A group of teachers in Asia took their students Christmas caroling through their university campus.

As American movies and music reach them, Asians see a romantic, sentimental, and very commercial picture of the Christmas season. Some of what they see is copied in their cities.

Familiar decorations, such as Santa, snowflakes, bells, tinsel, and artificial trees grace some hotel lobbies, restaurants and shops. However, there are no nativity scenes. The traditional Christmas carols, along with Santa songs, can be heard in some of the malls. But mainly, it’s one big commercial push.

Can you imagine celebrating a holiday of another culture when it has never been explained to you, and you have no idea of the meaning of the symbols you see?

On Christmas Day in the Asian country where we are, the students will all be out on the streets just aimlessly walking about together. They are trying to celebrate Christmas, but they don’t know how or even why. Many of our students have already asked us to tell them what Christmas is all about.

Pray

• for the people of Asia to come to know the hope of Christ at Christmas.
• for SIM missionaries as they share the real reason for celebrating.