Southeast Asia

Merry Christmas, Everyone! I am very happy to report that all is on schedule for this Christmas Eve.

At the moment, I am just leaving the city of Can Tho in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam. There are actually more people that celebrate Christmas here and believe in me that most Europeans and Amercians realize. Most kids set out shoes on the door step rather than hang stockings, so I stuff them with goodies. And let me tell you... the snacks I get here are fantastic! And fairly healthy too.

Anyway, I just had an encounter with a little girl here in Can Tho who actually "set a trap" for me. She managed to fool my elf scout team into believing she was asleep on the floor next to the tree. I saw the security video that the elves were streaming live to me on the sleigh before I landed and it was just so cute it was hard to believe that she was faking it. But she was. As soon as I popped in the door (there was not a chimney large enough to get down), she jumped up and screamed "Santa!".

I started back through the doorway in full retreat. The elves swept in to surround the house, prepared to erase any video evidence of my presence. Even the reindeer got antsy at the sound of her announcement. Surprisingly though, no one else in the house woke up.

As I got back to the sleigh, I was reminding myself of the standard protocol. If a child catches a glimpse of me, I must leave immediately whether or not I have delivered the gifts. I only return if the security team deems it safe and I have time to return. We can not jeopardize the schedule to return to a house where the kids were awake when I arrived.

Something like this happens every Christmas Eve... often multiple times in one night. And I always follow the standard protocol. But tonight seemed different for some reason... it didn't feel right to follow the protocol.

I climbed out of my sleigh and back down to the door. This time I actually knocked... I don't know why but I did. The little girl opened the door, grinning ear to ear, and invited me in. She apologized for surprising me but explained it was the only way she could meet me. She asked if she could wake her brothers and have them meet me. Against my better judgement, I said yes.
She woke them. By now Jingle was madly texting me to get moving. But I decided to stay for a moment and meet them all. I had to decline photos but we all exchanged hugs before I handed out their gifts. As humble as the gifts were, they loved them. I could see the excitement and gratitude in their eyes. They followed me out as I left and waved as we pulled up into the air and on to the next neighborhood.

I don't know why... I suspect I will never know "why"... but for some reason I know beyond a shadow of doubt that I was meant to spend some time with those kids tonight. I won't be breaking protocol any time soon but I am confident I did the right thing by going back and seeing that (very crafty) little girl and her brothers.

Well.... I have to get back to delivering gifts. Keep on the look-out for me!