Missionary, Chuck Harper, carries Estevan up from "The Hole." I had a God sighting a while back. You know what that is, right? It is a time when God shows some of himself to us, and we recognize Him. One of those moments, that as it is happening we know we will remember for the rest of our lives.

I was visiting a 14-year-old boy named Esteven that lives in an area called the hole. It is well named, for that is just what it is, a hole full of people living in extreme poverty.

Esteven was born with a birth defect that keeps him from walking. Most of his life has been spent playing on the ground around the shacks where he lives. He never leaves this area unless someone carries him out. He will prop on something and walk ten or fifteen steps before he has to crawl again. The ground where he lives is mostly wet from the sewage that runs openly across the area. He wears an adult diaper because he is not able to use the restroom. He is 14, think about that. His life is hard, very hard. He is as tough as nails. You would never know it because the most surprising thing about Esteven is his bright attitude and quick smile. It makes his situation seem easier than it is. Through his disability, he has learned life lessons that many of us never learn our entire lives.

Next time you are hungry and in a long buffet line take note of your thoughts, attitudes and body language and then think what others are seeing in you. Share that million dollar smile of yours instead, and let someone ahead of you.

As I was visiting with him, being the good missionary that I am, I immediately looked for something I could do to make me feel good about who I am and what I do. I decided that I could carry Him to church. I am strong and able to take him up the stairs out of the hole. So I invited him. Boy, did I feel good.

I immediately saw a side of him I had never seen before. This young man definitely has some attitude and anger. The flash of them across his face told me volumes. He said yes that he would like to come with me, but I could clearly see that this invitation was very disturbing to him. I was confused because this kid with a million dollar smile that he shared so fast was now very hurt and angry with my invitation.

Sunday came, and the devil was working overtime. I was late for church and did not want to get Esteven. I had been mulling over his attitude all week and had decided that he didn’t want to go. He would be embarrassed because he couldn’t run and play like the other kids, and after all at age 14 he had a diaper. At the last minute, I asked the cab driver to stop and let me run down to see if he was waiting. I was sure that I was wasting my time and money for the cab.

I climbed down the hole and knocked at his door.. Before I was finished knocking I heard him yelling for his mother to come open the door. I could not see him because he was behind the door. His mother let me in and that was when it happened, my God sighting, I got a glimpse of the face of God. That boy’s bright face and million dollar smile were worth all the silver and gold in this world and two others. He was more than ready to go. I had almost lived up to his expectations, another do-gooder no-show, that had made a promise out of temporary pity.

Fighting back tears that I knew he would not understand, I lifted that boy to my shoulders and carried him out of the hole and into the house of God.

One of the best days of my life. You know life can be hard, but we don’t have to be.

Chuck Harper and his family, formerly of Colquitt, are now missionaries in Costa Rica, a small republic that connects North and South America.