So Cherie prayed. Next she combed the Yellow Pages to find an affordable, weatherproof structure that could house the tableau. Cherie and her husband Carl built a stable inside the building, scattering straw and placing a baby doll in the hand-crafted manger. Stuffed sheep added a touch of realism to the set. She recruited church volunteers to make costumes for the children to wear while being photographed and asked friends to take the Polaroid photographs.
Pictures cost only a dollar.
With a limited advertising budget and a location away from the busy mall, business wasn't particularly booming. Cherie received some unexpected personal responses as well, such as a letter from a pastor who succeeded in erecting a nativity scene in a California mall. She also received an encouraging letter from a man who'd faced some of his own tough challenges in life. Our Lord will open doors for you. Cherie set about to answer the letter gently.