A Night in Bethlehem. . .

A few friends of ours from a local church invited us to their Night in Bethlehem event. It was amazing. The church had fully transformed an Armory into Bethlehem. There were Roman soldiers standing at the gates of the city (you had to wait until your family was called to the Census), as well as tax collectors and beggars in the street (cement covered with hay).



The "walls" were painted to look like Bethlehem and there were stations where the children could spend their sheckles (colored rocks) and make things (rope, myrrh, decorative boxes, bread, etc.). Note: The entire event was free.


(Emoree making bread)


(Bryton makes a rope)


(Shae paying her sheckels)

As the children went around to each of these "stations" the workers told them about the baby that had been born in their city. They asked the children if they had seen the baby. They asked the children if they had heard things from the shepherds about the baby that had been born.

As we got to the end of the "street" we saw the small stable where Mary and Joseph and their (real) baby were sitting by a manger. Although their baby was asleep, I must admit I was choked up for a moment. It dawned on both Eric and I that the birth of the Savior didn't happen in the quiet of the evening. It happened in the hustle and bustle of a city. With people talking and whispering about it all the while.

Imagine how tired Mary and Joseph must have been after their emotional trek. How wonderful both of them were, to let strangers see their baby and visit with the newborn king.

This was our family night event, so at the end, Eric and I bore our testimonies of the Savior. Spontaneously, two of the kids bore their sweet testimonies. It was amazing to hear and to feel the sweetness of the Spirit.


It made me think, this is what Christmas is truly all about.