but the Light of all men has come to us. Through his poverty, com- ing as a simple babe, we have become rich!”’ I saw, that first Christmas in Pakistan, the truth of the words spoken by that ‘babe’ become a man. ‘‘Blessed arc the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven,”’ These people, marginal- ized by their faith and their position at the bottom of the ladder, with hands roughened by the hardest labour, possessed as their greatest treasure, Immanuel ~~ Gad with us! He had called to each of 4718A Lazelle Ave, Terrace Ph: 638-8522 4652 Lazelle ‘Avenue, Te a with tons of good cheer, close to family and friends. Here’s to a great new year! rrrace * Phone:635-4997 MR. RAFIQ, a gate quard for the compound in which Heather Bellamy lives, proved instrumental in organizing a Christmas Eve festivity. their hearts, ‘‘Come to me. For I am gentle and humble of heart, and you will find rest for your sauls.”’ And they had come. Shin- ing from their faces was a joy that was almost tangible as the carrot cake we had just devoured. A Terrace’ Heather Bellamy is a Clhiris- flan worker with Samaritan’s Purse, an in- ternational aid agency. busine f@ Greta Brorup Terrace, B.C. resident, | ree, Ta DR Senne Many thanks for a wonderful year. Her overseas posting is in Pakistan where she works with refugees — from Afghanistan. Samaritar’s Purse sup- ports a number of aid and crisis relief missions to Eastern Europe, Southeast Asia, Africa and Latin America, fits annual Christmas shoebox campaign provides comfort items for children around the world. NGS May your holiday be built ona_ foundation of health and happiness! Thank you for doing ss with us! Sue Simpson Manager Terrace B.C. 638-8235 Spring Creek Aggregates Ltd. ~ The Countdown Is On! ) =n Put on a new coat of Christmas cheer and brush up for a bright and prosperous new year. Thank you to all our loyal customers for your business. Terrace Interiors 4610 Lazelle Avenue, Terrace Phone: 635-6600 Best Wishes 4 for a Happy Holiday Season. With thanks for another year of trusted service. All West Trading Ltd 4459 Lakelse Ave., Terrace, BC 638-8952 May the season bring you joy. Wa look forward to seeing you in 1999. Vic Froese Trucking P.O, Box 824, Terrace, B.C., V8G 4R1 635-5253 The time is right to wish everyone a very merry Christmas and a happy new year! Thanks to all aur customers & friends for follawing us to Thornhill. See you in “99”, CENTRAL GARAGE 3359 Hwy 16E Terrace 68-1168 ioe WEE iar ike fe ee one We're happy to have this opportunity to express our best wishes to all of you at this joyous time of year. Hi |