Santa Maria you Stole my heart!
It has only been four days, and Peru has me wanting more. Not just Peru but Santa Maria! Santa Maria is a little town just outside of Laredo. After walking 10 minutes, we arrived at a little place that had a long little table and many chairs with little children in them. They were all so very happy to see us. We started to ask their names, and how old they were in Spanish. Many were around 6 to 8, and there were also very many that were younger.
Two faces of little girls of Santa Maria!
Waiting to play a game outside.
We started off singing a few songs. I was having a blast watching their faces, as they had joy singing with us. I was looking around and saw a little girl who looked to be around 2 or 3 years old starting to fall asleep in her older sister’s lap. I motioned her sister to hand her over to me, so she could enjoy her time singing. When I tell you this little girl was fast asleep, I’m not lying she was knocked out cold. Holding her in my arms while she slept was the sweetest thing ever. While she was dreaming in her little mind, I was stroking her hair and humming a song. The others were starting to go outside to play some games, so I shifted her to my shoulder so I could watch the fun outside. She didn’t even stir, she continued to dream her dreams while I watched the other little children run around with the rest of my team.
The little girl who was fast asleep in my arms!
When praying this was the only little boy who closed his eyes and put his hands together! It made me so happy to see him wanting to get closer with God at such a young age.
Nathen the team leader of the Lamp Liters, had a blast playing with the children!
Sitting there holding this little girl, made me realize why I am on this mission trip. Not to only spread the word of God, but to bring joy to children around the world. I have such a love for children. That when I’m ready to have children of my own one day. I will share with them the joy and happiness each child brought to me while on The World Race. I would share with them, how the children of Laredo live. How they love to go to church and learn about God. How playing in the streets, chasing one another, playing soccer (football) is their way of having fun.
For those of you who know me, if there is a baby around I am usally holding him/her!
When I said Santa Maria Stole my Heart, I wasn’t lying. All the little faces will be with me for a very long time.
