Right Where I Belong

by Krista McGee

  “And miss out on this?” Natalia pointed to Lexi and Brian, now dancing arm in arm down the road.

  “I think that’s it.” Pastor Brian pointed to a sloping dirt driveway that ended with a small concrete building.

  “Iglesia de Nueva Esperanza.” Pastor Brian’s Spanish was almost as bad as his son’s. Almost. “Yep. New Hope Church. This is us, guys.”

  Spencer tried to avoid the mud as he walked down the hill. In her cheap sneakers and old jeans, Natalia ran quickly, slipping and sliding all the way down. “This is fun.”

  Brian grabbed her arm at the bottom of the hill. “Whoa there. That’s concrete.” He pointed to the steps leading up to the building.

  “That would have hurt.” Natalia laughed, hoping to mask the pleasure of having Brian’s arm in hers.

  “Natalia.” Pastor Brian motioned for her to come to the door. “Will you help me? I believe the pastor is in here.”

  She walked in the church, wiping her feet on the mat to avoid carrying in souvenirs of her trip down the hill.

  The church was just a rectangular building with concrete walls, a concrete floor, and several windows—some with glass, some without. Wooden pews filled the center and a small wooden podium sat at the front. The back wall had a large cross hanging on it. That was the only decoration in the room.

  The pastor entered from a room in the back. He greeted Natalia and Pastor Brian and introduced himself as Pastor Guillermo.

  “He says many thanks for your help. The people of the church are so grateful. They will be coming out tomorrow to bring breakfast.”

  “It is our pleasure.” Pastor Brian waited for Natalia to translate. “We had planned on painting the inside and outside. Is there anything else we can do?”

  Natalia swallowed hard as the pastor explained that was more than enough, that he and his people were just happy to have a building. Another church had built it the year before. Having a building that was painted was exciting for his small congregation.

  “What color would you like?” Pastor Brian asked.

  “Any color is fine.” Pastor Guillermo shrugged. Natalia thought back to the debate at school over how to decorate the gym for the upcoming homecoming festivities. We could learn a lot from Pastor Guillermo.

  The pastor insisted that the group come inside. He had coffee, juice, and pastries in his office—a room the size of Natalia’s closet, with a desk, a bookcase, and two chairs. The group filed in one by one to get a drink and a snack.

  “This juice is amazing.” Lexi held up her glass.

  “What’s in it?” Natalia asked the pastor.

  “It’s orange-carrot juice.”

  “Who knew?” Lexi laughed. “It beats anything I’ve ever had before.”

  “Probably because it’s fresh squeezed.”

  “This is pretty good.” Spencer finished off his glass.

  “See, I knew you’d come around.” Lexi lifted her cup in a toast.

  “I just said I like the juice.”

  “It’s a start.” Lexi grabbed Spencer’s cup. “Let me get you some more.”

  Mrs. Younger walked over to the group. “I want to bring in flowers and pictures and curtains.”

  “I was just thinking that,” Addy said. “And some cushions for the pews.”

  Natalia thought of the pastor. “Pastor Guillermo is just grateful we are painting. He doesn’t expect anything more.”

  “I know.” Mrs. Younger sighed. “But I think of all we have—the flower arrangements in the foyer, carpet everywhere, chandeliers. And ours isn’t even a fancy church.”

  “Not in America.” Addy nodded.

  “I’m going to ask Brian if we have enough money to get some extras for them.” Mrs. Younger walked toward her husband.

  The rain stopped, so the group made their way back to the bus stop. Natalia bid the pastor good-bye and expressed the group’s enthusiastic desire to return the next day and get to work.

  “You’re being awfully quiet.” Brian leaned forward in the bus to whisper in Natalia’s ear. His breath sent tingles down her spine.

  “I’m tired.” Natalia closed her eyes. “Translating is hard work.”

  Brian began rubbing Natalia’s shoulders, and she relaxed into his hands, too exhausted to fight the pleasure she felt at his touch.

  Tomorrow she would remember that she wanted nothing to do with boys. No feelings interfering with her plans, whatever they were. Tomorrow.

