Maranatha School for the Deaf celebrates Christmas with program

The poinsettia plants and Christmas bushes filled with white flowers bloom profusely along the roadsides, in gardens of well-kept homes and on the rough mountainsides. It’s Christmas time in Jamaica! There are fewer decorated houses and shorter celebrations on this Caribbean island, but the spirit of Christmas is wide spread. Everyone loves to give and receive gifts during this season.

At the end of November, the teachers begin planning for the Christmas program at the Maranatha School for the Deaf. It is important to hold a good program so that the parents, grandparents, aunts and cousins who attend will feel like the students have presented the true meaning of Christmas and have done well. Eve Knepp, VMM tranSender, gave leadership to the program planning. After 6-year-old Audia welcomed all the attenders with careful signs, the youngest students performed “Joy to the World.” Each grade level did a song: “Silent Night,” “Away in a Manger,” and “O Come all ye Faithful.” Then all the students acted out the Christmas story as Shamoye, playing a grandmother role, explained the story to her “grandchildren.”

Masks with animal faces and costumes for shepherds and angels depicted the account of Jesus’ birth. A culminating piece was “O Holy Night” signed by the oldest students—quite moving! Pastor Christopher Kennedy moderated the program.

William George Broughton, chair of the Maranatha School board, thanked the teachers and staff for their good work with the students. Gifts from the students’ sponsors were given to the students and they were received with great anticipation and happiness! Everyone: students, staff, teachers and Board members—are grateful for the strong support they experience from their friends in the US. Every Christmas is memorable because of the love and care shown to “the least of these.”

Three students need sponsors. Can you share $40 a month to assist with good nutrition, strong Biblical teaching, and appropriate academics? If you can join the 20 other sponsors in this endeavor, please contact Gloria Lehman at [email protected] or (540) 434-9727 or (800) 707-5535.

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