Preparing for the Christmas Program in the Plaza de Armas

Last minute preparations are being made for the Trujillo North Mission Christmas Program.

We are so blessed to have missionaries sent to us with so much talent!

This year our programs on December 18 and 19 will not be the same, to allow as many missionaries as possible to share their talents. 

Here are a few pictures taken at our practice on Monday in Trujillo.

Elder Olsen, playing a Piano Guys number with Elder Drescher.

Sister Furness is playing for several numbers.

We have western line dancing to Elder Heward and Elder Manley 

singing "Have a Jolly Holly Christmas."

Elder Manley, Elder Heward and Sister South, western style.

Elder Rodriguez and Elder Leon are joined by Elder Lavado and Elder Sotelo
singing, Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire.

Sister Mason on the violin and Sister Canizales on the piano, a lovely duet. 

Director of the extravaganza!

President Marler is playing the guitar in Silent Night.

150+ missionaries singing, "Joy to the World"

A trio starts the song, Silent Night. 

President Marler, Elder Sotelo, and Elder Caldas accompanying Silent Night.

Elders and Sisters singing "O Come All Ye Faithful, " in Spanish, of course!

All are invited to the program in the Plaza de Armas, Friday 18 December and Saturday 19 December

7:00pm, free.

Let the Show Begin!

There was a wonderful spirit in the air as we began the program.  

First we took a group photo, all of the Trujillo Zones performed.

 Sister Marler led us all in a few Christmas Carols for warm-up.

And the show began.

 Elder Going starts things off with the trumpet fanfare to "Joy to the World" 

as we announce the coming of the Savior 

and this Christmas Season, the celebration of His birth.

 Elder Pacheco wrote and recited a beautiful poem about the meaning of Christmas, 

and the great gift of Jesus Christ from our loving Heavenly Father. 

Elder Terry shared his talents by accompanying some of the Choral numbers. 

Traditional and non-traditional hymns were sung by soloists and the Choir.

 Hermana Mason and Elder Winterton, are going viral with their Hallelujah video with Brother Reno.

I hope you have had time to see the video on our Facebook page.

 We sang of Christ, We talked of Christ, We showed "El Es la Dádiva" (He is the Gift), 

and Invited 2000+ people to come unto Christ.  

Now that is successful missionary work.

 After the show there was time to visit with friends, another joy of Christmas. 

 Hermana Calle and Hermana Huata.

Hermano Alexis and his family…Papa Noel never looked better.

Finally, a special thank you to Elder Leavitt, he was the manager of the entire show,
He, and under his direction,  and the entire office staff worked behind the scenes
to make sure every detail was perfect.
We all thank you for a job well done

Merry Christmas to all.

(More videos and pictures on Facebook search Kathy Marler)

Christmas Program Video...

Here are a few of the video clips from the Programa Navidad in the Plaza de Armas in Trujillo Peru.  

Directing a 230 voice choir was a real treat.  

Dad Marler, thanks for the baton...

Becky Lund, thanks for playing the piano for "The Lord is My Shepherd"

Thanks to Elder Wengert and Elder Perez for accompanying several of the numbers

and a special thanks to Sister Allred, our pianist for all rehearsals and for most of the musical numbers

Sister Allred you are "Lo Maximo!"

Below we have some of our musical numbers, first the entire choir singing 

"The Little Drummer Boy"

This is Elder Dennis on the Drum

Sisters from Chimbote sing

Elder Caro Singing   "O Holy Night" 

Sister Downs and Sister Gonzalez Singing "O Come All Ye Faithful"

and Elder Winterton singing "The Lord's Prayer"

Elders from Casma Sing En la Judea, en Tierra de Dios

Sisters Worlton, Calle, Connors, Estrada, Wayman, Paiva, Gonzales, Boody, Portillo and Bedoya sing a lovely rendition of "Angels we have Heard on High"

A Drum Line, with trash cans, yes, we had more than one "little drummer"

As I convert files and upload them to the internet, you will be able to watch more of the program.  Some numbers were not filmed and we are waiting for folks to offer their video for our use.

If you have a musical number on video, please let me know.

Christmas Program in the Plaza de Armas

Our program in the Plaza de Armas was wonderful. 

 We used traditional Christmas music and used music and the spoke word

 to tell the story of Jesus Christ, the events surrounding his birth

 as well as his love and sacrifice for us.

This is right before we started, I'm not sure why everyone is looking backwards…was there a Papa Noel sighting?

Now we had a very interesting 2 days…let me share

I am not sure what this is about, it is the first time EVER these two have been shy!

 First things first.  The Christmas Show was to be divided into 2 days…Friday and Saturday…the same program, but one day  performed by the Chimbote areas and the other day by the Trujillo Zones.  

On Thursday we learned there was going to be a strike and that the center of Trujillo would be blocked off for cars…no taxi's, busses, nothing…so we cancelled Friday's show and 230 missionaries arrive by noon on Saturday.  

 so the missionaries came, 

…and came

…and came

…and came

…and all 227 practice the music for hours

Did I mention they kept coming, and coming.

It was wonderful having all of our missionaries together for the first time ever!!!!!

so before we took some photos...

One thing I have learned, missionaries love, love, love pictures

So Elder Endicott, where is your companion????

this young man was selling fire works in the Plaza…and kept popping in and out of the pictures…so we had him pose with us...

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Hermana Allred, our accompanist, joins Esperanza for a photo bomb!

Esperanza zone +1…yes that is right there are now 4 sisters in Esperanza!

and the show began with Elder Boekweg and Elder Smith singing some of E. Boekwegs original numbers

Then Elder Zacharias did some breakdancing

Hermano Reno ran our sound and preformed some pan flute numbers for us

and the missionaries clapped along with the music

Sister Downs and Sister Lasike sang Melikilikimaka

Elder Pacheco wrote and read a poem about the Savior, it was beautiful

and Papa Noel showed up for the last song

Then the missionaries met with their friends in the audience

Papa Noel, you are losing your beard!

Alexis thanks, we love you

Here is the crowd that came to hear the program…wow!

Yes everyone, Santa does know where Peru is!!!!!!

President and Sister Marler with Assistant Elder Smith

Elder Garcia and Elder Rittcher pose with the Marler's

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Posing with some of the Elders

…and then some of the Hermanas

So after the show the Chimbote missionaries were rushed to the Chapel near-by to get on the bus for the return trip…but the bus broke down and they waited...

and waited

and waited

and slept

and at 1:30 am, they gave up and 20 sisters came to the mission home and the Elder's went to a hotel.
They arrived at 2:00am, tire and worn out, so they found beds, blankets, and a carpeted floor.  

Had a great breakfast of homemade pancakes...

Thanks Elders for the eggs, without you there would be no breakfast

Some of the kitchen help

Then we all went to Church at the California building,  then the Sisters were off to Chimbote.
It was an exciting weekend, full of exciting last minute changes
Full of smiles, song, and seeing the entire mission enjoying each other's company
Best weekend ever!!!

Merry Christmas