6 months later, Christmas break of my freshman year of college, I found myself in Quito, Ecuador. The sights, smells, and sounds were overwhelming, beautiful in retrospect. I chose a ministry option away from the "dirty" people. (Is there a real ministry option away from dirty people?) The least amount of interaction the better, if I had my way I'd come out of this place untouched and therefore un-diseased!
We performed songs and skits in the middle of a busy plaza each day. The only reoccurring audience members were the vendors and their children. One such child was a bit unruly. Angelica, was 5 years old, her older sister would scold her and try to corral her, but nothing could keep little Angelica away from the gringos! It became my job to make sure she was at least somewhat quiet during the prayer times. Each day, we would play behind the stage. In the evenings we were doing services with a local church, we invited Angelica & her older sister, who was maybe 8? They didn't come.
The next day at the plaza, Angelica stayed close by her mother's stand and the older sister sat silently beside her mother with an arm wrapped in a homemade sling.
Around lunch time I began to miss my little side kick, so we approached the stand. Their mother did not acknowledge us, the sister kept her head down, & Angelica clung to my leg playfully as I approached. Realizing something was not right I had the missionary speak with the woman.
As it turned out, the children had tried to come to the service the night before, their father a drunk and not a believer, had physically stopped them, hence the sling.
At 18 years old, I was furious, confused, outraged that this could happen. (Imagine a mad chihuahua held on a leash!) For some reason that's the image that comes to my mind when I think of this day! In my young mind the solution was simple, we take the girls! ha! It's not even THAT simple in the USofA, it definitely wasn't in Quito, Ecuador 15 years ago! Sigh.
The next day was our last. My side kick had rejoined me and I was keeping her quiet for the last time, although on this day she was already quiet and sitting STILL in my lap, my mind was far off and it took me a minute to notice this change. When I looked down into the biggest, most beautiful brown eyes I've ever seen and saw tears dripping from them, I went into panic mode. I thought for sure I was sitting on her little leg or something or that she was hurt in some way! When I asked her in my very poquito spanish... "What's wrong? What's the matter? Are you okay!?"
Her reply: "I want Jesus in my heart like you!" In that moment, MY life changed! Angelica's life with Jesus began and I'd venture to say mine did too!
