Bag Lady who stinks

Free Market:Meet Barbara

I met Barbara about 6 months ago, God has amazing timing. I met her through an individual who works with group home folks, Barbara was with her, I assumed by her demeanor and her dress and odor, she was from a group home. Barbara is in her 70's most likely, she dresses in layers of clothing, always bulky, very quiet, no eye contact, and always wearing the same denim skirt. We ran into each other at a meeting again in Church Hill at St. Stephens church. I wondered...what is "she" doing here? I just listened and barely participated, all new ground for me, still Barbara puzzled me.
One month later I attended another event for a local one time "Free Market" at the United Methodist Church and there was "Barbara" again. Same skirt, unkempt, little odor, greasy hair, a bit hunched over, just not a character I would probably spend much time with...Again...Who is talking to me about her? Could this be God nudging me?
I overheard her speaking fluent Spanish...I was so intrigued. We began to talk, I asked her about her languages, she did not "appear" Latin in decent. She quietly stated she was a missionary in Mexico for 23 years, I was shocked. I asked her many questions, she only answered a few. She remembered me from the FreeMarket, and I invited her to help me sometime....she came.

We spent more time together, I shared with her my son's struggles in Spanish, she offered to help. I took her up on it, ask her if she needed anything from me, she asked if she could take a shower and wash four items at my home. Barbara lives on Pope ave in Ginter Park, one of the most exclusive streets of it's day. She has no water, no heat, she receives $300 plus dollars from SS. per month, she hoards everything she finds, she sneaks out on Wednesday nights just to rummage through the recycle bins for the newspapers. She was left a home she cannot afford. Her neighbors have tried many times to get rid of her. She doesn't blend, she doesn't keep her yard pristine, she's different, she's a child of God.
Barbara is brilliant, she loves to read, she can tell me every verse I ask her about in the Bible. We have become fast friends. My kids are amazed at her intelligence, they don't judge her like I did. This story is not really about Barbara, it's about what God has shown me...my perceptions, it could have been Jesus, she has loved me without a single question, I have so much to learn. When will I love like Christ? Do what Christ calls me to do everyday I'm alive?

She gave her whole life to Christ, she has a BS in English and a Master's in Spanish, she has since helped me tutor VCU students in Women of the Bible...she was really tutoring me.
Serving Christ, has helped me, fills my soul with real love, there is nothing like loving others just because God says so, knowing there is nothing in it for me, nothing but His love. He is teaching ME.
Becoming missions driven with my family, serving a long side my husband has been one of the biggest surprising blessings of all, the gifts are amazing.
Barbara is amazing. I look forward to her being a part of our family, she has blessed our home.