The Manger with two Boys

PRECIOUS JEWELS In 1992 many missionary groups who'd moved into the former Soviet Union expanded beyond Russia - and we, the Salvation Army pioneers in Moscow, were given marching orders; Open Fire in Ukraine!  Our work there was modelled on what we'd found helpful in spreading the Gospel among young people, especially those to whom we'd ministered in government orphanages. "It was nearing the  holiday season, time for our orphans to hear, for the first time, the traditional story of Christmas. We told them about Mary and Joseph arriving in Bethlehem. Finding no room in the inn, the couple went to a stable, where the baby Jesus was born and placed in a manger. Throughout the story, the children and orphanage staff sat in amazement as they listened. Some sat on the edges of their stools, trying to grasp every word, as others, bed ridden strained to sit up in order to hear better. Completing the story, we gave the children three small pieces of cardboard to make a crude manger. Each child was given a small paper s quare, cut from yellow napkins I had brought with me. No colored paper was available in the city. Following instructions, the children tore the paper and carefully laid strips in the manger for straw. Small squares of flannel [cut from a worn-out night gown an American lady was throwing away as she left Russia, were used for the baby's blanket. A doll-like baby was cut from tan felt we had brought from the United States. The orphans were busy assembling their manger as I walked among them to see if they needed any help. All went well until I got to one table where little Misha sat. He looked to be about 6-years-old and had finished his project. As I looked at the little boy's manger, was startled to see not one, but two babies in the manger. Quickly, I called for the translator to ask the lad why there were two babies in the manger. Crossing his arms in front of him and looking at this completed manger scene, the child began to repeat the story very seriously. For such a young boy, who had only heard the Christmas story once, he related the happenings accurately -- until he came to the part where Mary put the baby Jesus in the manger. Then Misha started to ad-lib. He made up his own ending to the story as he said, "And when Mary laid the baby in the manger, Jesus looked at me and asked me if I had a place to stay. I told him I have no mamma and I have no papa, so I don't have any place to stay.  Then Jesus told me I could stay with Him. But I told him I couldn't, because I didn't have a gift to give Him like everybody else did. But I wanted to stay with Jesus so much, so I thought about what I had that maybe I could use for a gift. I thought maybe if I kept Him warm, that would be a good gift. "So I asked Jesus, 'If I keep you warm, will that be a good enough gift?' And Jesus told me, 'If you keep Me warm, that will be the best gift anybody ever gave Me.' So I got into the manger, and then Jesus looked at me and He told me I could stay with Him -- for always." As little Misha finished his story, his eyes brimmed full of tears that splashed down his little cheeks. Putting his hand over his face, his head dropped to the table and his shoulders shook as he sobbed and sobbed. The little orphan had found someone who would never abandon nor abuse him, someone who would stay with him -- for always!" After sharing a Bible story at a large hospital-orphanage in the Crimea with the Black Sea shimmering in the distance I asked the children if they'd like to have Jesus as a friend - He's here and waiting for you to say' 'Yes Jesus, I want you to be my friend'… All the children, some 50 or so were bedridden, suffering from a long list of varying illnesses.  My closing prayer, translated into Russian by a Moscow SA soldier traveling with us included the words; "And now dear Jesus, please come to each of us right where we are - we're making room for you in order that we can share pillows…" And there was an immediate sound of shuffling as the children move ever so carefully to the edge of their beds and making room for Jesus to share their pillows… We gave each child a children's Russian Bible donated to the SA by Lars Dunberg, a former SA officer whom we'd assisted with distributing Bibles in Russia. We returned to the orphanage some months later to deliver a piano, clothing and a large amount of nutritious food. And on our visit we also painted several of the wards. Many of the children were quick to wave hello. 'Dobredin Kapitan' as we moved through the hospital-orphanage and to hold up their most treasured belonging - their Bible. Twenty years have passed and my guess is that the massive orphange's been razed and replaced by a resplendent '5 star' hotel, all with in-room jacuzzis, wifi and balconies overlooking the azure waters of the Black Sea. The location with its vista was magnificent. No doubt many dignitaries, VIPs and even royalty will have passed through its doors and been entertained and lodged there. But none can hold a candle to the King who came down and shared His glory with those precious jewels who'd moved ever so slightly and made a place just for Him. Have you made a place for Jesus in your heart and life? Make this Christmas Day special - invite Him in… Sven Ljungholm Liverpool