Over 2,000 people attended a Light the World Live Nativity Celebration in Winter Garden.  Representatives of five local Christian Churches, three non-profit organizations, two OCPS school choirs, a Portuguese church choir, and three OCPS FFA programs cooperated in presenting a two-day Live Nativity Celebration at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 3850 Avalon Road in Winter Garden on December 5 and December 6.

The Live Nativity Celebration included seven 15-minute showtimes with live acting, live animals, and live music.  During the first night, the choirs included 60 students from Hamlin Middle School and Horizon High School for the English and Spanish showtimes, and a Portuguese choir from Resurrection Catholic Church for the Portuguese showtime.  On the second night, the live music was provided by various children’s choirs and small group performers.

Guests entered the experience through the gates of Bethlehem where they were greeted by Roman Soldiers with a “Census” tent and a “Tax” tent where guests donated hundreds of pounds of canned food as “taxes” to enter Bethlehem.  Food from the tax tents were donated to two local food pantries: The Hope Center and Well of Hope. 

Guests then continued on through the gates to walk past animals including three Highland miniature cows, miniature donkeys, a miniature horse, a turkey, a bunny, a goat, and other animals.  FFA students from West Orange High School, Horizon High School, and Hamlin Middle School dressed as shepherds and managed the animals throughout the evening.  After walking past the animals, guests walked through a “Bethlehem open market” scene and onward to the show. 

Two special farmers of Special Hearts Farm also joined the cast for the evening as shepherds.  Emily Davis, Director of Development for Special Hearts Farm said, “It was such a beautiful experience for our ‘special farmers’ to participate in the nativity! Our farmers truly loved being a part of it and demonstrating the heart of Jesus towards our special needs community.”

Each of the Bible nativity story narrators for the Live Nativity were Pastors and other religious leaders from several other local churches as well as representatives from the nonprofit organizations which received the food donations. The narrators included President Gary Hansen of the Winter Garden Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Pastor Brad Jagger of Windermere Union Church, Deacon Alexandre of Resurrection Catholic Church, Pastor Michael Hopewell of New Water Church (who is also the Director of Well of Hope), Pastor Darrell of Mount Bethel Baptist Church, and Mark Byrd, Executive Director of the Hope Center.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints plans to host this Live Nativity as an annual event.  Winter Garden Stake President Hansen stated, “We are delighted to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ in this special way with so many neighbors and friends in the Winter Garden area.” 

For more information about Light the World, visit https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/welcome/christmas/light-the-world?lang=eng

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When Clermont resident David Ethington saw that a hurricane was headed toward Jamaica, he knew he needed to do something to help.  After seeing Hurricane Melissa ravage Jamaica, Ethington reached out to his friend, Carol Watler, who had previously sent aid to the Bahamas after another hurricane. He asked whether she was planning to send any aid.  Watler is a local therapist who immigrated many years ago from Jamaica.  Watler confirmed that she hoped to send a container with aid to Jamaica, but that she needed help with gathering supplies.  Watler stated, “I am profoundly thankful for the incredible support church members have shown toward our mission in Jamaica.  Their generosity, compassion, and willingness to give have truly been a reflection of God’s love in action.”

Ethington then reached out to Bishop Victor Mourauo, the leader of the Lake Louisa congregation of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where Ethington attends church, to see whether his congregation could help.  Ethington stated, “When we saw that a hurricane was coming, we knew that we had to do something for our brothers and sisters in Jamaica.  I only wish we could do more.” 

Bishop Mourauo reacted quickly.  He organized an event for the youth and families of the congregation to assemble the hygiene kits and begin a food drive.  On Wednesday, November 5, nearly 50 members of the Church came together with donated items to assemble 500 hygiene kits, write encouraging notes, and assemble non-perishable food donations.  The hygiene kits included shampoo, conditioner, hand soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, and a washcloth.  Church members also donated over 500 cans of food, several 10-pound bags of rice, and 8 cases of water.

Clermont resident and Church member Barbara Hehl was especially excited to help assemble the kits as she and her husband have a great love for the people of Jamaica.  Her husband, Ken Hehl, served a two-year mission in Jamaica for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when he was young.  Barbara Hehl is currently serving as a volunteer youth leader for the teenage girls of the congregation, and she loved serving alongside the girls in putting together the hygiene kits. 

