Food for Madeline...

We had an unexpected visitor the same night Marc-shoe shiner- had come into the restaurant. Madeline, a cute girl of about 12, came walking up to our table and began to ask if we wanted to buy some bracelets and trinkets she made. She said she needed money for school funds and at BJ’s questioning told us what she needed and about how much. BJ and I were both in agreement that we were not going to just hand over money. We would rather take her to one of the stores and buy her some school supplies. We explained this to her and offered to meet her the next day around 4pm and take her to buy school supplies. I even told Bj to tell her to bring her mother if she wanted. She agreed but still asked for 5Q to take a bus back home. We agreed and she left with a smile. We talked it over as she left and asked each other if we really thought she would come tomorrow. Not many people would just go and buy a child something without ulterior motives. We then concluded that we would be there waiting for her and hope she would show.
About 10 after 4 I saw a girl walk up to a park bench about 15 feet away from us with an older lady and asked BJ if that were her. He wasn’t sure and just hoped that she would look his way so he could tell. She did, he waived and soon she began to tell us that she didn’t need school supplies anymore but food. BJ asked her why she lied and she told us she didn’t lie but that she had been provided the money last night and now just needed food to eat. BJ turned and asked me what I thought. My first thought was that it took guts to come into Antigua (she lives in a suburb around Antigua) and meet with us and tell us this. It cost money to ride into town on top of that. I told BJ my thoughts and he turned and asked the girl if she were lying now and she said no. We weren’t about to give her money but suggested that we take her to the grocery store and buy her some basic foods. As we started to walk we were joined by her shy mother whose named was Magdalena. It was a little awkward to say the least but BJ held the conversation as best he could and found out that Madeline has 1 other sister. There was no mention of a father or a ring on the mother’s hand.
Rice, beans, 3 boxes of cereal, pancake mix, powdered milk, sugar and 1 dozen eggs totaled up to $25US dollars. Magdalena explained that all of this would last them probably 22 days. Madeline was such a precocious child and kept pleading with her eyes and asking if she could get milk, if she could get pancakes, and all the while her mother kept telling her it was too much and to stop asking. BJ would determine what to get and what not to get but never really had to say no because none of the stuff seemed to be anything other than the necessities. BJ shared the story of Jesus in James 2 and quoted the words of Jesus when he said “You have not because you ask not” and told her that he would have no idea what she would need and therefore she must ask for it. It was quite obvious Madeline was the money maker in the family. I don’t doubt she has been used for her cuteness before but I pray it only goes as far as selling goods (not her body) and asking for money. I had begun praying for discernment on BJ’s part (mainly due to the fact that I could not speak the language nor understand as much as he) when we found out she didn’t need school supplies. I do hate to see children used for things even if it is food but I would rather have her ask someone like BJ and myself than to ask someone else who might want something more and vile in return. My one hope as we said goodbye was that they would realize what had been given to them and when they see someone in need like they were that they would help.