Look what I got!

BILLINGS, MONTANA (ANS) -- At Christmas time, many of us look forward to putting up and decorating trees in our homes. There are many legends and stories, both pagan and Christian, surrounding the origin of the Christmas tree in our culture. Regardless, the Word of God refers in many places to Christ bearing our sins on a tree, the tree by which our sin was overcome, the tree upon which Christ Jesus was crucified: the Cross. Therefore, the Christmas tree is a wonderful symbol and reminder of our salvation and forgiveness through Jesus Christ!

The prophet Isaiah writes, “You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Instead of the thorn bush will grow the pine tree, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the Lord’s renown, for an everlasting sign, which will not be destroyed” (Isaiah 55:12-13, NIV). The evergreen tree is a joyful sign to the Lord in celebration of life everlasting!

Celebrating Christmas through dance

The star on the top of the Christmas tree represents the Star of Bethlehem. The lights symbolize Jesus, the Light of the World. The ornaments serve as a reminder of all the beautiful things Jesus did for us. Ball ornaments represent our world created by God, and their many colors, the Gospel that is for all nations and peoples on the earth. And the tinsel, shiny but not worth much (made of plastic or inexpensive metal), can represent the poor and needy in the world who, many times, have no hope. They may stand out or be distracting to us (begging on the street, with their signs or open hands, or looking at us with pleading eyes) yet be treated as insignificant, as we may just walk or drive by and go on with our lives as if the poor don’t exist.

Guilt trip aside, we know that no one is insignificant to God! You can help give hope to the poor and needy at Christmas this year by participating in a special project called the Aasha Tree (Tree of Hope) Project. For the past seven years, EquipNepal has promoted Aasha Tree to benefit the children’s homes, elderly home, and other ministries that we work with in Nepal and India. It reflects our mandate, found in Isaiah 1:17: “Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.”

Aasha Tree demonstrates the hope we all have in eternal life with Christ, but also the hope the children (and adults who serve them and the Lord) have of receiving some special gifts of love from those of us who have so much. EquipNepal collects the funds and wires them to the ministry directors, who purchase Christmas gifts in their own communities. It helps the local economy and allows them to receive some things that they really need.

The children (over 400 of them this year) usually get new clothing and shoes, along with some treats, and art or school supplies. There is a lot of anticipation, including visits by the tailor who has a very large pair of scissors and very long bolts of colorful cloth! The adults (over 150 staff, evangelists, and pastors) receive cash to spend on what they need for their families. It’s an exciting time, especially since Christmas has been an official holiday in Nepal for only a year. Nepali Christians are amazed and encouraged to be able to be open in their celebrations of Christ’s birth! And these celebrations are great evangelistic opportunities to those who don’t know anything about Christmas, let alone the “Reason for the Season.”

Opening presents

A unique blessing in the Aasha Tree Project is that several of our partners would like it to benefit not only themselves but others in their communities (such as another children’s home, or some disadvantaged neighbors). They want to give, not just receive! We trust that we can collect enough for these projects as well. The Lord has always provided all we desired to give.

We are collecting $15 for each child or elderly gift and $25 for each adult gift, with a total need of about $12,000.00. Any amount will be greatly appreciated!

If you would like to contribute to this project, please send a check or money order written to EquipNepal, 2632 Ranchette Road, Billings, MT 59105, with a note attached (“Aasha Tree”). We will need to receive all contributions by December 9, 2009, so that we can wire the funds to Nepal on December 11. Also, please send me an e-mail at jev@equipnepal.org, informing me that your donation is on its way, so that I can keep track of what is coming in and update you on the progress (this is a lot of FUN!). You can also pay via PayPal from our web site at www.equipnepal.org (however, we don't receive the entire donation, as there are fees).

Christmas Day program

In the United States, donations are tax-deductible, according to IRS regulations, and you’ll receive a receipt by the end of January. 100% of the funds that we receive for Aasha Tree will go directly to the project, so your dollars go a long way, both economically and geographically!

If you would like to give a donation to Aasha Tree in the name of a friend or family member, please send me the names and addresses of the recipients. I will send them a card to let them know of your gift, or I can send you the gift card to fill out and give yourself.

Another way to help is by collecting funds for Aasha Tree at your church, workplace or school. Send me an e-mail, and I can send you a table card to set up, along with some donation forms and gift cards.

If you sign up for our newsletter (on our web site (www.equipnepal.org), or by sending me an e-mail request at jev@equipnepal.org, you’ll be included in our updates on the project. I’ll be sharing some photos and stories of how Christmas is celebrated in Nepal.
 

Janis E. Viren is the president and executive director of EquipNepal, a nondenominational Christian ministry in Billings, Montana, that links with ministries and missionaries in Nepal and India to encourage their efforts in evangelism, church planting, discipleship, and meeting physical needs. Primarily, EquipNepal administers fundraising programs (including child sponsorship) for five children’s homes, an elderly home, and several other ministries in Nepal and India.  They also work to promote awareness of the issues that most affect the people of Nepal (including poverty, isolation, and the lack of education and health care) through presentations and other events, newsletters, and selling handcraft made by Nepali women who have been widowed, rescued or abandoned. EquipNepal is a ministry of Mission LINK International, Charlottesville, VA, and registered in the Commonwealth of Virginia and the State of Montana. Again, her e-mail is jev@equipnepal.org and the website is: www.equipnepal.org