So I had my first car wreck. Wreck might be a bit of an overstatement though. I’m not sure there were enough broken bones for it to be an all out wreck. Bit of a joke there…chill Mom. No broken bones. I just got the front end of the van clipped by a taxi driver.
Let me explain the van. My work vehicle looks like it is about 6,000 years old. It has two rows of bench seats in the back. The last two have been removed and lost. It has dents and scratches and bits of blue paint left on it. It is nicknamed the Silver Bullet. It must be 20 feet long and James and I often claim it should be driven off a steep cliff.
I fixed the radio. I still don’t get stations. There are actually only two here, but the antenna has been broken off. I can however listen to my iPod with a tape adapter. It’s been a good car. Been hit a few times and it’s pretty ugly but I’m glad I have something.
So Saturday we are on the way to lunch. I’m driving through a busy section of the city (near Bone Hill for those who have been here). I notice a taxi driver to the right isn’t paying much attention. I think, “He might hit me.” He did. Never even looked. Put a huge dent in his front door, but only a small scratch on the Bullet. We both decided to let it go and drove on. But we stayed close. He kept looking out his window checking the damage to his car (he had no concern for mine). This didn’t help his driving might I add.
Eventually he looked to me and pointed at the door implying, “Look what you did to my car.” I pointed for him to pull over and quickly moved from the far left lane to the shoulder. He followed.
Now understand that in this culture if a disagreement happens the one that yells the loudest is most often right. He knows it, the other person knows it, and the onlookers know it. I chewed that driver for a few minutes. He wanted me to do something about his car. I told him I was sorry but he hit me. Therefore he should pay me (knew this would never happen).
One of his riders spoke English. She spoke up and I asked her in English, “Didn’t he hit me?” She agreed but didn’t respond when I said, “So he should have to pay me right?” The driver wanted money from me. If I had hit him, everyone would have demanded it. Since he hit me, I’m supposed to move on and let it happen. I did, but not without letting them know I could fight with them in their language and I didn’t like being treated this way.
I told the man we were finished and go away. He kept talking and I walked away. We went from there to have some pretty good burgers at a relatively new place called The Texas BBQ. Not quite the same, but pretty good eats.
Tomorrow is a big day. I have to go to a government office for some papers. We are scared it might go poorly. I’ve been told a fine is likely and arrest or being kicked out of the country isn’t out of the question. Remember me in the morning.
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Thursday, February 16, 2006
Returning...
I’m not sure what happened that I lost interest in writing. But it happened. I’m hoping to regain interest. I’m hoping to be able to watch with an eye that desires to retell the story. So much has gone on lately. But more and more the time here becomes less amazing and more normal. For your sake and mine I need to return to writing. I need to share stories. I need to watch life go by as I live it. I need to love every minute and seek to retell the story. I’m trying.
The prayer day was such a blessing. I have sent out some more emails to those of you who emailed about joining us. I want to hear your stories of the day. We want to share those with others you don’t know so that you can see the union that took place on that day. We started at my house. We spent several hours here before stepping out into the city and praying for people in the places we were praying for: an Orthodox church, mosques, the ERC, a mountain that overlooks the city. The day was moving. I’m not good at praying for extended periods like that. I’m really not a good at praying in any fashion. But that day was inspiring. It gave me a burning desire to spend more days doing nothing more than approaching the throne on behalf of the 5 million or so that live here.
The house has changed a lot lately. In the last month I have gone from living alone, to living with six, to four, to six again. Two more will join us Friday, but we’ll also lose two on that day. It is stretching. Life looks so much different when the house is full of people. It demands I be more flexible. It demands I move past my own wants and desires. It is a great teacher.
One of my current roommates has stolen my heart. Her name is Olivia. That is actually her new name. She has only had it for about three days now. Before that her name was Ababa – flower. (A day or two before meeting her I had thought about naming a kid that. I think I like the name Samantha Ababa. But I would want to call her Sam. So maybe I should name another kid Ababa and call her Abby.) Olivia is about 2 ½. Her new daddy came to pick her up. He needed a place to stay and ended up with us. She is absolutely beautiful. Everyday I tell him, and her, that it is completely okay for him to leave her with me. He already has five kids does he really need another? She is beautiful. One day I will have a couple. I want to have some kids and adopt some kids. I want to give a home to those who don’t have that privilege.
Great progress being made on the maps, although we are at a bit of a standstill. It is important to have a vehicle while I map. I have to get into some pretty shady spots. Taxis would never go on these roads, and I’m to fat and old to walk the all. Continue to ask for progress.
No water since yesterday. It is starting to stink in this house. I’m hoping it will return today.
I don’t have a visa to be here at the moment. The stolen one has proven quite difficult to replace. Pray with me as we seek to resolve this issue.
I’ll try to get some stories out soon.
The prayer day was such a blessing. I have sent out some more emails to those of you who emailed about joining us. I want to hear your stories of the day. We want to share those with others you don’t know so that you can see the union that took place on that day. We started at my house. We spent several hours here before stepping out into the city and praying for people in the places we were praying for: an Orthodox church, mosques, the ERC, a mountain that overlooks the city. The day was moving. I’m not good at praying for extended periods like that. I’m really not a good at praying in any fashion. But that day was inspiring. It gave me a burning desire to spend more days doing nothing more than approaching the throne on behalf of the 5 million or so that live here.
The house has changed a lot lately. In the last month I have gone from living alone, to living with six, to four, to six again. Two more will join us Friday, but we’ll also lose two on that day. It is stretching. Life looks so much different when the house is full of people. It demands I be more flexible. It demands I move past my own wants and desires. It is a great teacher.
One of my current roommates has stolen my heart. Her name is Olivia. That is actually her new name. She has only had it for about three days now. Before that her name was Ababa – flower. (A day or two before meeting her I had thought about naming a kid that. I think I like the name Samantha Ababa. But I would want to call her Sam. So maybe I should name another kid Ababa and call her Abby.) Olivia is about 2 ½. Her new daddy came to pick her up. He needed a place to stay and ended up with us. She is absolutely beautiful. Everyday I tell him, and her, that it is completely okay for him to leave her with me. He already has five kids does he really need another? She is beautiful. One day I will have a couple. I want to have some kids and adopt some kids. I want to give a home to those who don’t have that privilege.
Great progress being made on the maps, although we are at a bit of a standstill. It is important to have a vehicle while I map. I have to get into some pretty shady spots. Taxis would never go on these roads, and I’m to fat and old to walk the all. Continue to ask for progress.
No water since yesterday. It is starting to stink in this house. I’m hoping it will return today.
I don’t have a visa to be here at the moment. The stolen one has proven quite difficult to replace. Pray with me as we seek to resolve this issue.
I’ll try to get some stories out soon.
Sunday, February 12, 2006
Quick Note...
The prayer day was such a blessing. Sorry I haven’t shared any details. I have meant to all week but keep getting busy. I will try and share that with you and other info in a day or two. I will be out of the city for the night but back on Monday.