  Chapter 41

  You walked five miles to get here?” Natalia asked the young Costa Rican woman serving her gallo pinto at breakfast the next day. The church was filled with men and women. The smell of seasoned black beans and rice was unusual for the morning, but she was humbled by the people giving up their time and money to serve them.

  “Sí, but that is nothing.” The woman’s deep brown eyes were shining. “We Ticos walk a lot.”

  “Ticos?”

  “Costa Ricans,” the woman answered. “Walking is good for you.”

  This woman didn’t walk for the health benefits. Judging from her worn clothes and shoes, Natalia guessed that the woman walked because even the public transportation was too expensive for her to take every day.

  “Thank you so much for breakfast.”

  “It is our pleasure.”

  Natalia finished her breakfast and found the supplies that were brought in a van with their driver. A luxury for most people here.

  The group had decided on a medium blue to paint the outside and beige for the inside. The folks at the church were thrilled with the choices. Natalia marveled at their excitement. Had she ever been excited about a coat of paint before?

  While she was painting, ideas for her Spanish lesson with Alayna and the girls ran through her mind. She would teach them a song to learn the days of the week and months of the year, and play Simon Says to teach them the parts of the body. She was so engrossed in her plans she didn’t hear Pastor Brian call an end to the morning’s work.

  “Don’t go crazy on us yet, Natalia.” Lexi pulled the paintbrush from her hand. “We need you to translate. I can only do so much, you know.”

  “I’m not going crazy.” Natalia hopped down from the chair she was standing on.

  “You were totally singing to yourself just then. And smiling.” Lexi made “crazy” circles with her finger.

  Natalia felt herself blush. “I was thinking about the little girls we had lunch with. I promised to give them a Spanish lesson.”

  “Whatever you say.” Lexi raised her eyebrows. “But tomorrow you might want to lay off the gallo pinto.”

  Spencer, on Natalia’s right, was quiet on the van ride back. She had noticed him talking with one of the men—using fairly impressive Spanish—back at the church. I did hear his mother is Cuban. I wonder why he never used his Spanish before. Natalia didn’t know what they talked about, but she guessed whatever it was had Spencer thinking.

  Brian turned around in the seat in front of Natalia. “You’ve got beige in your hair.”

  “At least I don’t have blue fingers.” Natalia pointed to the hand that lay over the seat back.

  “I think it’s Smurf-tastic.” Brian smiled. Having watched him in action today, looking out for the group, trying to speak to the Ticos, Natalia knew she was fighting a losing battle with her heart. “So what do you think?”

  “About what?”

  “Costa Rica? The mission trip?”

  “I love it.” Natalia felt Spencer turn away from her, looking out the window at . . . what?

  “I knew you would.” Brian’s smile was quite self-satisfied. “Just like I knew you’d like helping with the ESL class.”

  “At least you’re humble about it all.” Natalia rolled her eyes.

  “I know.” Brian’s grin widened. “I’m just about the most humble person I know.”

  “Will you guys stop it?” Spencer’s voice reverberated through the van, silencing everyone.

  “Sorry, man,” Brian said.

 
“A guy in there has three jobs, trying to support his family. He brings in seven hundred dollars a month. He comes home to sleep and that’s it. And what does he have to show for it? Nothing. And no hope of getting anything better.” Spencer punched the seat in front of him. “And he wasn’t asking for help. Wasn’t complaining. He was telling me how lucky he is. He has electricity and a tin roof. Some of his friends don’t even have that.”

  “Why are you so angry?” Natalia looked at Spencer, his face tense.

  He rubbed his eyes. “I don’t know. It just doesn’t seem fair. He’s thankful to be living in poverty.”

  “And we’re ungrateful for living in wealth,” Natalia finished softly. The rest of the van had returned to their conversations. Brian turned around in his seat as well.

  Spencer looked at Natalia, his brown eyes softening. “I was listening to that guy, and I just wanted to bolt, you know? I didn’t even know what to say. And he was so happy. He was thrilled to do what he’s doing, to live where he’s living.”

  “He is rich,” Natalia said.

  “What?”

  “He has the riches of God’s grace and peace in his life. That’s worth a whole lot more than anything the world can offer.”

