After thirty-two years of ministry, there were many occasions when a specific situation took me by surprise. This article qualifies as one of those emotional, pleasant and unexpected situations.
For several years, TLCCM had the privilege to sponsor a children’s
house group in Colonia Urbi, in Tijuana. This home bible group was an outreach
of Templo Bethania whose pastors were my dear friends pastors Jorge & Rosa.
Colonia Urbi is at least fifty minutes from their local church. On Saturdays in Tijuana it is common to see
street markets everywhere in the various shantytowns. It is a time where the local
people can do some shopping for various items including fresh fruits and
vegetables. These markets on held on the side of the streets or sometimes on
the streets, making it difficult for traffic to circulate in a timely fashion.
Because the children’s bible study was on Saturday, getting to the Urbi
location was challenging. It is another slum area and many of the children come from single
parent household.
For
several years, TLCCM paid for a small bus to transport these kids back and
forth to our Vacation Bible School program or other special events happening at
Templo Bethania. The cost of $60 per trip was a great investment in the lives
of these precious children.
I was
always very grateful for the wonderful and very reliable helpers that live in
that area who took on the responsibility for this house group.
Every
time I was in Tijuana, I would go for a visit. In January 2020 was no
exception. I always enjoyed my time with this group of children. I always did
something special with them and I also brought them blessings.
One Saturday morning, I woke up early and baked a slab cake for our afternoon session in Colonia Urbi. I often surprised the kids with homemade cake or cup cakes that I covered with a thick layer of icing and lots of candied sparkles. Upon arriving at the location in Colonia Urbi, Pastor Jorge handed me the cake to take to the ladies in the kitchen.
I barely made a few steps towards the kitchen when I heard a little girl say: “Hermana is this cake for me?”. I turned around and noticed that I did not know this little girl, but she was obliviously talking to me. Apparently, this was only her second time attending our weekly bible.
I
smile and said: “Well sweetheart the cake is for everyone.” My answer
was not to her satisfaction. She replied: “But, this cake is for me, it
was my birthday this week and I did not get a cake, so, this one is for me, right?”
Looking
at this pretty little girl that was believing with all her heart that this cake
was “her cake” made my eyes filled with tears.
My
answer to her was: “Precious, absolutely this cake is for you, but we
will have to share it with the other children. Is that good with you?” “Oh! yes” she said, and she ran
into the classroom happy as a little bird on a nice spring day.
With
my heart still full of emotions, I brought the cake in the kitchen. I explained
to the ladies and to Pastor Rosa what had just happened outside. Immediately, love
and compassion fell on everyone and without saying a word, we all knew what to
do.
I
went into the classroom to spend time with the kids. I
learned that my birthday girl’s name was Lesly. Meanwhile, Pastor Rosa went to
the little store next door to buy some candles. Usually, the ladies would have
cut the cake and placed them on little paper plates, to serve to the kids
after they finished their meal, but not that day. The cake stayed uncut on the
counter.
After bible study, the kids ate a good meal. Lesly ate her meal and did not ask about “her cake”. In her mind, it was already settled, the cake I brought was her birthday cake. The simple faith of a child is always a reminder to us adults that the Lord loves this type of simple faith.
In
Matthew 18:3-4, Jesus
said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little
children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. !Amen.
Meanwhile, while
some of the older kids picked up the empty plates and glasses, in the kitchen
the ladies were putting candles on the cake. Then Pastora Rosa came in with the
cake and all the kids started to sing “Happy Birthday Lesly”. I stood at the
back of the room and took pictures with tears running down my cheeks.
Lesly’s
face radiated with joy. It was easy to see this little girl was feeling loved.
The other children instantly turned the occasion into a birthday celebration.
Afterwards,
talking with her I learned that she did not go to school. Her single mom had to
work and could not afford a babysitter. Lesly stayed home to watch her younger
brother and sister. She enjoyed coming to the bible study because this was the
only time during the week that she got to spend time with children her own age.
It is really the only time during the week that she got to be “a little girl”.
Before
the kids went home, we gave them their monthly bag of groceries. Lesly was so
happy to get her supplies. This was a blessing she had never experienced.
This
little girl needed a special touch from heaven and the Lord in His mercy made
that happened. When I baked “her” cake earlier that day, I did not realize how
much of a blessing it would bring to this precious little girl.
During my 32 years on the mission field of Tijuana, I made hundreds of cakes or cupcakes for the kids in our TLCCM program. The kids were always happy to see me arrive with a dessert. But I must admit that Lesly’s and “her” birthday cake have a special place in my heart.
Sometimes
we do things that seems insignificant to us, but nothing is insignificant to
the Lord. He often turns our insignificant things into a blessing for someone
else, for someone that really needs a special blessing, a special touch from
heaven.
This situation showed
me that the Lord takes all of what we do for others, and He turns them into
special blessings for those who need it the most.
Nothing we do for
others is insignificant in His eyes.
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