Happy Birthday Eva!

Have you ever had the opportunity to take an adult to Disneyland for their first visit? Thanks to some wonderful friends of the Army, a birthday wish was made possible for Commissioner Eva Gaither. We picked Commissioners Gaither up at LAX on Tuesday, September 5. They were scheduled to be our guests for the Territorial Executive Councils and for the public Welcome of the Cadets. There was an unscheduled time for Saturday morning and Lt. Colonel Don Bell attempted to find out what they would like to do for that unscheduled time. They said that they would like to think about it.

Colonel Bell went on to tell them about where we were going to stay and about eating one of our meals in the Disney area. We discovered that they had not been to Disneyland and they were excited about eating at a Disney area restaurant. We made a phone call to our ever resourceful Martin Hunt, who made a contact with someone who had contacts. The arrangements were made for our National Leaders to tour Disneyland on Saturday morning. (We went along with them.)

We were met by our Disney Ambassadors, Becky and Alexia, who whisked us into the park and took care of us in such a wonderful way that we all felt loved. It was truly the happiest place on earth as we left our cares behind and entered into the experience. It was exciting to see two people enter the Disney experience for the first time. We did not think to bring a camera, so I took pictures with my phone. (Ah, modern technology!) Our ambassadors gave Commissioner Eva a button to wear that told the entire Disney cast that it was her birthday. They all took a moment to wish her a happy birthday. The Disney cast went out of their way to make her feel special.

The Disney train took us half way around the park and let us off at a ride called Small World. Have you been on the ride? You embark on the Small World cruise by getting into a small boat. The boat takes you around the world. People from every country and every tribe are represented, even Atlantis. The last world is where all of the races and people have come together, and they are wearing white. I always say that is heaven. We also joined them on a Jungle Cruise, a Pirate’s Cruise and a River Boat Cruise. We ended the day at Disney with lunch. Our ambassadors walked us to the car and gave Commissioner Eva a birthday gift. Before we got into the car, Commissioner Israel Gaither asked out ambassadors if we could have a word of prayer with them and they happily agreed. It was a happy time for us and we want to go back.

I hope every Women’s Ministries group and every corps is like Disneyland. What is that? Yes, you read it right. What if every corps and every WM group was a place that radiated the joy of the Lord in such a way that once someone visits they want to come back? What if every corps and every WM group was a place that we wanted to bring new people because we knew it would be a great experience for them? What if every soldier and every member of our WM groups felt like “cast members” who work together to help their visitors and fellow cast members feel the joy of the Lord’s Presence?

At the Welcome of the Cadets Commissioner Gaither gave a call to come forward to pray. People responded and I leaned over to Don and said, this is the “Holiest Place on Earth” right now. What a wonderful day! I wish you could have been there!