By PHOEBE DONALD ROBINSON / Community Columnist

My name is Tripp, I am 5 years old, and I just went to Bethlehem.

It was my Gran’s birthday. My daddy, my mommy, my baby sister and me went to church where my daddy sang for my gran’s birthday.

After church, we ate a hot dog at Gran and Papa’s and then everyone had to take BIG NAPS.

After we woke up, my daddy drove all of us to Bethlehem (at South Shelby Baptist Church on Alabama 145). We went to this big room and got hot chocolate and yummy cookies. My sister and I also got presents that had stories on them. My Gran read us the stories.

One present was a Christmas ornament with a cross of nails and a wreath on it. The wreath was like Jesus’ crown and the red berries were His blood and the circle is His life that goes forever.

The other present was a candy cane, a “J” for Jesus. It is white because Jesus is good and red for His blood. Jesus’ blood must be really special.

After our snack a man named Ibrahim took us to Bethlehem. It was a town with a big stone wall and huge gate. He gave us a coin to give to the man at the gate. The man said it was a census. I am not sure what that is. But I gave him my coin and we got to go through the gate.

We saw ladies selling fruit and vegetables, men selling baskets and fish. Ladies were making bread over a fire and I got to eat some. It was flat. There were fires everywhere to keep us warm. I met a family who had kids like me.

And then we saw this man named Joseph and lady named Mary with a baby whose name was Jesus, like the “J” in my candy cane! Then we walked a little way and there were three crosses like the cross on my ornament. And then we came to this cave and it was black and dark. And then Jesus came out and raised His hands.

I learned that if I believe in Jesus I can live forever like that Christmas wreath circle goes round and round and never stops.

I loved my trip to Bethlehem. Gran says we can go again next year. Why don’t you go, too? It was so much fun.

Phoebe Donald Robinson can be reached by email at phoeberobinson@bellsouth.net.