I was sitting with my husband eating a delicious chicken dinner. They're famous here for rotisserie chicken, french fries, and salad. I absolutely love it! It's a super delicious meal, and very reasonably priced here. As we were about to leave our table, a small scruffy boy suddenly appeared at our table. He couldn't have been any taller than the table. I looked down at him shocked! He had walked in so fast (obviously trying to sneak past the restaurant staff who would shoo him away) that I didn't quite know what to do.
"Senora," He said to me with the biggest and sweetest little eyes, "Me puedes dar un sol a comprar unos galletas a comer por favor. Yo tengo hambre." (Could you please give me a sol [about 2.56 soles to every US dollar] so I can buy some crackers/cookies, please? I am hungry.)
Intrigued, I looked down at the little sweet boy (who had already won my heart, I daresay) and asked, "Why, why are you hungry?"
He went on, and I could tell he was for real. He really wanted some food. As I was about to open my purse, my husband suggested that we give him some of our french fries and chicken. What a great idea, I thought!
The little boy graciously accepted, but after he had taken one bite asked, "Could I please go get my sister? She's waiting outside."
As quickly as he had appeared in the restaurant he left, and just a few moments returned with his older sister. By this time, Dan and I were curious, and began asking them their names while they began to eat. The little boy was Raider, and the girl, Naomi. Naomi was older by a year, but they seriously didn't look like they could possible be 7 and 8 years old. I noticed immediately that Naomi was much more shy and reserved. She didn't know quite what to think about eating our food or talking with us. Raider, however; ate away and chatted with us as he ate.
As I tried to convince Naomi to eat more food, Raider blurted out, "It's cause you're white, ma'am!" (If I had a dollar for every time I've heard that phrase... I'd be one rich lady!) I looked at Raider with a very serious look on my face and said, "I know. I've tried and tried to stay out in the sun and get darker, and I just can't!"
"Well, " Raider responded, "I don't ever put sun block on when I go outside, and look at me" He said, offering his best advice while showing me his arms.
A few moments later, it was time to leave. Our church is about 1/2 a block away from the restaurant, so we convinced them to come to the church for a few minutes to meet the man who Pastors in their area. The sweet kids had no idea what their address was, so I at least wanted them to know where our church was located in case they ever needed something.
When we left the restaurant the kids stood back, away from me and just stared. Naomi finally was warming up by then and began to speak, "You're SO tall." She said, completely shocked. (I'm guessing this was her first time to see an American Giant. ;))
I smiled.
"You're really, really tall!" She said again, like she couldn't get over it.
"Yes, I am. " I answered smiling.
"Wow!" She exclaimed. "How old are you?"
"25" I answered.
Both the kids exclaimed "WoW!" Together, which made me wonder why they were so amazed.
"Why?" I asked, "How old do you think I look?"
"Like 58!" Naomi answered.
"No! I'm not that old," I exclaimed. And then I wondered, if perhaps they thought the older I was, the taller I would have grown, and perhaps this is why they thought I should be 58. :)
They walked into our church, and met the Pastor and his wife. We tried hard to explain to them about our church, and tried to get them to tell their mom so they all could come.
At that moment, Raider said, "Oh no, we can't show this to our mom, she'll lock us up with the key all day. "
Naomi gave him a sharp look that said 'Don't say a word!' and a million thoughts ran through my head. Surely no one would ever lock up these precious children! I tried desperately to push these horrid thoughts out of my head. (and I was totally thinking, "God, I'll take them!!!")
Before I knew it, Naomi and Raider had turned around and were walking away. I went with them to the door of our church and tried to talk. "We're always here if you need anything" I told them. They said goodbye and I watched them walk away for as long as I could until I could no longer see them.
I'm not quite sure how two little kids can walk into your life and steal your heart in a moment. Who knows if I'll ever see them again. Who knows what their lives are like. I do know this.... God gave me my dream: to live on the mission field. The best I can do is love every single person He sends into my world, and show them Jesus. Even if... just for a moment.
