… About the best part of my return trip to Grand Cayman

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

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

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

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

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)