Feliz Natal!

Love these Amazonian gifts to the baby Jesus of water, fish, and a soccer ball!

The people here in Itacoatiara are wonderful. They have very little, but they make the most of it.

We have seen all kinds of things reused, recycled, repurposed--like old nails hammered into boards for a garden rake, banana crates stacked for shelving, a tv casing used as a plant pot. And we were delighted when the city decorations went up on the main avenue, mostly made out of old cds, plastic cups, water bottles and things.We came home and tried to make some like theirs.

We like the reminder that with a touch of love, junk things can be made into loveliness, much like junk moments in our lives.With the Savior's love gracing our junk, it can be made into loveliness. 

We pray this season for all of you wherever you are to feel abundant love and the power of Jesus Christ  helping you through challenging days, and the light and peace and joy He was born to make possible.  

Many Gilliland hugs to you!

Love, Tamara & David & Girls


Here are some of our favorite samples of creativity from our stroll on the "avenida":

Our friend Vitória came to help us create "decoração" at home with water bottles for bells and stars, bags for garland bows, old cardboard for a nativity. She also cut snowflakes for her first time!

 

 

And the younger girls made various nativities from scraps of old banana crates:

 

We love celebrating our Savior!  Ó vinde adoremos!