The recent God Encounter I feel drawn to share happened on another island.... the island of Jamaica.
My then 15 year old Granddaughter, Carryl Tinsley, joined a church mission trip in June. Carryl was younger than the other high school kids and was scheduled to work on a Bible study with young children rather than the construction projects assigned to the others. The first day of the Bible study she found that a flu outbreak caused the cancelation of the planned week. Carryl was upset after having prepared for this time to share with and teach the children. When she went the next day to the work site, she noticed some children including a very withdrawn 2 year old that no one could reach. Carryl’s story follows:
A girl named Latany: She was 2 years old and very shy. The first couple of days of us being on our worksite, her house, she didn't talk to anyone or let anyone hug her or even talk to her. On the second to last day, she finally let me pick her up, but she never responded as I tried to talk to her. On the last day, I was so sad because I knew I wouldn't see her again until we got to Heaven. As I told her goodbye and gave her my last hug for a little while, she wrapped her arms and legs around my legs and tried to hold on, as she was saying the first words I had ever heard her say, "I love you." Those three words are very common and I hear them time and again, but this time, it was different. This one moment touched my heart because it made me realize real love. I know my parents love me and I know my siblings love me (most of the time :)) but if this little girl, who I had just met a week earlier loved me and trusted me, and if she loves me this soon, I realized the absolutely huge and amazing love from my savior and my Father in Heaven.”
Returning, Carryl described to me the trip and its impact on her … she feels a true calling to work with children and this has been completely validated. I clearly felt God’s hand on the unfolding scenario … from the cancelation of the VBS to meeting and touching this wonderful and needy little girl.