  Spencer sighed. “It’s making me rethink stuff, you know?”

  Natalia prayed that Spencer would open his heart to God’s truth. She wanted to talk to him more, but the van stopped in front of a food court.

  “Lunchtime,” Pastor Brian called out. “We’ve got forty-five minutes, then we’re headed to the language school for VBS.”

  From the poor little church to a large food court that housed several familiar fast-food chains. Would she ever fully understand the complexities of this small country?

  Natalia stood by the registers and helped translate the group’s orders. To her relief both Lexi and Spencer helped.

  “Your Spanish is good, Spencer.”

  “Not really.” His reply was quiet, and Natalia could tell he was still thinking about his encounter at the church. “My mom tries to get me to speak it with her, but I hardly ever do. It’s just so much easier to speak English. That’s going to change when I get back.”

  “Gram and Gramps do the same with me,” Lexi piped in. “Maybe we can all practice together when we get back.”

  There was no time for a response. More of the group needed to order. They were all seated in record time. Lexi, Addy, and Natalia went to the upstairs seating area.

  “This is nice.” Addy looked around.

  “Wait until you see the mall.” Lexi dipped a fry in the salsa rosa—a mixture of ketchup and mayonnaise.

  “That looks disgusting.” Addy eyed the salsa rosa.

  “I swear, Addy, you’re the biggest food wimp on the planet.” Lexi held out a fry with the mixture dripping off the end. “Just try it.”

  “No way.” Addy held a hand up.

  “It’s this or cow tongue.”

  Addy looked at Lexi. Natalia knew her friend was trying to determine whether or not Lexi was serious about that threat.

  “Girl, don’t test me.” Lexi moved the fry closer to Addy’s face.

  Addy opened her mouth to take a small bite and Lexi shoved the whole thing in.

  Natalia handed Addy a napkin. “You got a little salsa on your chin.”

  Addy swallowed. “Thanks.”

  “And . . . ?” Lexi leaned forward.

  “It wasn’t the worst thing I’ve ever tried.”

  “Wait until you taste the cow tongue.” Lexi crumbled up the paper from her burger. “It’ll surprise you too.”

  Addy didn’t have time to respond because Pastor Brian was calling everyone back to the van. “Time for VBS!”

  Natalia couldn’t wait to begin. She had spent most of the morning thinking about that afternoon.

  “I need a nap,” Lexi said.

  The group arrived at the language school with just thirty minutes to spare. Natalia, Lexi, and Brian had been put in charge of game time. Natalia laid out the blindfolds for the first game while Brian pulled hula hoops from a storage closet in the back.

  “I’ve got the Smarties and straws,” Lexi called out.

  “Lay them on a paper plate, with an empty plate beside them,” Brian said.

  The kids would use the straws to carry each Smartie from one plate to the other. The threesome had fun the day before trying that game out.

  “I promised Toni I’d help her set up the crafts.” Lexi looked at her phone. “I’ll be back in ten minutes.”

  Lexi skipped out, and Natalia surveyed the room. “Looks good.”

  “It sure does.” Brian’s eyes were locked on Natalia, and her face warmed. “The room. The room looks good. The kids are going to love it.”

  Natalia wanted to laugh at Brian’s cover-up. I know he’s interested. I’m sure he knows how I feel. Why am I fighting this again? The latest picture of her father with fiancée number four popped into her mind. Right. That’s why.

  “All set?” Mrs. Younger walked in the gym.

  “Yep.” Brian stretched. “Thanks to me. I have worked my fingers to the bone, but we are ready.”

  Natalia popped Brian in the arm with a blindfold. “And what have I been doing?”

  “That’s exactly what I’ve been asking myself.”

  Mrs. Younger hugged Natalia. “You, my dear, have been doing triple duty—helping here, helping at the church, and translating. I don’t know what we’d do without you.”

  Natalia felt the compliment all the way to her feet. “I love it all. I just wish we could stay longer.”

  “Let’s see if you still feel that way at the end of the day.” Brian motioned to the screaming kids pouring into the gym.

  Two hours later, with ears ringing, Natalia swept up the last of the Smarties.

  “Those kids are loud.” She poured the contents of the dustpan into the trash. “But they’re cute.”

