A Tiny Miracle

Sister Malabi asked if we could have a Children's Christmas party for the new Bujumbura group. We thought it was a good idea and they wanted our support. What were we thinking? It turned out that we were in charge. Sister Malabi had a family wedding in the Congo and she and Frere Malabi weren't even able to come.

We held our planning meeting last week. I went prepared with a narration with congregational songs and parts for the children. Our first meeting was a disaster!! I spoke English with a little French. Sister Frogley spoke English. Most of the Moms spoke Swahili or Kirundi only. The children spoke Swahili, Kirundi and a smattering of French and only about half of the 15 children there read in any language. We tried to plan with our terrible language problems and when we left I wasn't sure who, if anybody,would be there for the party, let alone be prepared with parts, scriptures or anything else. So, I stressed out all week. We were totally unsure who and how many people would be there. We made banana bread for 60 and Thursday Veronique and Anne Marie Malabi, Sister Frogley and I filled treat bags for 30 children, just hoping we would have somebody come, but that not all of Bujumbura would show up.

We had no idea what to expect.

We arrived at the church almost two hours early and found our cute little non-members Anicet and his sister, Mireille, waiting for us as always. They come alone and are regularly there before we arrive. He speaks only Kurundi, but he knows what we need done and is always there to set up chairs, pass out books or do whatever needs doing. Little Mireille follows behind him wearing a smile that just melts your heart and Anicet watches over her tenderly. Anicet had taken a part and the elders promised to help him learn it. Just before the meeting the elders came and apologized for not having helped him learn his part. To all our surprise, somehow, Anicet had learned his French part perfectly. It was a big surprise since he speaks no French. He was so pleased with himself when he did it flawlessly in the program. Little Mireille put one of the wise men in place and was pretty happy with herself too.

We set things up, cut banana bread, poured the apple juice and waited. By the time we got things prepared and it was time to start, we had 24 children and their parents there. Wow!!

Some of the children had never practiced with us, but we gave them quick instructions on where to put the nativity figures and we began. Each little person who took a part last week had them perfectly memorized and were brilliant! Those who didn't have speaking parts put nativity pieces on the table as the others took turns speaking. Brent narrated beautifully. I directed traffic. Elder Frogley filled in reading scriptures no child had prepared. Ann Marie Malabi directed the children in their music and games, which the children loved doing and the parents loved watching.

They sang two songs-I am a Child of God and We Wish You A Merry Christmas. Pretty good for only being in the church for a month or two, having no Primary organized yet and learning the songs last week after church in a language that most of them don't speak. It was awesome!

It was a VERY GRAND, WONDERFUL SUCCESS!! It was a tiny miracle.

We ended the program with the elders doing a beautiful rendition of Silent Night.

Then it was banana bread, apple juice and spiced nuts for everybody and our great elders spontaneously began to sing Christmas carols for us.

I've never been happier with a Christmas program in all my life! It wasn't fancy or impressive by some standards. But it was a great success as our Children's Christmas Fete and another good first for our little group in Bujumbura.