Tag Archives: True Spirit of Christmas Trip 2011

An open letter to our generous donors

Posted on January 26, 2012 by Kirsten Stearns in Gift Catalog

In December, World Vision’s Kirsten Stearns traveled with our True Spirit of Christmas Trip to Sri Lanka and Zambia to see firsthand how gifts from the Gift Catalog are helping to change the lives of children and families in need. Here, she shares an open letter with our donors, reflecting on how your generosity has helped make stories like these possible. * * *...

Goats, scones, and life-changing gifts

Posted on December 27, 2011 by Sarah De la Cruz in Stories

On day 11 of the 2011 True Spirit of Christmas Trip, our team introduced you to Joyce, who’s life has been changed thanks to the gift of goats from the World Vision Gift Catalog. The goats provide Joyce with milk and a means for extra income that she sometimes uses to purchase ingredients to make scones from her own recipe. We shared Joyce’s special scone recipe straight from her kitchen with World Vision supporters on Facebook after our trip host, Kirsten Stearns, did some midday baking with Joyce calling her scones “among the best she has ever tasted.” Back in the United States, a long way from Joyce’s kitchen in Zambia, Kirsten’s sister-in-law Sarah and her church group agree the scones...

The real Christmas story | Blog 7 of the 12 blogs of Christmas

Posted on December 13, 2011 by Lisa Leonard in Conversations

Day 7 | World Vision's 12 blogs of Christmas

I grew up in a Christian family, where I understood the true meaning of Christmas from a very young age. I heard the Christmas story so many times, I became almost numb to it. The Wisemen, shepherds, angels, and stable animals were all supporting actors in a play that I had seen too many times, and, at times, felt I couldn’t sit through again. After all, there were presents waiting to be unwrapped and hot cocoa waiting to be sipped. I am thankful my parents didn’t indulge my childish impatience, and that they consistently took time to explore the spirit behind Christmas with my siblings and me. It’s more than just a season that happens every year and brings sweets...

Compassion | Blog 6 of the 12 blogs of Christmas

Posted on December 12, 2011 by Jeff Goins in Conversations

For years, I never understood Christmas. Admittedly, I was a bit of a Scrooge. It just seemed like the whole thing was a farce. Every made-for-TV movie I watched between Thanksgiving and New Year’s preached the same gospel: “It’s not about presents.” But then, every Christmas morning, I was inundated with presents. It didn’t make sense. Someone was lying. Everything you want? My parents, and probably yours, would conclude every December 25th with the same nervous question: “So… did you get everything you wanted?” Are you kidding me? Everything I wanted? Is this what we want to teach our children about life? That you can get everything you want?...

The gift of subversion | Blog 5 of the 12 blogs of Christmas

Posted on December 9, 2011 by Christian Piatt in Conversations

Day 5 | World Vision's 12 blogs of Christmas

I have a friend who likes Thursdays more than Fridays. He also is a bigger fan of Christmas Eve than he is Christmas Day. Kinda weird, right? But his reasoning is that the anticipation of good things is usually better than the realization of that goodness. But it actually makes strange sense when you think about it. I remember more than one birthday or Christmas morning when I’d get this lingering sense of depression when I realized that all of the excitement of waiting was over. While my cousins and friends tended to be package rippers, I drew it out as long as possible, hoping in a way that the good feelings would go on indefinitely....