by John Dykes
I HAD NEVER DOUBTED my commitment as a missionary until the day, in a dirty little market in Mexico City, I came face to face with a test. I had mostly found myself ministering to teenagers and older folks, but on that fateful day, I was standing before a small group of dirty-faced kids who put me to the test!
A little urchin girl maybe 4 or 5 years old, who was probably cute under the layer of grime, was looking up at me, and I heard her ask me for a kiss, “un beso.” What was this I was hearing? A kiss? You have to be kidding! There was not a clean spot on that little face looking up at me! I was tired, entirely too busy, and now this - a dirty little girl wants a kiss. “No way!” was my immediate response, but then a battle started to rage within. What would people think? What about germs? But, what about letting Jesus be seen through me with a quick hug and peck on the cheek? The artist’s rendition of Jesus with all the children gathered around him and on his lap was not the situation I was facing.
I thought “This is crazy. If I am who I think I am, a representative of Christ, what difference does a little dirt make if this little street girl needs to know someone cares?” I bent over to administer the hug and a kiss when I heard her speak again from a much closer vantage point. At that time, I heard her clearly say, “Un peso” or “a coin.” “Beso” or “peso”... not much difference in size but all the difference in the world when speaking of commitment. I gladly reached into my pocket and gave coins to all the children, very satisfied that I had made them happy, and I was very pleased that I had passed the test. Commitment is real only when it has been put to the test!

Serving the Spanish-speaking regions
| Name | Serving |
|---|---|
| John & Janice Dykes, director | at the home office |
| Philip & Collette Burch | on extended furlough |
| Eric & Hannah Kuhns | Honduras |
| Tamara Mahoney | at the home office |
| Michael & Crystal Mason | Mexico |
| Rachel Ryder | on extended furlough |
| Bryan & Linda Shields | at the home office |

Africa | Asia | Caribbean | Eastern Europe / Russia | Spanish | U.S. Ministries
