“All right, here we are!” said Risa. "Who's hungry?"
     “Me!” the kids said in unison.
     They went in, and Pearl thought, I'm so glad there are no drugs in these ice cream and burgers!
     The place was crowded, and they stood behind the line, looking at the menu.
     Hmmm. Do I want a banana split or a sundae after my burger and fries? Pearl thought. Or a milkshake after a salad? No, I eat salads a lot. "What are you getting, Robin?"
     "Number 6--the jalapeno burger!"
     "Xi, what about you?"
     Xi still had her ear buds in. "A double meat cheeseburger, I think," she said. “Smells good!”
     Pearl's stomach rumbled. Uncle Burt's pancakes are gone! Maybe we can have nuggets and burgers today, before we get dessert!
     She heard crying from a young Latino boy ahead of them. His mother was trying to comfort him, from what Pearl could tell. She stepped out to see around the crowd.
     The mother looks sad, Pearl thought. We have so much. Help her, LORD!          The mother hugged the little boy to her side, while she held her wallet, and spoke in Spanish to the cashier.
     “I’m sorry, ma’am, but that’s the cheapest thing on the menu,” they heard in English.
     “Just a moment,” Risa said. She walked up to the young mother and smiled. She said a few words in Spanish, and spoke to the boy too. He suddenly smiled and jumped up and down. His mother looked a little unsure, but Risa pointed to Burt and her kids and Pearl and her family and said a little more. She reached out and hugged the lady and little boy.
     Helado….ayudar…Hey, I understand ‘ice cream’ and ‘to help’ thought Pearl. This is cool! “Hey Robin, is your mom offering to buy them a meal?” Pearl whispered.
     “Yeah! Isn’t it great?” said Robin. “The little boy's happy!”
     Risa smiled at the cashier. “We’ll be back, okay?” She motioned for the lady and her son to come to the back of the line. “You guys go ahead,” she said to the young couple that had been waiting behind them.
     Pearl's mother stood in line while Risa brought the new friends over. “This is Maria and her son, Xavier Juan Ricardo. God sent us here at the right place, right time, to bless them!”
     “Hi!” said Robert to him. Xavier, tears still on his face, smiled.
     The woman nodded, and then Risa pointed to each of her group and said their name. She got to Pearl last.
     “Hey! God bless you!” said Pearl. The woman looked at Risa for interpretation.
     “Dios le bendiga!” said Risa to the lady.
     “Igualamente, Dios le bendiga!” replied Maria to Pearl. She smiled and seemed more relaxed.
     “Pearl, you kids go get that big booth,” Burt said, pointing, “and scoot around, so we can sit with our new friends. Write down what you want and bring me the list. Then we’ll be over in in a little bit.” He smiled at them all. "My treat today!"
     Risa translated, and Maria and her son smiled. Maria said, "Muchas gracias, Senor!"
     They all thanked him. Robert hugged his knees. “You’re awesome, Unc!”
     Burt laughed. “No, Bub, God is awesome! And He loves us all very much!” He motioned for the other kids to sit down. “Mr. Robert will help me and Charlotte, and he can talk to Ms. Maria’s son, okay?” He winked at Pearl.
     Thank You, LORD, for such a great uncle! Pearl thought.
     They slid into the semi-circle table. "Wow, that's so great of you guys to help them!" whispered Xi to Pearl.
     Oooh, Jesus, thanks for this Divine Appointment! Pearl thought. You knew before You began the world that we’d meet Ms. Maria and her son here, so we could buy them food and help them see Your goodness!
     Xi had a thoughtful expression, thought Pearl. She looks kind of happy. She gave God a high-five in the air. You are always doing many things at once!

Tonja and her husband live to exalt God. They lift Him up in books (P.O.W.E.R. Girl!; LEGACY; Visions of the King; Your Holy Health; more); presentations; service in church, community, and the world; and via the "River Rain Creative" (309 videos) and "POWERLight Learning" You Tube channels.