“I’m gunna die,” was the only phrase running through my mind.
With extreme measures of heat, lack of water, blaring African music, stopping every ten minutes with lights flashing, and what seemed like a million people on the bus, I tried my best not to scream.
Reality is, travel days are not always easy. It’s definitely a task, and this one by far was the worst.
After a few hours of traveling on the bus, it hit me that I was going to be on this bus for over 17+ hours…..
That’s when I started to panic.
Internally my heart was racing, I was freaking out and just wishing I could escape home or jump out of the window.
I couldn’t sleep, I could barely breath, and no one else from my team was awake. I tried reading and reflecting on what the Lord had done this past month in Malawi, but honestly nothing helped.
Will we EVER make it to Zimbabwe? I thought.
It wasn’t until I looked over to my right and saw a man sitting on the edge of his seat.
There were three people sitting in his seat already, and there he was, gripping on to the chair in front of him. He was hanging on for dear life with bloodshot eyes from lack of sleep and intense concentration just to stay in the seat.
Wow
There I was panicking about sitting for what seemed like a never ending trip,
when all along this man is literally sitting on the edge of an arm rest for 17+ hours and has not complained.
Then he just turned, looked at me, and smiled.
I don’t know his name but, he taught me more than he probably ever will know that travel day.
See the unseen.
Choose joy in all circumstances.
A smile is universal.
Here I was so caught up in my own struggles when in reality someone had it far worse than I even did.
Regardless, we smiled the same language and his smile gave me peace to not panic and know that God was ultimately in control and He was with us in the traveling experience.
After 5 hours of getting through the Mozambique border, and 3 hours of getting through the Zimbabwe border. I realized that even though we had another 6 hours to get into Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, God is always communicating to us.
After 48+ hours we made it. Now, my team and I are in Zimbabwe in a renovated hotel that is a safe home for girls that have either been human trafficked or abused. I look back to that travel day experience and thank God for it.
Although it was trying and difficult we made it and I learned a lot from that man sitting on the edge of his seat….
Have you ever panicked when things in life don’t go how you planned?
Or are you like the man sitting on the edge of his seat?
Despite his circumstances, he chose to smile….will you?
