Puchong Branch Christmas Party 21 Dec 2019

 

This year our family managed to join the Puchong Branch Christmas Party, as last year we were at Johor Bahru celebrating Christmas with Alvin while he was working there.

 

 

Well, this year Sister Glenda was assigned to cook for the big feast. She is so creative in decorating the chapel into a Christmas mood. Together with Brother Adrian, they changed the entire environment filled with the festive mood.

 

 

It is so special that our Christmas tree ornaments are dehydrated fruits which can be eaten. Not forgetting the ginger bread man too! And it is so pretty as well! The fire place which they made. It feels such a warm place to be.

 

 

Our big feast is western style with pies, cakes, brownies, spaghetti with carbora white sauce and Bolognese sauce, marsh potatoes, and turkey as well! It lightened up with colourful fruit punch! Some of the sisters contribute with their favourite dish such as orange chicken, Chinese fried rice, African fried rice, and many more.

It is a good coarse that we were asked to invite our family and friends to join our branch Christmas Party as part of our missionary works. Many of the friends and investigators turned up for this occasion. Our branch presidency never forget about the missionary works for members.

 

All the programmes are organised by the various organizations and individual performances. There was an opening hymn follow by the opening prayer. We had our dinner first, then followed by the presentations.

There was a children dance presented by the Sister Sylvia’s son Melvis and his friends, followed by a Brother Roger’s songs, after that musical number by Sister Ritcher, and dance performance by Brother Aka and his University friend. Sister missionaries and YSA group too participate in the programme and lastly is EQ and RS songs.

Finally, the most important part – Santa Clause is coming to town! Our branch Brother Vincent became our Santa Clause for the gift exchanging and sharing moments ^^. Every each of the friends and investigators did have a small gift which were prepared by the Branch. Not forgetting children as well.

 

 

 

 

Our family have a warmth and home coming Christmas Party evening. Even it is just a small party, but we were surrounded by kind, humble and hard working ever Saints in following Christ!

Even though we were tired because we were at Puchong IOI Mall for the Christmas Carolling. We feel quite a full and satisfied December than any other past Decembers that we had.

The Journey to Bethlehem 2019

As the previous year, our Church the Kuala Lumpur Malaysia District of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints staged, Journey to Bethlehem - A Christmas Pageant to Celebrate The Birth of Jesus Christ.

"Luke 2: 10-11 For unto us this day is born in the city of David, Christ the Lord." The pageant depicting events surrounding the birth of Jesus Christ. Non-Muslims were invited to this non-denominational presentation.

This year Alvin and Issac participated and act as Wise Men in the pageant. Both of them together with Steve have practice their scripts after Church every Sunday. They were very confident as they had attended the rehearsal on the previous two Saturdays at KL Chapel.

We arrived early today as both of them need to be there to wear on their costumes and rehearsal again. There are 2 sessions, one is 3.00pm and another one is about 5.00pm. Annabelle and I were just seated together at the Chapel and waited for the presentation to be started at 3.00pm. as Alvin and Issac slots were at 3.00pm.

The presentation began with several musical numbers. Then the audiences were divided into smaller groups of about 20. Guides accompanied the groups to different rooms focusing on different events surrounding the birth of Jesus Christ.

The first room portrayed a scholar explaining that the children of Israel had waited and looked forward for thousands of years for the Savior to come.

As the Book of Mormon says, “all those who have hearkened unto [the words of the prophets], and . . . have looked forward to that day for a remission of their sins, . . . are . . . heirs of the kingdom of God.” (Mosiah 15:11)

Then, the group transitioned to the angel’s room. The angels explain that they were commissioned by God to visit the earth and announce the glad tidings of the birth of Christ.

After the presentation, we were given a candle signify the Savior is born and the Light is the Savior.

Next, the group moved to a room with shepherds keeping watch over their sheep at night.

They described a visitation by an angel and bore testimony of the infant Savior that they went to see. The visitors were given sticks of candy after that.

At the subsequent stop, we came to the wise men room whereby Alvin and Issac were. They described the new star and their visit to Herod seeking the Christ. We were given chocolate wrapped with golden wrappers as it is the gold coins.

After departing them, we come to Herod’s court, where we see an arrogant, worldly ruler who threatens to kill the Child.

The brethren whom acted as the King Herold was indeed talented! We can feel the wickedness in his voice and tone as we were in the room.

Finally, we go to the humble stable where the Infant lies asleep in the hay watched over by Mary and Joseph.

The visitors, old and young, reverently pause and reflect on the simple grandeur of the holy Child.

Lastly, we were toured to the room whereby we can see many and different sets of Nativity sets from around the world. It is so beautiful.

The sets were authentic. The sheep, donkey, and camel were realistic. The costumes were exquisite.

The committee really put into a lot of efforts to organize such beautiful scenes for us reminiscent of that event.

There was a marketplace at the conclusion wherein visitors received different breads, figs, dates and nuts reminiscent of that time. This contributed to feelings surrounding the event.

Our family went in to see the pageant for the second time, this time together with Alvin and Issac. All of us were impressed by the acting of other brothers and sisters on the 2nd shift as well.

After the event, we went back earlier around 6.00pm and Alvin need to go back to his job site, then only come back home and have dinner with us.

It is a beautiful experience for all of us, especially for Issac. He has this opportunity to act and serve at this young age and gained experience. I am very happy and grateful for the opportunities that both father and son has to serve in the Church.

As we remember the great miracle of Jesus Christ coming from His heavenly home to dwell on earth, we recognize the astounding yet humble nature of his birth. He was the symbol of hope and goodness for many.