One day we brought food to a place
where there had been some flooding recently. The way a feeding works
is; one group actually dishes up food, and other groups walk around
to let people know there is a feeding going on. Often people
start conversations with the locals as they go, and the group I was
with was no exception.
Now some days (those glorious far
and between occasions) I feel like I connect to everyone I see- I
want to be friends with everyone, and everyone seems friendly to me-
but.. most of the time it is really a stretch to say those first few
words to get the conversational ball rolling (even to keep it
rolling).
This day I decided to make the effort,
you know, sorta practice. So I began to try to talk with a
women who was standing in her doorway. I started the conversation by
attempting to complement her on some plants growing in her window. I
finally figured out that they were for eating in some way, but not
before she invited me into her house. I let my group know what was
happening and stepped in- well.. I sorta climbed, because this
particular house was on stilts (flooding is common in that area).
The
inside of the house was clean and spare, a bamboo slat bed and a
chair were the only furniture (besides the back counter/shelf)- but, as the house was maybe 6×10, it did not feel empty. We sat down and
the woman talked to me about her children, how she gets food, and
some other things. The difficult thing was that she mostly spoke
Taglish- that is to say; Tagalog with some English spattered in.
Nonetheless I think we both enjoyed the time. Toward the end she told
me something which I at first didn’t get… and then I did. She told
me she was borne again I then said I am too she seemed
happily surprised. Of all the people to accidentally start a
conversation with!
Soon afterward my group and I had to
go, so I said goodbye.
However-
the adventure had not finished. Back at
the feeding site some other people wanted to see the flood, so we
returned. My friend, the woman I had spoken to earlier came out and
wanted to know if we wanted to go on one of the rafts that the locals
where using to get about on
the flood water. She was so sweet, I
didnt know how to say no. Soon me and two others had boarded one
of the styrofoam rafts.
Needless to say- we were too heavy
and were stuck grounded. There would have to be more rafts, and we
would have to board them from deeper water. (the deepest was only a
foot and a half or so)
This is when the blue boots
appeared.
Realizing that I would have to
walk in not the cleanest of water- and maybe remembering the
fears I had earlier expressed about falling in, my friend presented
me with her own little blue rain-boots, offering to keep my sandals
at her house.
So I slipped into the little blue
boots.
They were just the right size.
I knelt onto a raft and a man stepped
on behind. He used a pole to push us through the water. From this
guide I learned that water lilies were growing in the flood water,
and that there were fish, which could be caught. (their blood was on
my raft)
Three other racers were
riding on rafts as well, and we made sort of a procession. We
waved at the people in the houses we passed and just…. kind-of
delighted in the people around us and were delighted in. That sounds
pretentious- but- it seems like joy is sometimes infectious.
((the next time we went to that
area I didn‘t see the woman who lent me
the boots, but I did see a girl who pulled one of us and I
remembered her name, Desiree, and she definitely
remembered me- she asked if I would be back- and I had to reply I would not- I am sorry. That
little interaction was probably my saddest
moment in the PI))
When the water got too shallow, we
disembarked. Not wanting to make our hosts take us back, we decided
to walk around. That may not have been a good idea. Because it
took much longer than we expected. All the time around I was
thinking, My bare feet are in this strange womans
boots, I want to get then off (and
simultaneously),
it was such a sweet gift to allow me to wear these lovely boots, I
hope she isn’t anxious about me
disappearing in them for so long- who knows what they cost her.
Eventually we met up with the
pastor who we had come with, and then we realized that we were late-
that everyone was waiting on us, – and I still had to
exchange my shoes! So Kat and I began to run toward s the womans’ house- not an easy- or graceful thing to do in rubber boots!
We rounded the last corner and trotted
up to my friends house- she didn’t look a bit concerned about the
temporary disappearance of her blue boots. I exchanged them for my
sandals, who looked perfectly at home on her front later-stairs, and
bid her a second thankful and heartfelt goodbye.
Here in the so what. One of the
things I have been learning is that I often think things are going to
be a lot more scary than they turn out to be; going to another
country, talking to a stranger. But- while I maintain that some of my
fears are legitimate, and need to be considered when I do something
in spite of them it can turn into something wonderful, memorable.
It can be the
start of the kind of story I want to be in.
After all, (another theme
this month) you have to taken the initiative concerning your
experience on The Race, concerning your walk with God. Yo are not
going to be forced to grow. You have to choose it.
photos courtesy of Kat : D
