God's Miracle - Ana Elcy

This was the photo on the Compassion International website. Four year old Ana Elcy Yanira Toma Toma - a long name for such a little girl. I had found her in a search of the Compassion site for a child to sponsor from Guatemala; specifically a child who lived in the Guatemalan Highlands. I wanted to be able to connect with her on my visits to the region. I fell in love with this darling little girl who lived in the small community of Los Angeles, which is just outside of Cotzal.  Perfect.  We immediately committed to sponsor her in 2008.

Several factors led me to desire to sponsor a child through Compassion, one of which fits the WIND acronym – When It Needs Doing. Additionally, I have a passion for better understanding the ministries involved in the Ixil. What better way to understand an organization like Compassion than to participate in it.

My first visit with Ana Elsy started at her school. I met her mother, sister, and teachers. Then they led us to her home (a typical dirt-floored house) located on the property of her grandfather. We played as I tried to get her to relax and smile a little. I presented her and her family with some small gifts which we had brought with us. As we were leaving, I felt an immediate connection with this shy little girl.

The next day I was working in the village of Cajixay when my friend Nicolas (whom I wrote about in the previous blog entry) sought me out with his usual warm greeting. The first thing he said was, “Ricardo, estaban en mi casa ayer” (you were at my house yesterday). My silent confusion made him continue – “You visited my granddaughter Elcy!” As I put the pieces together, both of our eyes filled with tears. God is so amazing. My “random” selection of a little girl from the Compassion website had connected me with Nicolas in a very personal way.

I continue to visit Ana Elcy twice a year. Now she runs to greet me. She blesses me with big hugs and a contagious smile. I still stand amazed at God’s Miracles. God is so good!