My foot slipped slightly as I boarded a boat and worked my way to a seat. Transportation in Guatemala looks like buses, boats, and tut tuts. As I sat down I spoke broken Spanish to the man who owned the boat. Hoping to direct him to where we needed to go. The owner started whistling and getting frustrated with the women as he reorganized people to balance out the boat. Then a beautiful dark Guatemalan eight year old quickly jumped on the boat. She had with a her a heavy amount of vegetables. Such a small girl, so young but alone and working hard. With the owner already angry she frantically sat next to me and I felt God speak. “Give her your necklace.” Trying to recall Spanish while my fingers felt for the turtle necklace I bought a few days prior, I panicked a little… God speak through me… Then I heard myself talking in full sentences. God was pouring in her affirmation of her beauty and love for her. Where is this coming from? How am I talking? I would pause every once in a while and asked if she understood and she smiled and say “yes.” Ten minutes later we were laughing and goofing off. I took my necklace from my neck and placed it in her hand. “You are beautiful” I said in Spanish. “Do you have Jesus in your heart?” She smiled from ear to ear. “Si” she exclaimed as she looked up to the sky and smiled. I knew she loved God. When we got to the dock she threw the vegetables on the dock and pushed through people. I turned my eyes away, gathered my things. had thought she had run off. Once I was situated I looked up and saw a thin little arm and tiny hand reaching out to help me on the dock. When I got out of the boat she embraced me with the tiniest little hug, Guatemalans are much smaller than my giant self. She tucked her head in my stomach,with the biggest smile,hand on necklace, and pony tail swinging in the air, she laughed and called me her “Amiga”. I got off with the beautiful girl waving. The necklace was on a silver chain. The chain on her dark little shoulders stood out from a mile away. That necklace was made for her God said to me… I couldn’t help but agree with Him.
