A couple hundred yards off the main road into Mangilao each Christmas season, a traditional belen is assembled - the nativity scene depicting the birth of Jesus. While each Guam family's belen is special with meaning, for Emmanuel and Maria Cruz and their family, the annual event is more than tradition, more than ministry, more than responsibility. It's who they are.

On the side of their home, an open-air extension houses the amazing collection of artifacts telling the story of the Christ child's birth. While plastic palettes are the superstructure upon which the large display sits, the foundation with immeasurable significance to their Chamorro Catholic beliefs is the moss – the lumot.

Over 51 years of marriage, their scale sacred scene has gotten larger, more diverse and more complex, but its centerpiece remains the true meaning of Christmas.

Each year it takes about two weeks to re-build the display from storage, right after Thanksgiving. The tradition's been passed down, as their son now picks the lumot each year and their grandchildren put together the belen.

It's a source of pride and symbol of love for their religion, culture and each other.

With faith being their guiding light, even in his twilight years Emanuel keeps his promise that he made over 6 decades ago, to always tell the Christmas story.