If you are my friend on Facebook, or if you follow me on Instagram or Twitter, you may have seen this picture:
It features a young woman named Christina whom I speak to on occasion when I’m visiting the Cerro de la Cruz, which is this sweet cross on the top of this…..well, it’s either a very small mountain or a very large hill. You should check it out.
Well anyway, her daughter, Lindy, was sick last week when I visited. This poor baby had fever and chills and stomach aches and was having an allergic reaction and she was not happy. Christina said she was going to take her to the doctor later that day. That was on Tuesday.
So last Sunday, Andy and I headed up to the Cerro de la Cruz to see if Christina was there and to check if Lindy was feeling any better. When we arrived at the cross, however, we didn’t see her. Her mat was there, but there was a young man whom I’ve never seen before selling the stuff, not Christina. Andy decided to go sit in the shade while I continued to stand on the sidewalk and look around for Christina. I did not find her. But I was approached by the man attempting to sell headbands from Christina’s usual spot.
“She’s not here.”
The sound of the man’s voice startled me. He was speaking in Spanish, but his words were easy to understand. But I’ve never seen this man before in my life. Why was he talking to me?
“Who?”
“Christina and Lindy, they’re not here. They’re at home because Lindy is still sick with a stomach infection.”
Well that answered that question. But how did he know who I was looking for? I haven’t spoken to anyone since arriving on the mountain.
“You are Christina’s friend, yes?”
Oh. I mean, I guess so? I sit and talk with her almost once a week.
I ended up standing there talking to the man, who’s name was Jonathan, for a while. As it turns out, he’s Christina’s husband. He was very nice, and although he didn’t speak English, his Spanish was easy to understand. He appeared to be around 19 or 20. We talked about his life and my life and I told him that I would be praying for Lindy and he appeared very grateful. Then people appeared at the mat so he needed to go. I had given him the two suckers I’d brought for Christina and Lindy, and he promised to give them to them. Then he told me that Christina would probably be there tomorrow, if I wanted to come visit then.
“Hasta luego Sam. Mucho gusto.”
This whole experience was crazy. The fact that this man approached ME and knew who I was looking for gives me the impression that he was forewarned I may be there. And that someone had told him what I look like. What sort of impact can you make on someone with simple acts of friendship? I haven’t really done anything. I just talk with her. What is the reach of kindness?
How can I show Christ’s love to people through my actions?
*if you could please be praying for Christina and Lindy and their sweet little family, it would be greatly appreciated. Gracias <3
