The REAL meaning of Christmas!

The play has finished and the curtain has come down!
Before I tell you how the play WENT, let me tell you what the play WAS!
The play opens with 2 narrators saying they are there to explain the REAL meaning of Christmas.
A boy in the audience stands up and says he already knows the real meaning – presents and parties. They invite him up onto the stage to learn what Christmas means. Then …
Song in Oshiwambo
Scene 1 - Garden of Eden; creation, temptation and fall (Étienne is the snake).
Scene 2 – God’s call of and promises to Abraham.
Scene 3 – God promises to David via the prophet Nathan.
Song
Scene 4 – Mary and the Angel, with Joseph to Bethlehem.
Song
Scene 5 – Shepherds, Wise women (not enough boys around!).
Scene 6 – summary of the gospel (as can be seen by the 4 girls holding cards).
Song – Jesus saves (tune: Jingle Bells) preceded by a recorder solo by Étienne.
Bows and applause!

I advertised it all over Ongwediva and even on the local radio station, based in Oshakati.
How did it go?
I had to replace a narrator 3 times and then the 3rd one also dropped out in the last week so Beth had to stand in (and did very well).
I also had numerous other parts to replace and eventually dropped the scene with Isaiah as I could not get anyone to stay in the role!
On the Thursday before the play (2 days to go) I was told through the grapevine that the girl playing Mary (and the prophet Nathan) was no longer able to come. The Grd 7 farewell (end of primary school) had been moved from last w/e to the afternoon of the play and she wanted to do her hair. I went round to her house and assured her that if there were no Mary there would be no play, so choosing a hair appointment at the same time as the play was to start was not an option.
So Mary came.
The evening before, we had a full dress rehearsal, with David videoing it. However, basically no one brought their costumes so that aspect was a bit of a disaster: I needed good photos as I had promised the ‘Namibian’ (national paper) an article on the play! Ah, well.
Then Caris fell down and cut her knee quite badly just before the end of the rehearsal (see photo of camera man, taken the next day) but she is healing well.
Then the choir director called to say he would be an hour late to the rehearsal – David to the rescue there for me!
On the choir photo you can see children doing the guitar. Andreas got one to strum and one to do one chord and another to play another chord and so they did the music themselves!
THE MORNING OF THE PLAY …
When 9 am came (starting time) we were still minus one narrator, God and Adam. Also the wise women were still at home, having to wash the family’s clothes as Saturday is chore day.
I asked Abraham where his outfit was and he said he had not been able to organise one (thanks for the warning! But I had taken about 3 spare head dresses and all were used!)
By 9.30 we were all assembled … but sadly only had an audience of 1. Two others arrived later. The children had asked family and friends to come (and many said their mothers were coming) but people chose to stay at home and do chores or visit friends rather than come and see their children perform. I was very disappointed for them - but the show must go on.
We did the whole thing as if the hall was packed and the children really enjoyed it. David videoed it again and we shall make the video available for the children to borrow. That, I think, is all we can do in that respect.
However, I do not feel it to be a waste of time as the children discovered something they could do and do well. They had a great time and I doubt they will ever forget the experience.
Being Namibia, everyone’s very young siblings were all over the place as children have to responsibility of looking after them during the day. So I borrowed one to be baby Jesus!
There are very few props as I had to organise everything myself - how spoilt we are in our culture where parents help with costumes and props, bring children to rehearsals, and are supportive of their children in this way. The one mother who came said she had not expected it to be so good and was quite overwhelmed by it. She asked for a copy of the video. I think that is another problem. No one does plays of any kind here so no one really knew what to expect and so there was no real interest.
David says I will know for next year but I am not sure there will BE a next year … it is exhausting work!
(The obligatory photo on the wall, which is in a few shots, is the president of Namibia. The other wall hangings come with hall and, I think, are nailed to the wall.)
Thanks for your prayers for this ‘pioneer’ work. One other big plus is that the drama classes have brought me into contact with a number of teenagers and I am considering a weekly youth/Bible meeting for them next year as the Wednesday Bible club is too young for them. This will only be feasible if we can get someone to help us in this exciting ministry and with home schooling. So, keep praying!
A friend at Durbanville Community Church (SA) has generously sent up some gospel booklets called ‘The most important story ever told’ and we will hand these out to the children when they come to play next week. I want to first stick in individual photos of them performing.
Enjoy the photos, too!