My story starts with a young boy who is eight years old. He lives with his Grandmother who loves him so very much. In fact, that is why she keeps trying to live because of that little boy’s sake. You see this little boy doesn’t have a mother or father that really cares about him. If he gets something to eat or clothes on his back it is because this Grandmother cares what happens to this little boy.
This little boy is named Raymir. He is kind of a shy little guy, and has a hard time looking at you when you talk to him. He stutters very badly, and is very self-conscientious. You see he has been abused since he was an infant, and doesn’t carry a lot of faith or trust in adults. He feels extremely self- conscientious and sucks his thumb all the time for comfort.
He is like all little guys that are eight. He knows Christmas is coming... what would it be like if he had a Christmastree like many of the other children’s homes have? As He is walking to his Grandmother’s house after school, he notices some branches of an old Christmas tree sticking out of a garbage can. Of course this perks up his curiosity, could someone really be throwing away something so important as a Christmas tree at Christmas time? He pulls it out of the garbage can and gathers all the fallen branches, it even has two sets of lights tangled around it.
As he pulls it all together, his heart is starting to sing! Surely this could be his and Grandma’s Christmas tree, even if it was in the garbage can, then they (the owners) didn’t want it any more. It would be his Charlie Brown Christmas Tree. He knew Grandma would let him keep it. He drags the little tree down the sidewalk, pleased as punch with his new finding. To Raymir’s astonishment, when he plugs the lights into the socket, two strands of light beam to their full capacity and His Tree is becoming a magic Christmas Tree after all.
This is where I come into the picture. Rosina (Raymir’s Grandma) calls me into the house to see the treasure Raymir has found. There in a heap upon the floor, is this pathetic looking little tree. Rosina is telling me this is their tree and Raymir is so happy that they get to have one.
The wheels start to turn in my mind... I’m remembering my own children’s childhood where the tree in the downstairs family room was decorated as a CANDY TREE for the grandchildren to eat on during the Christmas season. That’s what I’m going to do, make this a CANDY TREE for Raymir. I piled the limbs in the trunk of our car and brought it in the house to start a remodeling job. With some bends and pulls, some wire and string, this little thing started to take on a whole new meaning for a CHRISTMAS TREE FOR RAYMIR. I don’t know who was more excited? Myself or the thoughts of Raymir having a tree. We got candy canes, chocolate Santa’s and snowmen, bells, balls, suckers and rings, popcorn and all kinds of things. On the top of the tree stands a picture of Jesus, He is the reason we are doing all of this. To help make a smile come to this young boys face will make all the effort and time just erase. To give a little cheer to this guy who has always had so little, will make Christmas for Elder and Sister Armstrong COME ALIVE.
We have been wondering how we would get through this special time of year without being together with our family so dear. I know Heavenly Father sent me this project to help me realize that there are so many other SHEEP I can help and serve. The SPIRIT OF THE SAVIOR is our most special gift of all, and as we open gifts, sing Christmas Carols, let’s all feel that wonderful Spirit of our Savior, Jesus Christ who made it all possible.
Love to you all.
The (Karl & Joyce) Armstrong’s
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