a different kind of heartache

Meet Mariana, Beverly and Angie ("ahn gee"):

I met these girls a few weeks ago when we were out on our Thursday Streetkid Outreach. Angie (on the right) and I were completely smitten with each other from the minute we met. She is so beautiful and her dark eyes looked all the way through me. It's a look I won't forget (met a girl last year at the dump with a similar look who still haunts me). She was wearing a coin purse belted around her waist.

When I asked about it, I found out that Angie's mother is dead and her father has diabetes - which is untreated because he has no money for meds - because he can't/won't work. All of Angie's siblings have left home so she is now earning money for her dad. On the first day I met her, she and her friends were caroling, then begging for money (customary here during holidays).

I didn't have a hard time getting her to follow me across the street to the location our car was parked and where we were handing out hot food (rice porridge with chix) and bags of drinking water. Her friends were a little skeptical at first, but came over after a larger group of kids seemed to sense that it was ok. I talked with these 3 girls and we sang a few carols and I told them to stick together, be safe and I would be back next week. Angie softly, jokingly said something about "money money" but I ignored her and gave her a hug and say "god bless you" as we all left. She smiled and waved good bye...

We were back last night to hand out christmas bags at the same location. Thanks to a church's generous donation, we filled 50 sport bags with items like soap, shampoo, toothbrush and handed them out in the same locations we go to on Thursday nights.

Angie came running up to me - with Marianna and Beverly in tow. Angie was without her coin purse and Beverly was without shoes. There was something different this time. I said "I told you I would be back" and made small talk but they flitted off. When they came back a few minutes later, I told them we had gifts and their eyes lit up. All three followed me back to the van this time without hesitation. As soon as they got their bags, they rummaged through them quickly to see what was inside. They posed for pictures without hesitation. But this time, when it was over, Angie said "money, money" with a charming smile and little giggle. I said, "no money - we give you gifts - necessary items". She repeated "money, money" and I shook my head. As they started to walk away, I went back to them, gave them a hug and said "stick together, stay safe and remember god loves you".

Angie lives every day thinking mostly about "money" and has already learned at the age of 10 what works to get the most amount of money. When she saw me, she wasn't thinking about my smile or kind words; rather a white person - who was good for "money"...