For thirty years the Precious Moments Chapel has welcomed people from all over the world. People find themselves here for a myriad of reasons – some by mere happenstance, some hoping to catch a glimpse of Precious Moments creator Samuel J. Butcher, and some seeking a sense of peace. A Chapel Visitor’s Story
Photos courtesy of Trina Davis
Visitor Trina Davis is the latter. She finds herself returning to the Precious Moments Chapel again and again, hooked on the overwhelming peace she feels when walking among the gardens or gazing at the murals. Trina is a busy mom of 8-year old Sammy and wife to her husband, Ron. She is currently studying to be a Christian
counselor, with a focus on treating women – specifically those who have dealt with domestic violence and fertility issues. But even with all of that going on in her life, she and her family still find time to visit the Chapel every few months so they may experience the beauty of the Chapel in each season. Her very first visit to the Chapel was back in the early 90s when she took a trip from her home in Arkansas with her church’s teen group. She was only 14 years old, but from that first visit she was captivated! Throughout her young adulthood, she could always count on a visit to the Chapel to sustain her through troubled times. “The Chapel is my Disney World, it’s the happiest place on Earth,” Trina explains. Even through a divorce she could find peace at the Chapel. “It’s a place where all my problems just disappeared for a while.” Trina would have never guessed that life would bring her to Missouri where she now is able to visit the Chapel whenever the urge strikes. Ron works a quick 10 minutes from the Chapel, so she and Sammy will visit him at work and then head to the Chapel where they frolic with butterflies, imitate the statues, and if no one is around, they will lie down on their backs in the Chapel just so they can look upon the Chapel ceiling with wonder. “I never thought I’d have a child that would
appreciate the Chapel as much as I do, but Sammy loves it!” Trina tells us. “It’s something special we share.” Sammy also thinks a lot about his brother Deacon while he is there. Deacon would have been 6 years old now, but he was brought home to live in eternity with the Father when he was just 6 days old. That is just one more reason the Chapel is so special to Trina. “After we lost Deacon, I was looking at the mural of Hallelujah Square and noticed the
family meeting in Heaven for the first time. I realized that someday that will be us seeing our Deacon again,” Trina shares. Her mother-in-law purchased a signed copy of the Hallelujah Square mural and it now hangs in the room that would have been Deacon’s. If you are planning on making a trip to the Chapel this winter, keep an eye out for Trina and young Sammy. (Christmastime is one of their favorite times to visit because of all the decorations!) She will be the one with a ready smile, while Sammy will likely be striking a pose like one of the statues or searching the bricks to see if there might be one bearing his brother’s name.
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FALL 2019
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