Our Easter

Our Easter holiday started on Thursday evening when we went to church. We had a time of reflecting...on Jesus, and our sin that he gave his life for.

We were a little early so we helped get ready.Heather and Megan were assigned to lighting the candles. Here they are trying to figure out how to start it. I am not sure that we were ever able to get it to start. :)

Lydia and Emily pouring water. I didn't see this before, but Lydia is pouring and smiling at the same time, and I don't think she spilled any. :)

The evening started with prayer and then a small meal of soup and bread.

After we ate Pastor read a few passages of scripture and then we wrote down all (not all of course, because there was not nearly enough room!) our sins on a little red heart that were on the tables. The Baloses sang a song, called "Depth of Mercy" and then while Jimmy continued to play his fiddle, we all lined up and nailed our hearts to the cross.

Easter Lily

While cleaning up afterward Dad called me to get the camera and go outside. I haven't seen too many of these kinds of sunsets.

When we went back to church on Sunday we all noticed the hearts on the cross were no longer a deep crimson red...the were white, washed clean! When some of the little kids looked inside the hearts there was nothing there... :)


Easter Passion Play
On Saturday afternoon we went to Andrews University to see the Passion Play they put on every year. It was our first year, and I really enjoyed it, though we were a little disappointed because we had were not able to go outside because of the rain. We had to watch all the scenes inside. It was still very good and after the play (since it had stopped raining) we were able to go back and look at the market (and get a few samples of fruit and bread).

Jesus in a crowd of children

The last supper

Jesus Christ is Risen!!!

~ The Market ~

Different kinds of beans

Some fruit samples and baskets

Pottery

Cheese, beans and spices

Beautiful trees on the way back to our car.

He Arose!
Death cannot keep his prey - Jesus, my Savior!
He tore the bars away- Jesus, my Lord!
Up from the grave He arose,
With a mighty triumph o'er His foes;
He arose a Victor from the dark domain,
And He lives forever with His saints to reign:
He arose! He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose!
- Robert Lowry

Drama Camp - Joseph of Arimathea

Last week was drama camp...it was awesome! The week went by way too fast! The play was on Joseph of Arimathea, and a pretty cool one, I thought. I was a messenger, we were kind of like a narrator. I didn't have a lot of lines, but I really liked it because I got to be throughout the whole play. I also really enjoyed the team. I promised pictures so here are a few.

The whole cast after the play when there was time for pictures

The make up table

Just before devotions

Making the body of Jesus

The first day of drama camp I was only able to make it just before lunch. So they had already picked those who would work in costumes. I was a little disappointing but didn't think much about it. At the end of the day when we were just leaving we (mom and I) were talking to a girl I've known for a while, and she said, "they were wondering if you could help them in costumes." I couldn't help smiling as I said, "yes". So, I was able to work in costumes ( mostly hemming with a few other projects).
Allie (in the picture above) and I were assigned to make two "priest bibs" (similar to the one in the picture).

Here I am putting "pancake" all over the face and neck. This is dark orangy-skin colored make up that helps us to not look so pale with the lights on us.

Here on are pictures of some of the scenes that Mom was able to take after the performance. This is the scene of Mary and Josephs of Nazereth betrothal feast. Left to right (their Bible names) Joseph of Arimathea (his back anyway), Heli (Mary's father), Ruth (Mary's mother), Mary and Joseph of Nazareth.

I am not sure exactly what this scene was since I was not in it and I got all the temple/priests/Sanhedrin scenes mixed up.

John the Baptist, with Nicodemus and Joseph (of Arimathea)

My fellow messengers and I during the crucifixion scene

Mary and her friends (front) at the crucifixion

The scene where Joseph of Arimathea asks for the body of Christ.