Knowing my pastor enjoys going to the beach and swimming in
the ocean, I was not surprised when he said he would have liked to have been
“packed into our luggage” when Wilbur, Melissa and I went to Grand
Cayman.
As much as I like the beach and ocean there were four things I wanted to do that were a top priory
for me. I wanted to
reconnect with Lena’s and my nanny, Rachel, go to the church property where we
had lived and attended church where my parents had been missionaries, see my
childhood friend, and go to North Side. A member of the church had
started a church in North Side and I wanted to see it.
I had so much to do before our trip that I didn’t have much
time to think about the trip or get excited about it before hand. When
the plane landed on the island, it was like coming home. I was thrilled
to have finally gotten back. I was two years old when I had first
arrived there. So there is where my memories began. We left when I
was six. It had been a very happy time for me.
We spend most of Saturday sightseeing. We drove from
one end of the island to the other end. We
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A stop along the Caribbean Sea |
included a stop in North Side
but we didn’t find the church. We walked on isolated beaches and looked
for seashells. We enjoyed watching the sunsets. Saturday night we meet
Rachel and she and one of her friends took us to an awesome restaurant by the
sea. What a joy it was to have been able to see her again and to give her a hug. We had a wonderful time
reminiscing. Rachel no longer drives; so her friend took us on a tour of
George Town. She showed us the hospital where I had spend time when I had
diphtheria and when I had played in a patch of maiden plum and my eyes had
swelled shut. All too soon our time with Rachel and her friend ended.
But the most awesome experience of all was going to church
on Sunday morning. My life-long dream had come true. The buildings
are different than when our family had lived there. As much as I like walking on the beach, walking down the aisle of the church
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Rachel and Lela inside the church |
was much more
wonderful than the walks we had taken on the beach. As much as I like the
sound of the of the sea waves hitting the shore, I enjoyed hearing the choir
and congregational singing so much more. As much as I like watching the
sun set over the water, observing the worshippers praising God and communing
with Him meant so much more to me. During the service the pastor
introduced Wilbur, Melissa and I to the congregation, telling them that I was
Rev. and Mrs. Marion Walker’s daughter. He asked how many people still
remembered my parents. I was amazed when almost half of the people raised
their hands. After the service we chatted with a lot of those
people. One lady said she had been my sister, Elda’s best friend.
Elda was 10 when we had left the island. One gentleman told me he had
gone to school with my brother, Lee who was 12 when we moved. Now 60
years later, they were still part of the church. They had remained
faithful to God all these years. How incredible it is that they, their children
and grandchildren make up the church. I had one disappointment. I did not get to see my childhood friend due to a funeral in her family.
The pastor then gave me a tour of the church property. The
church the congregation is now using for
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The church on Grand Cayman |
worship is the fourth that has been
built due to destruction caused by hurricanes. How resilient are God’s children! As I stood outside the church, I
thought the property had been much larger than I was now seeing it. I
decided that was because I had been small when we had lived there and
everything was larger than life. But then we walked behind the church.
What I saw took my breath away. Ah yes, the property was as large as I had
remembered. However, a Christian Academy for grades 1 to 12 occupies the
yard where my siblings and I had played. There was even an apartment building
for members of the staff.
On February 12, I led Prayer Meeting at my church. For
my text I had chosen the Scripture, “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you,
whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine,
you did for me.’ We have different gifts, according to the grace given to
each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your
faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to
encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if
it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it
cheerfully.” (Matthew 25:40; Romans 12:6-8 NIV)
As I presented my message I could not help but think about
the trip I had just taken and about the time my family had lived on Grand
Cayman. I thought about my parents serving as missionaries
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Walker family on Grand Cayman
back - Rev. Marion and Elda Walker
front - Lela, Lee, Elda, Lena
|
there. I talked
about the different gifts St. Paul had listed. For prophesying I discussed the
verses, “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how
can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear
without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are
sent? As it is written: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good
news!’ But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says,
‘Lord, who has believed our message?’” (Romans 10:14-16) “Preach the word; be
prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great
patience and careful instruction.” (2 Tim. 4:2 NIV) And that’s what my
daddy had done on the island. He had preached and he loved to preach! The
pastor of the church on Grand Cayman had the same passion and enthusiasm that
my daddy had when he preached. Melissa remarked had much alike the pastor
and her grandfather were. How cool is that?
For Serving I had chosen these Scriptures: “Serve one
another humbly in love.” (Galatians 5:13 NIV) “Serve wholeheartedly, as if you
were serving the Lord, not people, because you know that the Lord will reward
each one for whatever good they do.” (Ephesians 6:7-8 NIV) “Therefore, I urge
you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a
living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper
worship.”’ (Rom.12:1 NIV)
I realized that my parents had truly made a sacrifice to go
to an obscure island (only 21 miles long and 7 miles wide) to proclaim the
gospel to a group of people who needed to know God loved them. My parents
were away from everything that was familiar to them. There was no
electricity (other than some lights we were able to have from a portable
generator) no hot running water, no indoor bathroom, no air conditioning, etc.,
and no phone to call home! We lived in West Bay, where the seven mile
beach starts. Our home was less than a block from the sea. My daddy
went swimming almost every day to cool off!
On our flight home, we were first to board the plane due to
Wilbur’s limited eye sight. The pilot was still in the cabin when we
entered. I told him a bit about our visit. I will never forget the
four words he said to me when I concluded telling him about all the people in
the church who remembered our family - “Wonderful people are remember.”
My daddy had preached well and my parents had served well. Little did I
know when I had chosen the Scriptures for the lesson for February 12th, how our
trip to Grand Cayman would bring those verses in perspective regarding the time
our family had lived there. I know my daddy has received his reward and it
won’t be much longer until my mother joins him in heaven and she receives her
reward. I am grateful to the pastors who came after our family left the island and had ministered to all the wonderful
people (I had remembered many of them) attending the church. Their
service to our wonderful Lord and Savior will be rewarded.
Our trip to Grand Cayman was way beyond anything I could
have imagined. Walking on the beach, wading in the sea, hearing the
waves, and watching the sunsets had been amazing; but being with the people of
the church was absolutely incredible. God’s church made up of people who
love Him is thriving on the island of Grand Cayman! I am so grateful I got to
go back to my childhood home. My heart just overflows with joy!
I look forward to seeing all of them including my childhood friend in heaven!
“Be faithful, even to the point of death, and [Christ] will give you life as
your victor’s crown…The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the
second death.” (Revelation 8:10-11 NIV)