Passion Play 2009 revisited...

Last night was the annual Passion Play potluck for all the cast and crew. It seems everyone has the same feeling of missing it when it is over.. and this makes for an enjoyable evening with friends, old and new. They had a presentation about the Passion Play that is upcoming in Malaysia and this next weekend the Navajo Nation will be presenting theirs for the first time..

There was alot of interesting information last night, that we had not heard about during the play. This year there were 100 people who gave their lives to Christ that week. 30 of them are new believers, 70 who have had a relationship with the Lord but needed a recommitment.. How awesome is that?! Be in prayer because only 5 of these 100 people said they had a church home to go to! They told us about a man that was heard on night two of the play cursing quite loudly as the play began.. He apparently wanted everyone to know that he was not happy with being there.. Some of the cast members considered going over to speak to him but decided to wait and let the Lord handle him.. when Jesus came in carrying his cross and covered in blood, a man was seen joining the mourners who followed.. with tears rolling down his face.. Yes that man who had previously been cursing.. awesome.

A grandmother came every night but one, with her young grandchildren who had recently lost their 2yo sister in an accident.. These sweet children sat through the play and came up to cast members afterwards and said they were so happy to see it, they were so happy to know that their baby sister was with Jesus! Bittersweet blessing.

There were several new families who had joined in to the crew this year and they were so blessed by being a part of it and have every intention of being back next year.. It truly draws you in.

Passion Play of India.. There were stories from there also.. Wow.. it is incredible to hear of what these people go through in order to Praise the Lord.. For them to take the time out to be a part of this play is nothing short of incredible.. many are extremely poor.. they do not have the luxury of coming for the night and practicing.. they come and stay for the weekend! They walk, catch rides, ride the crowded busses, all in order to be a part of this play. There are miracles that continue there.. A young man who was poor and became a part of the play learned how to work on the website.. he now has his own business doing just that. Another man watched the wardrobe lady cutting out costumes and came in and took the job from her, he now owns a tailor shop.. I was simply in awe hearing all the incredible stories
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At the end of the evening, one lady stood up.. She said I was listening to you talk about the man who was cursing earlier and I wanted to say I know him.. We were sitting behind him that night and heard the things he was saying and how he was acting.. She said I just had to tell you that next weekend this man is playing one of the disciples in the Passion Play of the Navajo Nation.. Wow.. just all I can say!