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| From 12-2009 |
It was 10:00 am when the 14 elders and 4 senior missionaries serving in the So. Trinidad Zone knocked on the door of the Hope Center Orphanage. I had made an appointment for us to visit the children with a program and presents on Christmas morning.
The most important part of our program would be a reinactment of the nativity by the children. Afterall, what is Christmas without acting out the birth of Jesus Christ with the help of some children?
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| From 12-2009 |
When we arrived. the 17 children were barely out of bed. They were still dressed in their pj's, and the woman in charge stated, "We have to bathe them all, first."
Hmm, we weren't too excited to wait for 17 baths because we had another appointment at 1 pm at the mission home for Christmas dinner with all the missionaries serving in Trinidad. The mission home was nearly an hour from the orphanage.
They hustled to get the children all dressed. One by one they combed all the girls' hair (most were girls)and finally we were ready for our show to begin in the large play area at the back of the orphanage. The children were seated on three benches in the shade and the show began.
First we introduced ourselves.
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| From 12-2009 |
What about our variety of Christmas headgear?
Elders Winenreid, Jarvis, Gaddy, and Beeson...
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| From 12-2009 |
Elders Carter, Lang, and Cornwall...
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| From 12-2009 |
Elders Nielsen, Bullock, Baxter and Morris...
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| From 12-2009 |
Elders Morris (again?), Jones and Clark...
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| From 12-2009 |
Elder and Sister Morton...
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| From 12-2009 |
And, Elder and Sister Bullock!
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| From 12-2009 |
We sang a few songs, did a few skits (such as the Ugliest Man), and then we were ready to dress the children in costumes to act out the nativity.
Each set of 4 elders were assigned to dress either the angels, wisemen, shepherds or Mary and Joseph. Here goes the dressing them in their costumes...
Elder Baxter helping Mary.
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| From 12-2009 |
Mary...
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| From 12-2009 |
Elder Lang helping Joseph...
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| From Drop Box |
Joseph...
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| From 12-2009 |
The angels... (dressed in pillow cases from my apt.)
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| From 12-2009 |
The wisemen... (Do you like the way we used my skirts?)
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| From 12-2009 |
Is that the wisemen, again?
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| From 12-2009 |
The shepherds...(wearing
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| From 12-2009 |
Shepherds up close!
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| From 12-2009 |
And Michael who didn't want to wear a costume...
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| From 12-2009 |
The show begins with Joseph and Mary riding the donkey (Elder Jones).
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| From 12-2009 |
They've made it to the stable...Mary is still pregnant...there are a few "animals" with them in the stable.
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| From 12-2009 |
And Jesus was born! Everyone was happy, even the donkey!
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| From 12-2009 |
What do you think about all this, Joseph?
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| From 12-2009 |
The angels sang the announcement of his birth to the shepherds, who were watching their flocks from the slide.
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| From 12-2009 |
They took their "sheep" with them and followed the star as they looked for the baby Jesus.
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| From 12-2009 |
The "cows" in the stable helped to make a little room for the shepherds when they arrived.
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| From 12-2009 |
Isn't the baby Jesus darling?
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| From 12-2009 |
Here come the wisemen...
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| From 12-2009 |
Those wisemen had a long way to travel as they followed the star.
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| From 12-2009 |
Ah! They finally made it.
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| From 12-2009 |
They kneel at his feet.
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| From 12-2009 |
Then, smile for the camera.
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| From 12-2009 |
Can you tell how much the children are enjoying this? Especially Joseph!
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| From 12-2009 |
I'm not sure the 3 "cows" are enjoying it as much! Hey, I didn't know cows could stand on their hind legs only.
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| From 12-2009 |
The show ends with a final picture of the whole cast...children and elders. I'm not sure how Mary got tucked in and behind and a little out of view. Oh, well...
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| From 12-2009 |
Now for a look at the children after we gave them each 2 gifts. They ranged in age from 6 years to 17 years. Most were girls. Some of them were sisters.
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| From 12-2009 |
Bench 1...
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| From 12-2009 |
Bench 2...
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| From 12-2009 |
Bench 3...
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| From 12-2009 |
We had a very sweet visit at the orphanage. The children were responsive to us and we were happy to help them to have a happy Christmas memory.
There are lots of orphanages in both Guyana and Trinidad. The one we went to was only one of three that I visited this year in my search for our Christmas Day orphanage visit.
4 comments:
what a great idea - the nativity acted out at an orphanage. Keep up the great work!
love to see your beautiful picture and to see how creative you were and your elders, good to see
elder baxter he was eld. vi companion at mtc.
much love
sister mele vi
good job elders...love to followed your blog every week.
You are the best Nativity director I have ever seen! Thanks for the great pictures.
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