The children and youth of the Church wrote uplifting notes to put in the hygiene kits to offer love to the Hurricane Melissa victims, with messages like “God loves you,” and “You are a child of God.” 

Winter Garden Stake President Gary Hansen of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who oversees nine local congregations of the Church including the Lake Louisa Congregation, stated, “It’s wonderful to see the rapid demonstration of love and devotion to God and His children in need.”

About The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a worldwide faith of over 17 million members. The Church has over 31,000 congregations in more than 160 countries and territories. Across 70 countries, the Church is serving more than 450,000 individuals through a religious education program for youth and young adults and the operation of four universities/colleges; FamilySearch, the world’s largest genealogical organization; and a vast humanitarian aid program that provides nearly $1.4 billion annually in worldwide relief. Visit the Caring for those in Need annual report.

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On Thursday, June 8th, a large group of teens from Lake County, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, began a three-day Pioneer Handcart Trek through Desert Ranch.

The youth were dressed in 19th-century style clothing and pulled wooden handcarts loaded with clothing and supplies. The participants hiked along a series of dusty trails in the hot sun, winds, and occasional rainstorms. They pulled handcarts loaded with food and supplies over 8 miles over dirt roads around the 450 square mile working cattle ranch owned by the Church.

Major, a 17-year-old participant observed: “I developed many friendships on the trek and strengthened my testimony of Jesus Christ.” During the three-day trek experience, all participants slept under the stars, fixed meals using Dutch ovens, and pull heavy handcarts filled with their belongings in difficult terrain.

 “This pioneer trek helped our youth develop a deep appreciation for the tremendous sacrifices others made to practice the same religion that today’s converts and youth have embraced. In today’s world, we are not called to travel across the plains and build cities from the ground up. But we have problems to solve, hearts to mend, the naked to clothe, the hungry to feed, the sick to heal, and the homeless to house. The gospel of Jesus Christ calls us to forego selfishness and to lift our neighbor.” said Leesburg Stake President, Michael Saunders.

Lillian, another trek participant commented, “The early pioneers were extraordinary. They had strong testimonies of Jesus Christ and made great sacrifices.”  Treks are intended to be small-scale reenactments of the journeys undertaken by the thousands of pioneers who crossed the plains to reach the Salt Lake Valley, starting in 1847 and ending in the early 1860s. 

The trek support staff included those involved with food preparation, medical services, transportation, supplies, other logistics and activity planning. The “ma’s and pa’s” help the youth in their assigned “families” set up and break camp each day, helping pull the handcarts along the trails while providing encouragement and support. Besides the regular bathroom, food, and water breaks, participants also made stops along the trail to hear inspirational stories and personal experiences. Evening activities included devotionals, singing, and pioneer-era activities.

In a devotional at the conclusion of the trek, Julie, a trek participant said, “We have learned about Jesus Christ.  Now it’s time to take action.” 

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As the holidays approached, the Church donated three hundred turkeys to help feed needy families around the holidays. Monthly, the Center assists over 2,000 families in the communities of Groveland, Mascotte, Clermont, Minneola, and Montverde. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints provides volunteer services each week to the Center.

Since 1972, the Center has provided support to low-income families and individuals in South Lake County. Located in Groveland, Florida, the Center has grown over the years and now has over 100 active volunteers. These dedicated volunteers keep the costs of running the Center as low as possible.

Executive Director, Trish Kry, expressed her gratitude for the community donations, “We are grateful for the many organizations who contribute to our cause. These donations enabled us to provide a holiday meal for all our patrons that gave them some sense of normalcy in these difficult times.”

In addition to food, the Center offers medical support in conjunction with the South Lake Community Health Center, educational/training opportunities, and assistance in applying for food stamps, Medicaid and Emergency Assistance.

Deborah Haring, who serves as the Public Affairs Director for the Church said, “This project was a wonderful opportunity for us to help provide for our neighbors during the holidays.  Working with Trish Kry and the Faith Neighborhood Center is always a pleasure.”

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