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Bible Camp for the Ladies Conference. We quickly started assembling 175 gift bags for the women we would soon meet. While we were filling bags and finalizing the registration process, a few women from KCBC joined us. As I was hurriedly stuffing 5 bags at a time in order to meet the cutoff time, a woman dressed in periwinkle started serving “the Americans” by doing the same. She didn’t fill the bags as quickly. Her mind wasn’t fixed on a deadline. Instead, her attention and her servant’s heart were focused on those of us around her. This picture to the right is a great reminder of priorities - Inez was calm, peaceful, willing and helpful - to a group of American ladies she'd never met til moments before. Look at my face - I'm not proud of this picture. It's a reminder though - I was stressed/hot/concerned about our luggage not having arrived in time for us to be "dressed" and presentable before the women arrived. This was one of many times in the beginning of our Trinidad Adventure, that God convicted me of a need for "my plans, my comfort, my preferences, my order, systems - etc. My, Mine, ME! Our clothes arrrived well after registration began. You know what else? It was fine! (The ladies who got there and saw us in our shorts and tee shirts may have thought we were just slack, or maybe just really, really laid back at first! Still - no biggie!)
Later that evening, the 8 member American team sat down for
dinner with the women God brought to the top of that mountain. I sat at a table, comprised mainly of my
teammates and maybe two Trinidadian ladies.
One of them was Inez. At the
time, it didn’t occur to me that she was the same woman standing shoulder to
shoulder with me a few hours earlier. Now,
I alluded in a prior post to being a profoundly picky eater. When I saw the food, I decided the peanut
butter and honey crackers in my bag would better satisfy my hunger. Anticipating those crackers allowed me to
observe the local women. Everyone was talking away – no different than would be
the case here at home. I watched Inez enjoy her dinner – with the use
of her hands. Around the room, laughter filled the air, hugs were eagerly
shared with friends and the locals continued to eat the gooey and
unidentifiable fare with their fingers.
It was at this moment I learned that it’s not customary for many to eat
with utensils. (Granted, our hostesses
always graciously pulled out a tray of flatware for the ease and comfort of my
Western sisters and me.) Inez may have
thought I was 
a bit freakish as I continued to observe her enjoying this
peculiar looking meal. What I didn’t
expect is that God was surely placing her in my immediate surroundings time and
time again – for reasons He saw fit. (Are
you at all like me? Sometimes, I fail to
pick up on those divine appointments and require a more obvious “hit over the
head.” )
a bit freakish as I continued to observe her enjoying this
peculiar looking meal. What I didn’t
expect is that God was surely placing her in my immediate surroundings time and
time again – for reasons He saw fit. (Are
you at all like me? Sometimes, I fail to
pick up on those divine appointments and require a more obvious “hit over the
head.” )
Saturday, a few hours of free time was built into our
conference agenda. Several fun opportunities
were available for the ladies: making bracelets; creating greeting cards; Zumba;
a manicure station and more. Without hesitation,
I knew my place was making greeting cards with the women and children. I enjoy scrapbooking - so, fashioning
cards from pretty paper, stickers and scrapbook adornments was right up my
alley! As free time commenced, I enjoyed
chatting with numerous ladies (and sweet little girls) as we made cards. Some of the younger visitors even had me help
them write special messages to a friend or relative. There I was – back in my comfort zone
again. Should I have been the least bit
surprised when someone from our team called across the room and asked me to
join the manicure table?
So, I walked over to an empty chair at the end of the manicure
table in preparation to do the nails of the person next in line. This was another divine appointment. Inez took her seat with a smile on her
face. She chose her color and I took her
hands. As I painted the pale pink polish
on her nails, we talked. “Ahh….this is why I’m here.” (In fact, she was the only person who’s
nails were painted by me.)
Inez shared her life story.
She shared of heartbreaks that had befallen her through a series of
events in which most would feel crushed, depleted and alone. She rested
those same hands that enabled her to enjoy the local cuisine - in mine. Inez, with her resilient, grateful servant’s
heart and her willing servant hands shared an incredible testimony. My greatest struggle was painting her nails
through random tears, and not getting polish all over her pretty brown
skin! I have described this to friends as
one of the most Holy experiences of my life.
It may sound corny to some, but it was truly a God moment.
Saturday evening brought “formal night”, a message from the
Word, a testimony and a talent show. Sunday morning began with a devotional, then another message, and a team member’s testimony. These sessions were followed by cardboard
testimonies from many of our new friends, including Inez. There my friend with cotton candy colored nails,
held up her cardboard with the words “Accepted by Jesus and got the love of a
Family that God Gave to me. Never alone
again.”
Throughout those remaining sessions and events, whenever I saw
Inez, I looked at her hands and asked how her polish was holding up. She always held up her hands with a smile and
would say something complimentary. When I
looked at her weathered hands and polished nails all I could do was smile – not
because of a stellar manicure by any means, but because of what her hands would
always signify in my heart and mind. God
used her in ways I cannot fully put to words.
On Monday night, the day after the conference concluded, our
team was given the opportunity of sitting in at the Trinidad Bible Institute. I opted to sit in a class led by Pastor
Sam. Of course, I had no clue that Inez
would be sitting in that same classroom.
From across several rows of seats, with those hands of hers – she waved
excitedly with a huge smile on her beautiful face. If I didn’t stay any longer than that moment –
the class would’ve been a blessing of God sized proportion.
In closing, before this experience, I wouldn’t have
volunteered to paint another woman’s nails – EVER. I now know that I’ll not pass up the opportunity. Most of all, I hope that on a return visit to
Caroni Village, my resilient, strong, and beautiful friend will let me hold her
hands again, while I paint her nails and hear how God has continued to comfort,
mold and use her. (Maybe I’ll even do her toes to allow for more of the story.)
In closing, Inez gave me her mailing address since she’s not
online. In a few days, she’ll receive a
printed copy of this post, along with several pictures. I would be remiss not to tell her that she,
along with her hands – were literal instruments in the Hands of God that
weekend. That failure to communicate and encourage my new friend - along with forgetting the
lessons learned and miracles witnessed would be the worst things this amateur
manicurist could do. It's amazing how God can quickly give you a love for another human being - but He does....and He did.
"Sista T."
