We are directed into the “Recovery Room,” which has four beds and four mosquito nets. Two beds are in use. One has a baby and what looks like the baby’s mother and aunt. Another has a woman that appears to be paralyzed. At one point, they come in and change her diaper. Again, no privacy. I sit in a chair while my teammate gets medicine through an IV drip. This should be quick, right? When the drip is done, the nurse puts another one on the line. Thoughts: I wonder what the rest of the team is doing.
Rita eventually comes up to me and says that after this drip is done there is another one and we should get food. My teammate isn’t hungry, so while she lies there, Rita and I go to get food. We cross the street and sit under an outside pavilion. My choices are rice and chicken; rice and fish; or rice and beef. Rice and chicken it is. We are served our food, and I pray over it because I’m pretty sure this isn’t a good idea for me to eat. Thoughts: God, please don’t let this make me sick.
After eating, we walk down the road because I need a SIM card for my phone. We walk up to a small table with an umbrella and two men. This is the official place to get SIM cards. Sketchy…a little. We sit down and work through getting what I need. While the guy activates it, the sun is burning my skin and there is a lot of conversation…I understand none of it. Finally, he’s done and I pay, but then we continue to sit there. Turns out the conversation isn’t over. Thoughts: We should probably get back to the hospital.
After a while we stand up, but as I walk away, the guy calls me back. He tells me, “My friend here loves you and wants to marry you.” Thoughts: I wonder what the bride price would be?
We get back to the hospital and check on my teammate who is still on a drip. When it is done, we get the nurse so we can leave. Only, she’s not really done. They tell us that there is another drip and she needs to come back at 10:00 tonight. Thoughts: Seriously? She has to come back?
As you’re reading this, you’re probably thinking, “That was a pretty crazy day.” But the Race has this way of making what once seemed really odd, seem really normal. It was a long day. It was a tiring day. But it wasn’t that odd of a day.
I’ve learned that I don’t always get time for me first thing in the morning and that I often have to wait. I’ve learned to give up personal space and to brace myself when traveling the roads. I’ve learned that you can always fit more people in a vehicle than seems possible and that people will look at me differently because of my skin. I’ve learned that what is unacceptable in America is often acceptable in other countries.
And I’ve learned that God is with me through everything and that total dependence on Him should be normal. No matter what my situation or inconvenience, I’m still His daughter, and I’m still called to walk in His presence…that should be my normal.
