Most of the world celebrates Christmas with presents, food, and family. For many Filipinos living in Cotta, Lucena City in the Philippines, however, Christmas is defined by another simple meal, no gifts, and uncertainty. But for a few hours, it became a celebration of joy, warmth, love, and hope. Aspire to Dream - with the help of the wonderful Joel and Lhen family, local church, and coordinator Aileen and volunteers - gave bags for a Noche Buena for the families with very limited opportunities. Noche Buena is the most important family meal of the season, happening on Christmas Eve. Through our volunteers, we were able to feed the community with Filipino spaghetti, corned beef, fruit cocktail, liver spread, nata de coco, corn and milk.
As we celebrated, parents and children were reminded about a Savior who was born into poverty, who knew hunger, who came not for the powerful and rich but for the overlooked and ignored. And if the savior came to Earth in a place such as a manger, then perhaps He can come dwell with us in a place such as this as well.
We are all about sharing life, being closely involved in those whom we help. We didn’t just come to bring gifts - we came to be with them. Laughing together, praying together, celebrating each other. That day, 100+ families were reminded that they are seen, known and deeply loved by us, and by God.
