The Groth Report

JANUARY 2008

“Be of the same mind one toward another.”  Romans 12:16

A common t-shirt here in Cambodia says, “Same, same but different.”  I’m sure you’ve seen this shirt wherever you live.  For our January as we reflect on our Christmas celebrations I’d like to change the t-shirt.  For us it would say, “Different, different but the same.”

On the Friday before Christmas Chuck hosted a pastors’ Bible study at our home.  The men came from different areas of Sihanoukville.  They brought their Khmer Bibles which were truly different to us.  They looked at our Christmas decorations which were different to them.  Then the study began.  They studied together the same Christmas Gospel message.  They prepared a message for Christmas. They were guided by the same Holy Spirit as they studied to preach the message they shared of the same Babe in the manger.  Different, different but the same!!! 

You may remember that last month we began Christmas by celebrating with the Opengate preschool.  We continued as I visited a Christian school that I work with to make Christmas banners with the children.  The  children looked a bit different  from many places I’ve worked (beautiful Cambodians to be sure) but their excitement over Christmas was the same I’ve always enjoyed from children at Christmas time.  They worked on their banners and told me the “same” Christmas message that we know so well.  I heard some very different Christmas songs but I also heard the same, “Away in a Manger” that shared the message of our newborn Lord.  Different, different, but the same!!!

We also attended a Christmas celebration by Opengate at a local theater.  The setting was different for us.  The Khmer dance and Khmer carols were unfamiliar.  The five hour length was long for us.  The central message in song by a young Christian leader reminded us of the same concerns for peace and salvation that we share.  Different, different but the same!

Then came Christmas Day at the international English church we attend when we visit Phnom Penh. When we awoke on Christmas Day we talked with each other about how many would be at Christmas Day worship.  The phone rang and we didn’t know who to expect.  A church leader told Chuck that the pastor was ill and asked him to deliver the Christmas message.  We wondered if we would be the only ones there.  When service time began the church was filled.  Many Christian leaders from outside Phnom Penh gathered to share the same Christmas songs and hear the same message that they we all want to share, “Jesus the Savior is born.”  Different, different but the same!!!

Christmas Day evening we attended the Christmas drama of a local school.  How different to hear the children begin the program in Khmer and then translate their welcome into English for us.  How different to hear the audience pray aloud together.  How different to hear the children recite sections of scripture rhythmically together.  How the same to see the Christmas account acted out by excited children even though the angels rapidly flapped their wings when they entered.  Different, different, but the same!!!

Next we headed to Battambang.  Usually we are out at church and school but this time we met Pastor Kosal at our hotel.  On Sunday we were not sure just what to expect.  How different to see the church property decorated everywhere with paper chains and stars with the cross in the center.  How different to see the front of the church curtained off and a stage erected.  How different to see everyone in red hats and made up faces.  The amazingly large crowd was also different as was the tent set up for after service meal together.  Then the service began.  The songs were different but the portrayal of the Christmas narrative in drama form was the same account that we share over all the world. The Baby Jesus did look a little different but . . .  After lunch the children here also excitedly made Christmas banners and enjoyed time showing them to family and friends.  Different, different but the same!!!

So while we were away from family and friends.  While our songs sometimes sounded different.  While the decorations were a shade different and  we did not understand the language we did find the most important thing the same.  We shared the same mind in Christ Jesus.  We had the same message.  We shared the same joy that the Savior is born!!!

How was this Christmas the same or different for you.  May God fill your New Year with the same message of His Grace and the same blessings and joy that have been His continual gift to each of us.

With His same love for 2008—

Chuck and Jeanette Groth