2014-12-24

【Aiden in English】

        The best, most wonderful season has arrived, bringing joy, happiness, and parties. So Mom took me to China Grace Christian Church (CGCC) for the annual Christmas party.

        Parties are cool and all, but no party is a party without spirit. The CGCC certainly had Christmas spirit in the air and I could just feel it in about everything. As soon as I entered the church, the very sound of the guests’ voices feel like the holiday joy. “Merry Christmas!” “Merry Christmas!” The atmosphere looked awesome even before the party had begun. 

        After giving our prayers to our food and God, the guests feasted on a buffet with all the delicious homemade Chinese potlucks you could ever dream of. The smell was really nice, too. However, even better than smelling was taking a huge bite out of it and letting the savory taste flow into your mouth like a fire in a winter wonderland. The food felt as if it had spirit as well.

        The spirit seemed like a flame that couldn’t and wouldn’t be extinguished. With full stomachs, we made our way to the auditorium. Every year, the church made a performance about God and celebrated Christmas. In the past, the kids used to bring videogames, but all happened to hang out in one of the rooms across the entrance to the auditorium since videogames were banned for good. That room looked just a mess. We absolutely trashed the place and everyone was laughing their lungs out, for Christmas was here. 

        After the show, everyone ate the deserts and said farewell. However, the good-byes sounded cheerful and happy. People need to be happy and excited because this is a time of giving. Our spirit needed to burn bright like the sun, even though it was night outside. Christmas was here, and I, like everyone else, was delighted and had a holiday bright spirit. 

【紅霞譯文】

        一年中最開心最美好的季節已經來臨，它帶給人們歡樂、幸福以及團聚。正因如此，媽媽攜我前往賓州神州基督教會參加一年一度的聖誕聚會。

        聚會可謂節日盛事，精神面貌決定了聚會品質，神州基督教會濃郁的聖誕氣息，無疑極大地激發了我高漲的節日熱情。當走進教堂，友人間互致問候的親切話語更使我內心深處增添了一種溫馨，“聖誕快樂！”“聖誕快樂！”即使聚會尚未開始，大家的喜悅之情早已溢於言表。

        大家感謝主耶穌看顧教會施恩晚宴，來賓們盡展烹飪廚藝，共同分享各家拿手的經典中式佳餚名饌，味道甭提有多麼鮮美地道。然而百聞不如一嘗，肥香只有飄入自個口，冬天的火焰才能溫暖人心窩，美食既是物質所需，又是精神享受。

        精神面貌猶如熊熊燃燒的火焰經久不息。因此當吃飽喝足了之後，我們便前往大廳參加教會傳統的慶聖誕崇拜活動。過去年齡小的孩子們常常帶來視頻遊戲，但如今由於明確規定不許撥弄任何電子玩藝，大家不約而同地會師於大廳對面一主日學教室。房間被我們折騰得夠嗆，垃圾鋪天蓋地。聖誕節到了，人人開心得忘乎所以。

        表演結束以後，大家又返回餐廳吃些甜點並互致再見，只不過這回聽起來是幸福充滿快樂的道別。人們應該幸福快樂，因為眼下正是給予的大好時刻。但願彼此的精神面貌能像太陽燦爛明亮，儘管現在外面漆黑一團。聖誕節來了，正如其他人一樣，我樂在其中心情大好。