Honestly, life here is easier than where we lived before. We adapted and came to love where we were, but it took its toll in many ways. There were challenges about it that we just don’t have to deal with now. For example, it is more clean here. We were sick a lot the last two years and you can’t help to connect it to the toxic chemicals that were seeping through the wall of our bedroom, the mounds of rubbish, and the black smelly water filling the gutters. Although some say the beaches here are not that clean, we will never forget the beach we visited in our last city that had more trash than sand! There are blessings here we could quickly begin to take for granted like cleaner air and sand, fresher air, and water that we can drink out of a tap. It is surprising and kind of nice that we can often find bagels, Dr. Pepper, Krusteaz pancake mix and an occasional Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup! Although we really miss the people and the language there so much, people here are used to us and we don’t get laughed at, joked about (that we can tell) or stared at. Life here can feel like heaven in some ways.
We also aren’t confronted daily by the poverty that we experienced where we used to live. There are many wealthy people here and we live in an area where most people are doing just fine. We don’t live on the swankiest part of the island, but we live in an area where things are nicer. Here it is harder to put your finger on people who are struggling. Where we were, all you had to do was stop at a stoplight. Opportunities to help people financially were always at your fingertips.
This weekend I caught one though. We went to our local area “Walmart” (but SO not Walmart) as we usually do on the weekends to get stocked up for the week ahead. There is no time to make it to a store during the week. We got in line and were waiting (patiently?) for our turn. As our turn started, two young girls got into line behind us. They were very young—probably one was around 6 and one was probably 10. First, it was odd that they were shopping all by themselves. Then small things started catching my eye—grubby cheeks and clothes, cheap rubber flip flops, their struggle to manage the items they needed by themselves, the single bill that was tightly gripped in the older girl’s fist. Wide curious eyes watched us, and that in itself was uncommon. As I finished checking out, I heard Him again–that Holy Spirit nudging, whispering, urging me to buy their things for them. My hubby moved off with our cart and I asked him to wait. “Saya mau membayar untuk mereka” (I want to pay for theirs), I told the clerk. She nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. It wasn’t a smile of scorn or the look that said I was being taken advantage of–but rather just a smile at seeing something nice. I told the older girl, “Saya membayar..” (I am paying) with a smile and then I gave them the receipt and she thanked me.
They disappeared —-so quickly—I couldn’t even follow them with my eyes. It was almost like they were never there, which also felt so odd. My hubby asked, “What made you do that? I’m glad you did, but why?” I felt choked up a bit and said, “I just had to…”
I was reminded again of times I spied poverty or a need and didn’t respond and was also reminded of other victories when I did listen to the urging of the Spirit. I’ve had successes and failures–I’ve done good things and also neglected to. When it happens though and I obey, I am always grateful. I feel the more blessed–and pray for those two sweet faces…that God is blessing them some way too. I want to keep my eyes open to see and my heart open to feel. May I always be ready….
Galatians 6:9, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
sharonbernhardt 