One Beautiful Life

Spain: Her name is Maria

After we got on the plane, I was overcome with thankfulness to the Lord for such an amazing opportunity He was providing. Not only did we get on the plane, (we fly space available) but we were in business class. As I thanked the Lord for such a gift, my heart was touched that there would be a person... someone that I would connect with... for Him. This happened in Mexico a couple years ago when I went on a missions trip. I had kept waiting and finally, I met her, and her name was Maria. My heart soared when I looked into her eyes and I felt a connection that is so hard to even describe. I loved her the moment I met her. We were sisters in Christ.

So this same feeling came over me again and I smiled as I could not wait to meet this person and feel this connection again.

It was on our second day, Monday, that I saw her. We were walking along and there she was, huddled against a wall, with her head hung down and making eye contact with no one. The moment I saw her, I knew it was her. I snapped her photo, handed the camera to Don and went over to her. She hardly looked up. I started speaking to her in Spanish and then she looked at me. I saw it in her eyes and felt a fullness come over me.

I asked her what her name was. "Maria," she answered. I laughed out loud and asked, "Maria?"

She nodded yes. I handed her some money and told her it was from the Lord. She smiled and took it. I asked her if she knew Jesus and she said "Si." I asked her if she believed in Him in her heart and she smiled so big and said "Si." I told her that was great because that meant we were sisters in Christ... and we hugged. Then I told her I would pray for her and asked her if I could pray for her there and she quietly answered "Si."

So I prayed for her... in English as there was no way I could pray what I wanted to pray in Spanish as I am not THAT fluent! I hope she understood some of it. I prayed that she would feel God's presence in her life and that He would provide for her and her family. I prayed that peoples hearts would be touched as they walked by and they would be prompted to give to her and that she would know it was a gift from the Lord. I also prayed He would comfort and encourage her.

Before I left, I asked her if I could take a picture of her and she said I could and then lowered her head again. I reached out and touched her and told her I wanted a photo of her eyes. She looked up and gave me her eyes and this sweet "little" smile.

Please pray for Maria. Please remember her. As I live my very comfortable and abundant in blessings and provisions life, I want to remember both my Maria's... my sisters in Christ I have had the sweet privilege of meeting.

This is Maria from Mexico... I met her in 2006... you can pray for her too! Thank you!

Hugs...