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Event Walk Through.... shots from last year's event. Come this year to see Virtual Bethlehem for yourself! Each year displays are updated!

WELCOME!! When you arrive you will drive up and be greeted by a 10ft. tall star. You enter the building for your tour just below the star. The shepherd will give you a tour program and a "Launch" time. If there is a wait, you are invited to the "coffee shop" to enjoy some refreshments, watch a video or make a craft to make your wait time faster! Your name will soon be called......
	When your launch number is called, you will be able to come to the counter and get started. Few things: 1) Pick your "tour guide" - this will be a pre-recorded audio tour. Each person may have their own MP3 player to listen to their unique tour guide. Children are welcome to also have their own, however we have found children under 4 seem to enjoy the journey more without the extra luggage! You will be given instructions at the launch pad. Tour Guides are: 1 - Mary, Jesus' mother (English or Spanish) 2 - Joseph, Mary’s husband 3 - Gabriel, the angel 4 - Caleb, a shepherd boy 5 - Rebekah, a village girl 2) You will be given a travel passport to make each place you visit and bag for fun things you pick up in the event. 3) You will be directed to the Launch pad, where you will get further instructions about your journey!
Your are ready to Launch! You are now set to begin your journey! One of our staff will go over details about what you will see and guidelines for enjoying the event. They will help you get familiar with your MP3 player and send you on your way. Before each room is a STOP AND LISTEN station. This is where people with the audio tour can listen to the narrator and character who is guiding them through the display. The tracks vary, however run about 2 min. for each stop. You listen to your first track at the Launch pad and then when it prompts you, go through the curtains and travel back in time to experience... BETHLEHEM!
Travel back in time....signs will direct you were to go and staff will be available in the back to be of assistance if you should have any problems, questions or needs.	Start at the beginning of time.... The journey will take you into several rooms to experience the Christmas story first hand. Outside each room is information to help you understand where you are and where you are going as your travel through time.
	First, The Garden of Eden - The Christmas Story really starts at the beginning of time.
As you leave the room you see the promise of WHY Christmas and Christ's birth is so magnificent!
Next, hear the Angel's announcement to Mary that she is the chosen one! See what it was like in Mary's day... find out about her wedding, the food, culture and details of Mary's time.
CAESAR'S PALACE	Hove you ever wondered why Mary was traveling just before she was about to have a baby? Find out as you visit Rome and learn about Caesar's decree to come to Bethlehem for taxation.
The Angel's announcement to the shepherds In each room there are interesting facts you will learn, like: The Shepherd Sheep were much valued in Bible times. They provided wool, meat, and milk. Even the sheep’s horns were used – to make special trumpets or as containers for oil. The shepherd spent a lot of time alone with his sheep, and learned to know them all by name. He knew which sheep belonged to which family, and could return them to their owners. Find out what the Angel's told to the shepherds
	The news was exciting and the shepherds went to see Jesus' birth in Bethlehem ....The Shepherds came to see this thing which had happened that the Lord had told them about. They did not hesitate and hurried on their way to the manger so see their newborn King!
Each room has learning panels inside and outside the rooms to read and understand more about the culture, time period, what was happening in this part of the story and other interesting facts and scriptures.
Finish your tour with the Wise men's visit to Jesus. Time Period: Approximately 1-2 years later Jesus, Mary and Joseph are living in Bethlehem Government: Still under the rule of the Roman Empire, King Herod is reigning over the Palestine Region (Judea, Samaria, Galilee, Perea and parts of Syria, etc.) from the town of Jerusalem. Setting: Scholars from the East see a unique star and recognize it as a sign a King has been born. They travel to find the newborn King, worshipping Him and bringing gifts to honor Him. You are about to meet the Magi just entering the Judean countryside, arriving at a Caravansary to rest after their long travel... and to prepare to meet the King!
	The Wise men from the east saw the star and traveled to see this new king. We do not know, but it is customary people like the wise man would have traveled on camels and stayed in a desert hotel, a caravansary, on their trip. (pictured here) We do not know exactly when the wise man came, but know they saw Jesus in a house and some time after his birth. Find out how the Wiseman found Jesus and the special gifts they brought.

This is the last room. After your tour, you will once more travel back in time and stop at a station to turn in your CD player. This completes your Virtual Bethlehem experience! Back in the "coffee shop", you can pick up travel souvenirs to remember your trip and sit and enjoy refreshments, a movie or crafts if you did not have time before your trip!

Tree of Life hopes this annual event will become a holiday tradition for your family to come and enjoy each year as you prepare and celebrate Christmas. Allow yourself the special experience to travel back in time to that first Christmas and enjoy the GREATEST gift ever given!

Imagine, explore & experience Christmas like never before!