Photo Diary : The Journey Is My Home

CHRISTMAS IS COMING!

Last weekend I was helping at an event our connect group was holding to celebrate Christmas earlier. I joined up with a small group for the discussion and helped with the decoration. I wanted to make it special, so I did my best to help. 
Some of us were having final exam while the others were having days off. We're all tired, especially the ones having final exam the next day but we worked on it.
Before our connect group event, we went to church together to an Early Christmas Celebration held by Army Of God teen (GMS Surabaya.) 
Embracing Christmas early has truly been a gift and allows me to focus and share the beauty of this season with my friends. On that day, we bring our hurt, pain, and brokenness when we come to worship. I suddenly looked differently at them. It just struck me on such a deep chord, and maybe for the first time in my life, I have truly felt like the people I worship with on every Sunday are truly my family.
I remember that, before, I saw people week after week sitting on the Church, but I would never take the time to introduce myself, never know anything about them, and just see them as "that one family that always on the far right side." 
Especially, since I joined connect group at the first time, I've really been trying to see it more as my family and meet more people, even if I don't usually spend much time with them. 
When I got to know them, I discovered that they struggled with so many things, and that there is so much brokenness that bring us to Christ together. On this event, I realized that I should be really glad to know them. Having a community of faith like this really helps me in the hard times of life as well as the easy times.
We had an opportunity to share the meaning of this event one by one. For me, I feel like God reminds me that I am a part of very special family. It was beautiful, powerful; the kind that leaves you in that kind of happiness which can make you cry. 
As I came home, I had a realization: these people, this church community, they are my family. They make me the person I am now and I really am grateful for them. 
A week depicted in photographs!