I originally heard about this event in Ward Council, and when I did I knew immediately that I wanted our family to see it. A great way to start out a Christ-centered Christmas.
It was amazing! Apparently a family in Alpine began organizing and putting on this Nativity each year to honor their mother who had passed away. She loved Christmas and wanted to continue sharing her love with others.
You basically drive up to Alpine. Meet at a Stake Center where you climb into the back of a horse trailer with 30 of your closest friends. Riding on bales of hay they take you up to the property where you exit, and head to the starting point. At the starting point a man from Bethlehem greets you and explains what you will see. You continue on passing camels, horses, donkeys, and even Roman soldiers on horseback telling you to go pay your taxes to Caesar! None of which I pictures of because as we arrived it started to rain. Yeah, wasn't going to get my fancy camera out in that. :)
As you continue down the path, you come to an old barn. Inside you learned about gifts from them:
Oohed, ahhed, and petted them:
There were also merchants in the "City of Bethlehem" that explained, and allowed you to sample their wares.
After you left the "main part of the city" you follow candle lights down a path which passed two woman singing praises to the Lord. After which you entered into the stable where you saw this:
The Spirit was so strong. No one spoke. We just felt. An experience we won't soon forget.
As you leave this sacred place, there are kind people sharing hot chocolate with all the guests and raising money for children in third world countries with Cleft Pallets. True Angels in my opinion.
It was truly amazing, and what a wonderful way to not only honor a great mother, but the Savior whom she obviously loved.
After this humbling, lovely, and wet experience we headed out to finish the night off with warm donuts. :)
Touched hearts, full tummies, and smiles all around. What a great way to set the tone for the season.
2 comments:
I need to forward you the pic of jake and the camel...when the camel is showing his teeth to Jake ;)
I just heard about this nativity this year. Hopefully, our family can go see it next year.
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