We walked quickly through the busy streets of Kuala Lumpur past buildings I knew and then past buildings I didn’t. The man who looks like my grandfather from Canteen room walked at a brisk pace that left us in a single file scurry through the crowds and traffic. He took us down a sketchy looking alley littered with garbage, the alley narrowed and ended in a tented area. Walking in we were surrounded by the rainbow of humanity, various browns, tans and beiges, everyone seated on stools chatting except for the lone guitarist on the small stage. We were met by a volunteer who welcomed us and explained the program. They set up, mingled, had a short worship service, served food, mingled and provided medical care.
I tried to mingle but the language barrier was too much barrier for me, Mary and Dan were more successful. Feeling useless I went to the food prep area to see if I could help there. I poured drinks and then was told to get in line. The volunteers formed a line down the length of the tent and delicious plates of chicken curry were passed down our human conveyor belt. Our guest were served in their seats and then it happened… As the last of the plates went down the line there was a moment of silence, when everyone who had been chatting and waiting was quieted by the food in their mouths.
I guess its kinda strange but that makes me happy, the humanness of it. Eating is something we all do, something most people enjoy, it’s a universal, an imparitive. That moment of silence ties people together into something so much bigger than they can understand. The line broke as a few plates were returned because we’d made more than enough. I walked through the tent handing out drinks and then a few more passes through collecting cups and plates and I loved it. Some of our guest laughed at me thanking them for their used cups and plates, I can only imagine why but I would like to think its because they are so unused to being served that having an obviously well fed and spoiled girl serving them was funny. I like to think they laughed at my expense because I want them to have that too.
As the crowds died down I got the opportunity to speak to some people. I got asked if I was Tahitian and got to answer some questions about America. The doctor saw 27 patients in the 15 minutes immediately following lunch, maybe 28 with Jeremiah. I made him get in line so the doctor could tell us what medicine he needed to buy for his nails from the pharmacy, the doctor said he was fine. It was a good day!
