When Goodness Follows You
A Salzburg Easter: Grace at Every Turn
I’ll be honest—when my wife first suggested an Easter weekend getaway with a family friend and her daughter, I wasn’t exactly thrilled.
It wasn’t the company; our friend and her daughter are more like family to us. It was two other things: first, the thought, “I’ll be the only guy on this trip,” and second, the highlight of the weekend was The Sound of Music Tour—a movie I didn’t love half as much as our friend, who’s seen it more times than Gideon had sons (Judges 8:30).
Nonetheless, I found myself in Salzburg, Austria, with my wife, our two boys, our friend, her daughter—and most importantly, with Jesus—over Easter weekend.
Now, as I write this on the train ride back to Geneva, I see clearly: God planned this trip as a reminder of His active presence and the true nature of His church—a family.
First Answered Prayer
We arrived in Salzburg just past midnight. Normally, when I land in a new country at night—especially with two women and three kids under 13—I don’t waste time figuring out public transport; I look for a taxi.
As we stepped out of the station, two taxis were parked nearby, but we needed a van to fit all six of us. I glanced up and down the dimly lit street. No van in sight. Quietly, I prayed, “Lord, please send a van taxi so we can all ride together.”
Within two minutes, a black taxi van pulled up. We piled in and made our way to the hotel.
Even as we whisper our prayers, He hears.
Second Answered Prayer
The next day, we hopped onto a bus for a Sound of Music sightseeing tour—my friend beaming, me… well, trying to get into it.
As we stepped off the bus to visit the gardens with the famous gazebo, her daughter realized she had left her phone behind—on the bus, now long gone.
Silent prayers were offered, and we pressed on with the tour.
An hour later, while waiting for the next bus, we realized it was the same bus we’d ridden earlier! Hope surged. We boarded eagerly—but no phone. It was gone.
Not giving up, her mother dialed the phone. Amazingly, someone answered! They agreed to leave the phone at the company’s booth downtown. Thanks to the honesty of a stranger, the prayers of the saints, and the kindness of God, the phone was safely returned later that day.
Gracious Providence (1)
Later, as we made the steep climb toward the abbey (yes, the one where Maria was a nun), we paused to take in the stunning view of Salzburg and the surrounding mountains.
As I took a photo, my phone slipped—and tumbled over the wall!
I was convinced it was either shattered on the road below or lost forever in the bushes. But instead, it landed gently on the roof of a house.
Relieved, I made my way down the steps and onto the lawn. Inside the glass sunroom, two startled elderly Austrians stared at me, an unexpected intruder on their property.
We resorted to hand gestures through the glass until the man eventually came out. I explained the situation and spotted a three-tier ladder leaning conveniently against the house. He agreed to let me retrieve my phone.
As I climbed up, they asked where I was from. “Barbados,” I said. Their faces lit up—they knew someone from Barbados! Instantly, the awkwardness melted away into smiles.
What are the odds? A safely fallen phone, a waiting ladder, and an unexpected island connection.
(And yes, we did eventually make it to the Abbey.)
Gracious Providence (2)
On Day Three, we visited the Nature and Science Museum—a sprawling, four-floor wonderland teeming with visitors. It was for the kids… but the adults had fun too.
Later, heading to a restaurant, I realized: my reading glasses were missing.
Given the crowds and the sheer number of exhibits we had explored, the odds of finding them seemed slim. Still, the others prayed (though with more doubt than faith), and I went back to search.
I checked everywhere, even the lost and found. I was about to give up when I felt nudged to search one last time. There, tucked safely on a ledge near the Doppler Effect exhibit where my son and I had lingered, were my glasses.
When I returned triumphant, the others were amazed. They admitted they had prayed—but didn’t really expect success.
It’s not the strength of our faith that matters, but the faithfulness of the One to whom we pray—even with weak faith.
A Final Glimpse of Grace
Easter morning, we gathered for breakfast at the hotel.
My younger son eyed the sugary treats, but before I even needed to step in, my friend lovingly intervened, guiding him toward fruits and proteins instead.
Watching her care for my son as if he were her own moved me deeply. In that small, beautiful moment, the Lord impressed on me: This is what church leadership looks like—extending the care of the Father to His children.
After breakfast, we read John 20 together, verse by verse, kids and adults alike. We shared reflections. The conversation became so rich that my friend joked she wanted to run around the restaurant with joy. I actually did a little victory dance—much to the horror of our pre-teens.
As we sat there, around the table, with Jesus at the center, I realized something simple yet profound:
This is the church.
Not a complicated institution, but family and friends gathered around Christ, extending His care, celebrating His resurrection, and sharing His life together.
