Description

They Will Take Care of You

In 1985, Terry Tullis accompanied his family, along with another family, for a grand adventure touring Europe. The group purchased 30-day Eurail European Rail passes to be able to ride an unlimited number of miles through 33 European countries. They had a general plan of where they wanted to travel, but knew the itinerary would need to be flexible. Their vacation started in England, then across the English Channel on a hydrofoil ship to Belgium. From there, they traveled to Bern, Switzerland to visit the Swiss Temple. The adults and teens were prompted to stay longer than planned and assist a large group of members from Spain in doing temple work that day. Terry said, “The Spirit was so strong it seemed as if we were transformed to a higher level of spirituality we had never experienced before.” By staying later at the temple, they were too late to board the train leaving for Germany and spent an additional night in Switzerland.

The travelers left for Germany early the next morning, arriving in the early afternoon. They thought it was strange that the train stopped about 100 yards from the main station. The group got off the train and learned there had a been a tragic bombing at the station the evening before which killed one person and injured several others. Terry said, “I was suddenly aware…. that had we not been delayed by staying at the Swiss Temple, that the original time of our arrival at this…. station would have closely coincided with the time of the bomb blast. There was no doubt in my heart [that] the Lord was involved with this…”.

As they traveled further north in Germany, they were a bit naïve as to the travel limitations of the rail system. They arrived in the town of Garmisch on the last train north for the day. They disembarked and suddenly realized they were the only two families left waiting on the platform. Seeing three hotels not far from the train station, Terry went to each one and was told they had no vacancies. Downcast and worried, he returned to the waiting families praying, “Heavenly Father, what do I do now?”

After a few moments, a medium sized man who spoke English with a slight accent “seemed to come out of nowhere” and stopped in front of the two worried fathers. The man asked, “Are you looking for a place to stay for the night?” They replied, “Yes.” He said, “Come with me.” After walking about 100 feet, he pointed out a hotel and said, “You go over there. It’s inexpensive and they will take care of you.” He then pointed to a different hotel and said, “That hotel is very expensive. You don’t want to go there.” Terry tried to explain that he had already checked both hotels and tried to thank the stranger for his kindness, but he just seemed to have disappeared.

Without much hope, Terry proceeded to the suggested hotel, where the male receptionist greeted him as if he had never seen him before. He was told they didn’t have any rooms, but after a long silence the clerk said, “The owner of this hotel has a large apartment in the rear of the hotel and he is away for several weeks. You can have his apartment.” Terry brought his group from the train platform and they were shown a beautiful, clean apartment with “rooms and beds for all nine of us.” Terry related:

“It was truly a miracle. I suddenly knew we had an encounter with an angel that night. I have never ever forgotten that moment nor how I felt. Over the years, as I have read and reread the trip journal, I have realized over and over again how involved the protection of the Lord was with us, including the encounter with an angel that night.”

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Story contributed by Terry Tullis