A Perfect Rose

It's Wednesday, 9pm. I just got home from practice with the Mirador team. My feet hurt from the half hour walk and my nose is red and running from the cold. Why is the first thing I'm doing updating my blog? Because I want to share about a wonderful blessing that I received tonight.

Chuy, who's my co-coach, couldn't come tonight because he has exams this week. Running practice "sola" is always a challenge. The first time I was by myself I almost gave up halfway through. It's hard to get the kids to listen. Even harder for a female foreigner who isn't an expert at futbol. Tonight because it was so cold I knew that only a few of the chicos would show up. I didn't mind it, in fact it's easier to control them when it's a smaller group. Also, I had a plan.

I told them that we would only practice for about half an hour, but that we would practice "duro" (hard). At the end of practice those who were behaving well would get a prize. A prize that I kept secret until the end. My plan worked, it was a great practice! They were all training hard, and I didn't have to repeat myself too much. I have a newly established "three strikes you're out" policy and unfortunately one kid did get out, but there were 5 others that reaped the reward.

Before I told them what they had won (I know you're dying to know too, patience) I gave a little message. Each practice I share a bit about the bible in some way, and then we pray. For the month of February we're learning about respect. Last week we discussed self-respect, and this week the topic is respecting authority (a lesson they desperately need to learn). I shared with them 1 Peter 2:16-17. As I was talking, an old man walked up and offered me a beautiful, perfect rose. I was really confused at first, and didn't take it right away because it reminded me of how some gypsy women in Spain would trap tourists into paying to get their fortune read. Anyways, the man told me, "My wife and I wanted to give this to you because we heard you teaching these boys about God".

Isn't that awesome!?! I was so touched. After saying 'gracias' and finishing my lesson, I announced that I would be buying all of the chicos tacos (my new favorite food!). They were very pleasantly surprised, they had thought it would be something small like a piece of candy. Walking down the street and waiting for our orders gave us a chance to just hang out and have fun. Even though they give me grief sometimes, those chicos are really growing on me.

I was smiling most of the way home, thinking about how my life is full of wonderful blessings. When I looked at the rose I got the funny idea that God was asking me to be his valentine. Inviting me to continue working with him, for him. Have more amazing adventures.

The answer, of course, is yes.