I was recently thinking of how different Christmas is for missionaries in the 10/40 window. Except for their calendars, most of them will have no sign that Christmas is coming. No holiday lights, no reminders of how many shopping days are left, no Christmas carols, no poinsettias, no door wreaths, no Christmas tree lots, no manger scenes.

They probably won’t be able to eat their favorite holiday foods—dinner loaf, stuffing, mashed potatoes with gravy, green bean casserole, cranberry molds, candy canes, Martinelli’s juice, caramel apples, pumpkin pie, hot apple cider, etc. Instead, they might have lots of rice and perhaps some sugarcane—whatever they can find in the village market.

No one will mention the Baby wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger—God’s Son coming to die. Or will they? Maybe the missionaries will organize a special service to thank the Lord for His great love. Maybe as they sing Christmas hymns, the people will begin asking questions: “Was Jesus really born as a baby just like we were? Was He also the child of the Most High God? Did He die even for us?”

May God bless all the missionaries, their prayer warriors, financial supporters and the staff of AFM throughout this holiday season and 2014. Through them and by the power of the Holy Spirit, may the blessing of knowing God’s love through His Son come to the unreached people of the world.

Please consider supporting us as we go to bring the Gospel to a part of the world where people know nothing of Jesus!

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