I'm So Happy in This Lovely Place, Crystal Little

I was born in Cleveland, Ohio and grew up there. My parents, believers in the Lord since the ages of twenty-two and twenty-four, raised my three sisters and I in the local church in Cleveland, simply called the church in Cleveland. We met either in homes, our home specifically, among many others, or in the meeting hall. At one point, we even had three sisters in the Lord living with us, which was kind of like having four moms. My parents would sing to us every night, and my favorite hymn was always “Splendid church life...He has brought us, praise the Lord...” (Hymns, #1237). This sentiment matches my feeling still today.

I recently had the opportunity to go on a trip to visit other local churches in East Malaysia. While there, we had such a sweet time with all the brothers and sisters from the local churches in Kuching, Bintulu, and Miri. I got so close to those college-age sisters, even in a matter of three days, that we were all in tears at the airport when they came to see us off. There's something so sweet and so special about being with other seekers who love the Lord in the church.

The highlight of my trip was one meeting where we did nothing but sing hymns. There were probably three hundred people in that meeting hall, singing to the Lord and praising Him; it was glorious. The last song we sang was hymn #1237, and my eyes welled up with tears as we repeated the chorus: “I'm so happy in this lovely place...” I really was happy-happy to be with all those wonderful brothers and sisters who loved us like their own family after a matter of days, and happy to realize that though there are many local churches in many different countries all over the world, there's a sweet harmony and genuine oneness among them all. “He is full of rich enjoyment to His saints in one accord.” (Hymns, #1237)