Adventures in Odyssey Home Page

The Visitors

Album: Gold Audio 07: On Thin Ice

Episode: 98

Lesson/Theme: Charity; sacrifice.

Bible Verse: Matthew 25:31-46; Luke 2:1-7; Ephesians 2:10

Characters: Donna, George, Jimmy, Mary

Writer: Phil Lollar

Sound Designer: Bob Luttrell

Original Air Date: December 23, 1989

Last Air Date: December 3, 2008

Description:
The Barclay family is having a wonderful Christmas Day, filled with presents, laughter, and love. Jimmy and George go outside to play with Jimmy's favorite present, a remote-control dune buggy. Things go well-until George gets the control and ends up crashing the buggy against the side of an old tool shed. While retrieving the car, George and Jimmy hear a strange noise coming from inside the shed. It sounds like the neighbor's cat, but when they open the shed to let him out, they are stunned to discover that the cat is actually a baby! It's lying in Jimmy's old cradle-and its parents are hidden farther back in the shed. Inside the Barclay kitchen, we learn that the folks-Chris, Elizabeth, and baby Zack-were on their way home but got stranded in the snowstorm. Jimmy and Donna immediately make friends with the couple, but George and Mary privately express their reservations. They know nothing about these people, and Mary is uncomfortable with them staying the night. George agrees, but doesn't know who to call. He decides the best thing to do is contact Whit, who agrees to take in the strangers. Later, just before the Barclays sit down to a scrumptious dinner, they discuss their previous Christmas-how they were robbed, and the incredible kindness that was shown to them. George reads the Christmas story. Or, he tries to read it. Midway through, the family feels convicted by their actions that morning-shuffling the young couple and their baby off to Whit. They decide to remedy the situation, and George calls Whit to bring the folks back. But Whit says they're gone! The Barclays jump in their car and search for the strangers, but the people are nowhere to be found. The Barclays pray for help. Suddenly, they see the family rounding a corner into an alley. The Barclays quickly follow, but the alley is a dead-end-and the strangers aren't there! Then Jimmy sees a stairwell. They investigate and, sure enough, a family is hiding down there-only it's a different family! They are just as needy. The Barclays are confused, then begin to think that maybe these are the folks they were meant to find all along. They return home with the family, and the Barclays better realize the true meaning of charity.

Questions:
Mary said that they had “shuffled Jesus off to Whit.” What did she mean? The Barclay’s couldn’t find the strangers until they prayed. How did that prayer make a difference? Who do you think Chris, Elizabeth and little Zack represented?