There is a present waiting for you and your family this holiday season at 340 Carverton Road, Trucksville. You have five chances to open it: Friday, December 11th or Saturday, December 12th at either 6 or 8 p.m.; or Sunday, December 13th at 6 p.m.
     Those are the days and show times for The Gift, Back Mountain Harvest Assembly’s (BMHA) hour-long, outdoor musical and theatrical production. Admission is free, and everyone is incredibly welcome- all 6,000+ who usually attend the weekend’s five performances.
     This year marks the 16th that the BMHA family members will brave the elements to tell the awesome story of Jesus Christ.  If you’ve never been, let’s set the stage, so to speak. Just like at the end of the movie Field of Dreams, when the camera pans out and the viewer sees the long line of cars' headlights driving to watch the baseball game, the same holds true for Carverton Road bfore each show.
     Generations of family members bundled in their winter apparel, coffee cups in hand, blankets under their arms, trek up the driveway to take their seats. In front of the stages- a large, authentic Bethlehem village and stable- the audience sits on rows and rows of haystacks or in the bleachers. The excitement and electricity in the air are palpable.
     Pastor Dan Miller addresses the crowd, the lights dim, and everyone waits. The 100 adult and child actors, dressed in authentic period costumes, wait for their cues to perform this "Broadway in the Back Mountain" production. Sounds of sheep “baa-ing” and horses whinnying fill the air. Close your eyes and you’re in Bethlehem.
     “I first heard about The Gift while shopping at Martin’s Candy Supplies six years ago; the owner put one of the small fliers in my bag and said it was a ‘must see,’” said Amy Shatley, of Kingston. “I'm not sure I can put into words how seeing the show the first time touched me. I remember being very cold and then being so taken by the whole thing that I forgot about being cold. I knew that night that this was a life-changing moment and that I wanted to know more about our Lord. I also knew that I had found the church I was searching for.”
     An annual spectator, Shatley has given more than her applause to The Gift. She’s supplied food for the cast, made cookies for the audiences, was a greeter, and last year got to work behind the scenes.
     “I was blessed to be able to help dress the kings and their entourages. I get to help again this year and truly can't wait,” she said. “I believe people need to see and feel the true meaning of Christmas, to understand what an amazing gift God gave us in Jesus.”
     Her son, Michael Shatley, got involved three years ago, playing the part of a king carrier, and hasn’t missed a year since. Her grandson, Jacob Shatley, of Wanamie, was in the king’s entourage last year and is signed up to be a torchbearer this year. While that scene may be the favorite of Jacob’s parents, Scott and Lori, there are two others that particularly touch Amy.
     “When the three kings are coming down the hill to Oh Come Let Us Adore Him, as the music builds to a climax, my heart feels as if it will burst, tears stream down my face,” she said. The other is when the tomb opens at the end and our Lord steps forward. I can only imagine the day we are in His presence!”
     The price tag for The Gift is sizeable- not to mention the four months of man hours in takes to pull it off- and this year’s event happening at all was in question. However, the family at BMHA, to paraphrase Pastor John Gibbons, feels it just has to do it. It’s too important. It’s life changing.
      As was the case for Amy, who hopes the message of The Gift gets carried in the audiences’ hearts all year long.
       “God is love. …that He so loved us that He gave us his only begotten son that we should have life and be reconciled to Him. (John 3:16)," she said. “The Great Commission Jesus gave us more than 2,000 years ago was that we are to share the Gospel with everyone. He came so that NONE should perish,” she said. 

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