Our dance team Arise! participated in ASELSI's Christmas parties again this year. The ASELSI workers handed out backpacks full of school supplies to 400 needy kids. The children were chosen from elementary and middle schools in the area by the school directors who knew that these were the poorest families. Each day, 200 children and their parents (divided into 3 groups the first day and 2 groups the second day) were invited to a local church in two different communities about 20 minutes from the town of Chichicastenango. There was a show for each of the five groups, with dances by the local church youth as well as my Arise! dance team, a skit about Christmas, a clown act, and a salvation message.
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These ladies are spreading pine needles
on the floor of the church, which is a
common decoration here. It is a way
to honor the guests that will soon arrive. |
The first day in Chicua there were three groups that entered the church to watch the show and then went out to receive their backpacks.
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Arise! dancing as shepherds who were
excited to see the baby Jesus. |
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One of the groups eagerly watching
the Christmas show. |
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Waiting between shows in a house next
to the church watching a YouTube
video challenge! |
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ASELSI chartered a bus to take their
employees (and us) to and from Chichi
each day. Two moms, Alicia and Clelia,
also came with me to help. |
The second day in Chuabaj the church was bigger so there were only two large groups that day.
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Practicing when we first arrived
early in the morning. |
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Ready for the shepherd dance
"Jesus Is Christmas." |
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| Ready for the dance "Still Rolling Stones." |
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Waiting between dances in one of
the church's Sunday school rooms.
The papers are packets that I made to
keep the kids busy: word searches,
mazes, dot-to-dots, etc. |
