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I was excited and a little nervous when my husband and I began attending a church in our new community. I was a new Christian and not well acquainted with church customs. We had made a commitment to begin participating in church activities right away, but I had no idea how to begin. So I prayed and asked God what to do.

An October church bulletin provided my first opportunity to serve the Lord. The event was a Harvest Festival party for the local neighborhood children as an alternative to "trick or treating." Booths would be set up with an assortment of activities, and they needed volunteers.

Being brave of heart, and naïve, I chose the Jell-O eating contest. Next, I inquired if those working on this festivity were dressing up in costume.

"Well, yes, some are, I think," the main organizer answered. "But, of course, costumes must be appropriate, like animals and clowns. Nothing scary, and certainly no witches."

This made sense to me and sounded like fun. So I asked a neighbor if she had a costume I could borrow. "I have just what you need!" my helpful friend exclaimed. "I have a cow costume that I wore at the local grange party."

Since we were a farming community, that seemed just the right costume. I was thrilled. The neighbor promised to drop it off in plenty of time for the coming event.

The church called to confirm that I would be there and encouraged me with much praise for being willing to get right into God's work.

The big night came and my trusty neighbor dropped off the large garment bag containing the costume all cleaned and ready. I was running late that day and getting to the church on time was a marathon event. I grabbed the bag and a little face makeup to turn my face into that of a cow.

Quickly as possible, I went to the ladies' room to put on the costume. Strange, I thought, why was the one-piece pajama-like costume so heavy? I put on the outfit as quickly as I could. Then, I looked in the full-length mirror. I could see my face all smeared white and the black painted on my nose. The costume had a cap with cow ears and cow horns. The main body was white with black markings—just like my neighbor's cows. How cute!

That's when I looked down to see the costume in its entirety. There attached to the front of the outfit was all the natural anatomy of a real milk cow. This costume was a little too authentic! I panicked. I could not possibly show up like this. What would everyone think? Why had I not checked this out before? What on earth was I to do?

I could hear the event organizer calling for me to hurry up.

I covered myself as best I could with my arms across my cow belly and dashed out into the Harvest Festival. Please, Lord, I thought, let there be an apron in the kitchen. Something—anything—to cover up my, uh, milking apparatus.

I walked out on the floor hoping no one would notice me. I would get right to work in the Jell-O booth.

As I looked around the room, however, I soon realized that not one other adult was dressed in costume! My white cow face turned an embarrassed red.

I was about to bolt and run, when the festival organizer grabbed my arm. She turned me around, and the words seemed to catch in her throat. Her eyes grew huge as she looked at my full costume. I knew she saw it—the milking bag, complete in all its anatomically correct detail. I was mortified!

Her hand flew to her mouth, only slightly muffling her burst of laughter. Then off she went to assist the families arriving at the door.

Children began to gather in small groups to dip their faces in orange and green Jell-O.

My heart was pounding as I realized I knew nothing about how to serve God. I was certain I had made a mess of things and had probably embarrassed all the church members with my costume.

But again and again the children came back to challenge their friends. Then I heard, "Oh, Mrs. Cow, may I be next?" and "Mrs. Cow, may we please take your picture?"

I was delighted by this reference. Suddenly, I was having a wonderful time, and it turned out I was one of the most popular booths that evening.

In a quiet moment, as I stood there among the neighbors and their children, I realized that God had used this opportunity to let me laugh at myself, and that others saw me as just a good sport. They took my picture and thanked me for volunteering.

I had stepped out in faith and God returned to me more laughter and love than I would have ever dreamed. In spite of myself, God used me to bless others.

Deeann Kamp retired from accounting and went to work as a teacher's aide for first- and second-graders at Briedablick Elementary School in Port Ludlow, Washington, near Seattle. Deeann's story is the first piece she has ever submitted for publication. Though her short story took place 12 years ago, some people still call her "Mrs. Cow."

A Christian Reader original article.

Copyright © 2002 by the author or Christianity Today International/Today's Christian magazine (formerly Christian Reader).
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