Can you see God in Aruba? I got to see God on the plane.

My husband, Mike, and I haven’t been on a plane in over a year due to COVID-19. We always follow the social distancing guidelines, but it’s time to start enjoying life again. I finally talked him into flying to Aruba, but he was nervous about having someone so close to him on the airplane. We boarded the plane with our negative COVID-19 test results in hand, required by the Aruban government as part of their official Embarkation-Disembarkation card.

We immediately went to the back of the plane since we knew there would be over thirty empty seats. I always sit in the aisle seat, and Mike always takes the window seat. We prayed that the middle seat would remain open. God’s power is wonderful, and he blessed us with the seat remaining empty.

I got to see God when the resort upgraded our room to an oceanfront suite.

Since I turned fifty that month, Mike requested a room upgrade. The resort was only at 30% capacity, so they granted his request, and they blessed us with a top floor, ocean view room.

We went to the Bunker Bar for a drink.

Shortly after leaving our luggage in our suite, we headed to the Bunker Bar for a drink. The sign at the bar says:

Beneath the Bunker Bar is an actual bunker, built in 1941. It was a look-out and gun station aimed to defend the entrance of Oranjestad’s harbor during World War II. Looking out over the water one can see the two entrance buoys of the main harbor.

Our bunker was built at a strategic point where first Scottish and later American and Dutch soldiers guarded the harbor entrance.

Aruba’s Lago Oil Refinery (in San Nicolas) and Eagle Refinery’s fuel storage facility (where Divi Links Golf course is now located) came under attack on February 16th, 1942. A large torpedo ended up on the beach and exploded during its dismantling, killing several service men. The refinery and storage facility provided fuel supplies for all the allied troops.

It is not known if shots were ever fired from our bunker. But when the Tamarijn Resort was built, it was decided to preserve this important piece of history and build a bar on top of it.

So please enjoy your drinks and the spectacular ocean view and don’t forget to raise your glass in a toast to this historical spot!

Every employee wore their mask.

We paid for an all-inclusive, which meant we needed to eat in the restaurants instead of getting takeout. The hostess who greeted us wore a mask. We noticed all of the tables were six feet from each other. I haven’t been out to eat in over a year and was nervous about being in public with my mask off, but I got to see God again because he made me feel safe.

We did not need our masks on the beach.

All of the tiki huts on the beach were far enough apart, so that was wonderful. Can you imagine the ugly tan line I would get if I wore a mask while sunbathing? But God allowed me to see him by seeing the beautiful ocean and swimming, all while social distancing.

I got to see God by looking at all of the creatures he made.

Some iguanas loved to hang out at the resort, and one even posed for a picture with me. There were also lizards, birds, fish, and so many other beautiful creatures. I love waking up every morning to the chirping birds.

The resort had lush walkways and gardens with lots of cacti and palm trees. There were tons of divi-divi trees, and the crystal-clear blue water was the best view of all. Some numerous cats and dogs appeared to live on the resort, and they were very friendly.

God made a sunbow.

One day we were heading to lunch, and Mike told me to look at the sun. There was an amazing sunbow. In the Bible, God says he provides rainbows as a sign to us, as he did for Noah, to remind us that there will never be another flood that will cover the whole earth. Rainbows always remind me of my son in heaven because I feel like God allows my son to create them just for me.

I got to see God in each sunset in Aruba.

90% of the time, there is a beautiful sunset in Aruba. Sometimes I get a picture of a boat taking people on a sunset cruise, making for an amazing picture. The other thing that made this trip different from all the others was the group of men that made daily designs in the sand. The one reminded me of my son dying, and that made me cry, but if I don’t allow the pain, I can’t remember my son, so I choose the pain.

The resort provided our COVID-19 test needed to return to the United States.

Anyone entering the United States needs to have a negative COVID-19 antigen or PCR test. The resort scheduled our appointment three days before our flight home. We waited in a very long line for a test that took one minute.

The results came in an email within twenty-four hours. We were both negative, so we were stuck going home. Not that I want COVID-19, but I wouldn’t mind staying in Aruba.

On our airplane ride, something unexpected happened.

Upon arriving at the airport after two gorgeous weeks in Aruba, I asked the gate attendant if the plane was full. She said there were only two empty seats; that is only a 1% chance that our middle seat will remain open. Mike and I looked at each other because we were concerned that we would get COVID-19 if someone sat that close to us, even though we were wearing our N95 masks. But, again, God was good to us, and our middle seat remained empty.

Yes, you can see God in Aruba. Share in the comments where you have seen God?