Many people travel over the holidays. Last week, over 300 people here in Punta Cana only had to travel as far as the community plaza to experience a special “Trip to Bethlehem.” On Saturday, December 8, as a special part of the annual PUNTACANA Village Christmas Bazar, a part of the plaza in Punta Cana was transformed into an amazing Biblical town of Bethlehem complete with Biblical characters like Mary, Joseph, the Shepherds, the inn keeper and her daughter, a wise man and even a talking donkey and a talking camel (both played by teenage puppeteers).
For over three months an incredible group of volunteers from Alianza and people from the community, worked hard preparing for this event. It was an activity for the community by the community. By Saturday morning the “town of Bethlehem” was ready and it was amazing. We prepared, prayed and committed everything to the Lord not having any idea of how many people would come. You accompanied us in prayer, and God answered in amazing ways.
Even before it was scheduled to start, people coming to the Bazar began asking us about the “Trip to Bethlehem” and how they could be a part of it. It started with a parade through the plaza singing Christmas carols and inviting people to join us on our way to Bethlehem. The excitement and joy, as we walked through the plaza filled with people, was electric. People followed us and started lining up to enter the “Trip to Bethlehem.” After they checked in and received a “passport,” they began their journey. At each stop along the way, the children received biblical coloring and activity pages and at the end of the trip they received special surprises with Bible messages. The adults too received special souvenirs with Bible verses and a Biblical countdown to Christmas calendar.
It was amazing to see the joy and excitement on the peoples faces as they went through the different stops. The children smiled and laughed with Benjamin Burro (Donkey) and Cami the Camel. It was precious to see the wonder and awe in the eyes of children and adults alike as they heard the story of the shepherds and visited the manager for themselves. So many people commented at the end of how impacted they were as they heard and experienced in a special way the amazing story of Jesus’ coming to earth.
Thank you so very much for accompanying us on the “Trip to Bethlehem.” Because you prayed, on that wonderful sunny Saturday afternoon during the PUNTACANA community Christmas Bazar, over 300 people of all ages, heard the amazing message of how God sent His Son Jesus to be born in Bethlehem over 2000 years ago to become the Savior of the world.
Thank you for praying for strength and health for all involved. Julie fell and injured her shoulder right before the Bazar, but God gave strength and she was able to work the entire Bazar without any problems. God really helped our actors and volunteers too. We had 15 groups that went through the journey. That meant that the actors did each scene 15 times! That is not easy in the Punta Cana sun wearing Biblical attire. But they did it all with such joy and enthusiasm. God answered your prayers in amazing ways.
Thank you so much for making the “Trip to Bethlehem” with us again this year. Your faithful prayers and sacrificial giving to the Great Commission Fund and our Work Special Funds make it possible for us to be here and be a part of such exciting events like this. We thank God for you!
We pray that you will experience amazing blessings this Christmas. May we each have a new and fresh encounter with our precious Savior who was born in Bethlehem over 2000 years ago. May His great love be poured out in all our hearts and may we share the good news of salvation with all those around us in this wonderful time of year.
Zac and Julie Stutler 