Ministry In The Mundane

Today we brought some visa paperwork to a translator.  The Spanish consulate requires all of our documents to be translated into Spanish prior to applying for a residence visa. We had never met this woman, only spoke to her briefly on the telephone a couple of times. In our minds, this was just an item to check off the list in our preparations to head to Spain at the end of the summer.

The translator, Maggie, welcomed us into her home and warmly invited us to “sit, sit, sit”.  After going over the mundane details involving our paperwork, the conversation shifted to a more personal tone. Maggie shared with us that she is waiting for a kidney transplant and has been on dialysis 4 days a week for two years. She gently explained to our kids what dialysis is like. “Does it hurt?” our daughter asked. Maggie was kind, gentle and patient as she responded. Yes, by the way, it hurts very much. But she is thankful for the process that is keeping her alive.

She tells us about her work as a translator. She helps many people with immigration and visas. She also has connections with various police precincts and courts. Maggie has walked alongside families through arrests, deportations and various proceedings that would be daunting for anyone but absolutely overwhelming for people who don’t understand the language or the judicial process. I told her that it is really more of a ministry, then, what she does. This made Maggie smile. Her smile warmed my heart.

She also told us about her mom who still lives in Chile, where Maggie moved from 24 years ago. Her mom has been denied visa status several times to come to the US for a visit. Maggie could really use a visit from her mom. Kind of put our efforts to obtain visa status in perspective…

She told us about her three children, all college students.  Her oldest, a son, is an Eagle Scout. “Such a good boy!” Maggie is a very proud mama. She showed us photographs; beautiful kids. She has every right to be proud!

Maggies eyes filled with tears when she told us about her dog, Kaiser who passed away in March after being part of the family for 14 years. There was a round, green rug in front of a wood stove in the living room. “That was his favorite resting place.”

She told us that in the kitchen, still on the floor sits a water dish. Maggie doesn’t have the heart to take it up. She puts her eyes down and meekly tells us that on the morning they brought him to the vet for the last time he tracked mud onto the kitchen floor and she mopped up all but one paw print. She has a piece of clear tape placed over the print! She says: “I know he was just a dog…” Such a tender heart!

Eric asked if we could pray with her. We prayed for her health, her dialysis, her mother’s visa process, her children and family, our own visa process. Maggie promised to pray over each page as she worked to do the translation!  It was a sweet, sweet time approaching the Throne with our new friend. What a precious, holy few moments in the midst of taking care of some business! We had been getting a bit frustrated and discouraged with the process of obtaining the proper visa for our time in Spain. This encounter served as a reminder that we are never to get so bound by the details that we miss the divine. It is out there…everywhere. We were created for community. True, honest, connection. The simple can become sacred. This is the Kingdom…on earth as it is in heaven.  God, don’t let us ever lose sight of that…ever.