Nazareth (Pt. 1)

This is the story of how I met this dear little one.  

 

It was late morning during our first week in El Casa Verde.  Most of our team was lounging around a table by thedoor when we heard a knock.  The door was openedand in walked a man, his wife, and little girl.  They were introduced to us as a Pastor and his family, come from the Capitol to visit. 

 
The morning passed and the arrival of the family passed from memory.  The noontime meal rolled around, and after filling my plate with frijoles y juevos I found myself walking the long way around the oddly rectangular hallway that wraps around our temporary home like a moat.
 
My walk took me past the pastor eating his own lunch, and as I passed we made eye contact.  It felt like one of those knowing exchanges that need no words.  I sat down and ate my lunch and thought no more of it.  
 
Fifteen minutes later I found myself standing face to face with him as he told me God had sent him here with a word for the group, but also for an individual God would reveal to him, which apparently was me, since we made eye contact.  The word, authority, and faith of this man astounded me, but what most impacted me was another member of his family, and his relationship with her.
 
While we prayed and conversed, his young daughter, no older than five, (we could never get it out of that sassy child) would go from laying hands on people to making faces at me.  Eventually she walked over and shamelessly stared up at me, until I stuck out my hand.  She took it, then stood there for a minute or two before proceeding to amble in circles around us as we prayed.