She is an unassuming woman. Barely stands five-foot-three, a long black braid down her back. She speaks no English at all, but her smile lights up a room, with no regards for a language barrier. She works tirelessly in a 18×15 foot kitchen, serving food to 60 children a day, and she is always the last one to eat. The children adore her. They respect her, they look to her for guidance. Her name is Maria.
I have had the distinct privilege of working alongside my team with an organization in Quito called COVi, a Christian after-school program for at-risk kids and adolescents. As a team we have played soccer with the kids, make-shift volleyball games with just a rope as a net, practiced our Spanish, helped with arts and crafts, weeded the vegetable garden, cooked traditional Ecuadorian meals, and washed a whole heck of a lot of dishes. There is so much I could update you on, but I’ll stick with one of the most poignant interactions I’ve had thus far.
Maria.
When I arrived in Ecuador, I was almost 8 years removed from my last Spanish class. I could ask basic questions…”what is your name?” “how old are you?” etc. But in terms of my ability to actually string together full conversations was really minimal. After about 2 days of full immersion in the Spanish culture, I was able to converse. Little things turned into bigger things, vocabulary started coming back, and phrases turned into sentences. My ability to translate increased, and my confidence grew. The Holy Spirit has radically shown me the love of God through this process.
Fast-forward to Thursday, after a full morning of working in the kitchen with Maria, helping she and one of the other volunteers prepare lunch for the kids, we finally sat down to eat. The conversation (all in Spanish) started out with talk of where we were from, what the weather is like that time of year, etc. It quickly developed into a discussion about border issues with Texas and Mexico, the drug war, and the violence around the Rio Grande. Bear in mind, this is day 4. I haven’t taken a Spanish class in almost 8 years. I’m speaking entirely in Spanish. Hey there, Jesus. Thanks for this.
It quickly changed to conversations of faith, trusting God amidst the growing problems in this world of violence and struggle and pain. I was using words I’ve never even learned before! Watching the way Maria opened up and shared how important prayer is to find peace amidst adverse circumstances, was an incredible blessing. This unassuming woman, who tirelessly works to serve others every single day of her life, seemed to blossom right infront of my eyes. I saw a heart that pursues Jesus, a heart that truly cares for the children at COVi, and a heart that seeks to see God in every moment.
The lessons I’ve learned in the kitchen this week:
-The Holy Spirit is with me always
-God can’t be put in a box
-He is worth seeking at all times
