Our journey to Malaysia began with quite the expedition. Let me explain the last few hours after a preface.
I have never before had to depend on others to get me to where I need to go. I mean, of course I had to depend on my parents to take me places before I could drive, but I’m an “adult” now and as an American adult I have come to expect a high level of independence. The night before last, Colin asked me what I missed most about being home (which is odd, because I don’t know where to call home since I have been away from Kalamazoo for a few years and left Huntington for maybe forever). The first thing that came to mind was this:
Going to the grocery store.
I don’t miss the food. I don’t miss the cooler weather. I don’t miss “fitting in.” And surprisingly, I don’t miss being able to throw TP in the toilet. But I absolutely miss:
- deciding that I need milk (milk that can be found in the refrigerator section… not in a box on a shelf)
- jumping into my own car
- driving on streets that I recognize without the fear of getting lost
- going into a grocery store that has food that I am familiar with
- finding the food I need in the section that it is always in
- comparing it with my past experience to see if it is a good price
- buying it with money that I recognize
- getting back into my car
- driving home
- putting away my groceries in my organized kitchen
If these things don’t make sense, I understand. I didn’t get it at first either. Honestly, I just miss my independence and routine. When you have to depend on friends to take you places or rely on the kindness of jeepney, taxi, and tricycle drivers (who could easily drive you in circles for a few hours and charge you for it because you don’t know your way, have their friend mug you, or kidnap you), you begin to appreciate independence.
Moreover, when every single meal you eat is unfamiliar, it does a number on your brain. It is all wonderful food, but I just don’t want to eat. When every single time you need groceries, you have to sort through names of spices, fruits, and packaged food you’ve never heard of, it can be overwhelming.
With all of that said: Today we are traveling to Malaysia.
Our flight left at 2:30pm so we figured that we needed to be at the airport at 12:30 to go through security. We had to call a cab to pick us up at our host family’s house because there was no way to could hail one with all of our luggage.
The cab was late.
The cab also had no air conditioning.
The cab driver was very VERY slow (people were honking).
The cab driver gave himself twice the tip that we normally give ANY driver because we didn’t have change and “neither did he.” We wouldn’t have given him a tip at all because there was already an extra pick-up fee.
So… we get to the airport sweaty and taken advantage of. Not the best day so far, but we decide to move on. Next, we weigh our luggage and it is 6 kilos over… which means we have to pay 1200 pesos. That also would be no big deal, except we have to pay an exit fee to leave the Philippines. Between the cab drivers rockin’ tip and our over packing penalty, we didn’t have enough money to pay it. Again, no biggie. Just run to the ATM right?
The problem is that ATMs here have this tendency to take our card, ask us how much we want, print the receipt… and then not give us the cash. At first we thought the machine was eating our money, so we had to leave the terminal (which took us 5 security checks to get to) and go to a different part of the airport to get money so we could catch our flight on time.
We finally got the money, paid the fee, and boarded our flight.
It was a SUPER quick flight, and it was such a blessing to relax if only for a little while. Colin got a cool video of our take off and a sweet view of Manila from the air. However, as we began our descent, I had the WORST pain in my ears, eyes, and sinuses that I’ve ever experienced. I’m sure that sounds dramatic. I’m sure that in a few days I wont remember it, but as of right now we have been sitting in the Brunei airport for a few hours and I still can’t hear normally. Everything is muffled and the pressure is uncomfortable. I don’t want to get on another plane.
This whole day could have made Colin and I really upset, but God has been faithfully present the whole time. People have been asking me in concerned voices “so how are things really with you right now?” I will admit that my initial response is to say something negative… but please forgive and don’t believe me. Those kind of leading questions (tone, phrasing, whatever) are only asking for one small aspect of my experience here.
But I want to make totally clear:
Godly stretching and revelation is the biggest aspect of this trip.
No matter what things freak me out, God is steady. His love is amazing. His faithfulness takes my breath away. Day by day, step by step, he is pulling me into deeper unity with himself.
It is devastatingly beautiful.
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