Pageant Precursor

This weekend was the Taipei English Ward's annual Christmas Nativity Pageant. Things started out a little bit different this year. There was some kind of fair going on at the park the same day. The publicity missionaries in our ward felt it would be a great way to draw in the crowds for the pageant, so I think they worked with the local schools to make it run smoothly with the prescheduled Nativity performances. And you better believe all the missionaries were there tracting/handing out flyers for the show (even to the moms at the playgrounds--it was great).

At first I was a little concerned. As I walked up to the park to start setting out costumes (I was in charge of costumes again this year--kind of by default as I'm on the Relief Society activities committee) and preparing for the cast to arrive, this is what I saw. Not quite what you'd expect when attending the Christmas Nativity?

I couldn't help but be concerned that these seemingly chaotic events would overshadow the important message we would present that evening. I wasn't feeling the peace and calm I had expected as we prepared for the performances.

Wanting to have enough time to set up, we had arrived a bit too early, so we took some time to walk through the booths and watch some performances. Jadyn seemed to like the lion dance until the drums got really loud at the end. :)

Quite a contrast from the story of Christ's birth? I thought it kind of funny/ironic that the star was sitting in the background.

One booth had given away free haircuts. Probably one of the most disgusting things I have ever seen. I was hopeful, yet doubtful, the mess would be cleaned up, and sure enough later that day when the booth attendants had all gone, the massive piles of hair still remained. It was actually worse in person than in this picture too. There were even larger mounds of hair piled up by the tent walls and in the corners that aren't shown in the photo. Gross.

We were also conned into buying two balloons. I wanted to get one for Jadyn for being so good and patient while we waited for cast members to arrive. Balloons were one for NT$30 or two for NT$50 (explained to me in Chinese). Due to my slow comprehension, my lone NT$50 coin, and the lady giving Jadyn a balloon for each hand, I was pretty much suckered into two balloons. I wanted change for my NT$50 coin, but they gestured my payment was correct. Understanding what had happened, but unable to explain myself in Chinese and unwilling to argue with English/charades over NT$20, I just said okay and xie xie (thank you). Whatever. Jadyn can have two balloons. It is just NT$50 ($1.50--I know, a rip-off) and apparently it was for a good cause--even though I have no idea what the "cause" was.
Fortunately, the balloons were a hit. They kept Jade content for quite some time as I rushed around giving instructions and trying to get cast members dressed. (I guess I should mention that Cody had a four day (Thursday through Sunday) trade show he was in charge of for work and had to attend, so he wasn't able to be at or participate in the pageant this year.)
While I was frantically getting people ready, Eileen offered to help watch Jadyn. Jade really loved her. I think all Eileen had to do was hold her hand and walk around. She was quite content with that. After I was ready to take Jade again, I held her hand and asked her something like "do you want to come with Mommy now?" She immediately dropped my hand and looked up at Eileen as she put her hand back in Eileen's.
We also had a lot of help watching Jadyn from Sister Ramos. Sister Ramos LOVES Jadyn! She is a sweet Taiwanese lady in our ward who loves kids. She wants to hold Jadyn every week and brings her treats and gifts every Sunday!

Although the pageant preparations were crazy at times, everything ran fairly smoothly and it was great to have so many hands around to help watch Jadyn. As for the actual pageant... it deserves its own post, so stay tuned!!