  “Loud, yes.” Lexi put the last of the hula hoops away. “Cute? Not so much. I don’t think I’m designed to be with kids for long periods of time.”

  Natalia looked at her phone. “I promised the girls I’d give them a Spanish lesson. Do you guys mind if I run over to the chapel? I should be able to catch them before they leave.”

  “Go right ahead.” Lexi gathered the blindfolds in a heap. “I’m going to lie down right here and take a nap.”

  Natalia ran up the steps to the chapel. She spotted Alayna through the window. The little girl smiled and waved. When Mr. Younger finished his Bible lesson, the kids filed out. Alayna ran to Natalia.

  “You came.” She hugged the older girl.

  “Of course I did.”

  “I invited some other friends. Is that all right?”

  Natalia looked at the eager faces. “Are you girls ready to learn some Spanish?”

  “Yes,” they all squealed.

  “Excellent.” Natalia felt her hands being grasped by two of the girls. They dragged her to a covered patio with plastic tables and chairs.

  Natalia was surprised at how much Spanish the girls knew. Some had only been in Costa Rica a few months, but they were soaking in the language. They moved past the simple songs Natalia taught them and begged for more. They loved performing, and when Natalia suggested they sing some of their songs on the last day of Vacation Bible School, the girls clapped with joy.

  “Yes, yes, yes!” Cassie twirled around.

  “Miss Natalia.” Alayna tapped Natalia’s shoulder excitedly. “Guess what? I asked my mom about Loja, and she said it’s the music capitol of Ecuador.”

  Natalia’s heart warmed at the excitement in Alayna’s voice. “How exciting. Maybe you can teach your new friends some of these songs.”

  Alayna’s eyes grew wide. “I could!”

  Natalia didn’t even feel her feet touch the ground as the group walked back to their house. She had never in her life enjoyed anything as much as she enjoyed being with the kids today. It was even better than helping with the ESL class, and she l
oved that.

  Mrs. Younger put a hand on Natalia’s shoulder. “I saw you with the little girls today. I think you’ve found your calling.”

  Natalia stopped on the sidewalk and stared at the pastor’s wife. “My calling?”

  “You are a teacher.” Mrs. Younger nodded. “And a very good one. God has given you a great gift.”

  A teacher? The thought was as terrifying as it was thrilling. She couldn’t imagine anything as rewarding as working with children every day. But there was no way her parents would ever agree to that. She was raised to be a successful businesswoman. That’s what her parents expected.

  “I think you’ve found your calling.” Mrs. Younger’s words replayed in her mind. Your calling.

  Could it be?

  Natalia remembered Brian’s words, “God gives you the desires of your heart.” She remembered the Ecuadorian woman she was able to help. Little Alayna’s face lit up when she learned songs she could share with her friends.

  God, this is my desire. To teach. But how will I ever be able to convince my parents of that?

  Chapter 42

  Brian watched Natalia and Spencer deep in conversation. Again. Ever since Spencer’s blowup on the van three days before, he had been monopolizing Natalia’s time.

  Is this just a trick? Brian’s gut clenched as Natalia leaned over, her hair brushing Spencer’s shoulder. He couldn’t get her with his looks and charm, so he tries to manipulate her by acting like he’s suddenly interested in spiritual things.

  Brian moaned. How big of a jerk was he? I fly thousands of miles to tell people about Jesus and get mad when a guy from my backyard wants to know him?

  “She’s just being a good friend.” Mom put a hand on Brian’s knee. How did she know what he was thinking?

  “No.” Brian stared out the window. “I wasn’t looking at them. I’m just zoning out. Tired.”

  “Brian.” Mom squeezed his knee. “You’re not fooling me. I know you’re jealous. It’s better to admit it and deal with it than live in denial.”

  “Not in the mood for one of your shrink sessions, Mom.” He turned away.

  His mother sighed. He hated hurting her. But this was his problem. And admitting—out loud—that he was in deep like with Natalia would do no good for anyone. If Spencer became a Christian, any hopes Brian had with the beautiful Spaniard were out the window. Spencer has a whole lot more in common with Natalia than I ever will.