Message from Donn Start, Principal West Valley Campus

I loved this story and hope that it provides encouragement in your day.

I read recently the story of 4 year old Colton Burpo. Several months after a burst appendix nearly cost Colton his life, he “routinely” opened up with his parents about his brush with death and his vivid recollection about his trip to heaven.

Colton shared that while laying unconscious for 17 days in the hospital that angels sang to him, he sat on Jesus’ lap, and he met his curly hair great-grandfather, who he accurately described in detail, even though he had never seen a picture of the man. He also described meeting and hugging a sister in heaven – even though he had no way of knowing that his mother had miscarried two years before he was born. Colton also accurately shared that during surgery he saw his mother talking on the phone in another room and saw his father praying in a small room. While his physical body was laying on the operating table his “out of body presence” was safely seated on Jesus’ lap.

When the reporter asked Colton what heaven looked like, he replied, “Well, there’s a lot of color. There are a lot of people, beautiful music, and a lot of angels.” When interviewed by Kathie Lee Gifford he added that “there are no old people in heaven, nobody wears glasses, and you’re in like your 20s or 30s.”

I don’t know about you, but it brings me joy and I sense God’s presence, every time I see a child laugh. So of course Jesus would calm a frightened child with his love. What an awesome and loving God we serve.