Ok ok, technically Cinematic means relating to motion pictures, not how artfully words are strung together but give me a break! I couldn’t think of another word that even sounded like an S to go with Saturday that would give the same feelings as “Cinematic”. For those of you who didn’t read my last blog (and you totally should), today is Cinematic Saturday which means I will (try to) paint word pictures and share digital pictures of what is happening on this trip. If you want a more informational/story format, go to my Truthful Tuesday blog (which happens to be the last one I posted.
Arriving with blurred vision, only half seeing my surroundings, I can make out a mosaic of colors. Blocks of green, tan, and the blue sky. Stores & people rush past. Purple pants, denim jacket, straw hat, motorcycle helmet. Signs are in a squiggly script that I cannot make out. The glass window that my head is against feels warm while my left arm feels chilled from the air. Fading in and out I catch more glimpses of the world around me. Muddy water, speeding cars, and motorcycles, a rush on the road that does not compare with the calm on the sides. Mopeds zip into any space they can find with little to no regard to the guiding stripes. Palaces and shacks stand side-by-side.
Confusion fills my mind as I continue to black out. “Why am I here? How did I end up like this? Strapped into a van with seven chatty girls as my body groans.” In the moment, I am set in my ways, “I will do nothing”. Our destination comes upon me quickly. Sleep overtook my time.
My bag is lugged up the stairs by a child in a baseball hat. Given a little time to recuperate, I worked on getting the basics set up. Bed, bathroom bag, meds, mosquito net. Supper was served at 5, an hour later and it was English time. The day felt full to the brim. Bursting with things to do and things to say. My brain was reeling. Sleep was welcomed once again at 7:30. It stopped all stimulation, ceasing the turmoil in my mind.
A sound started to call me back into the world of the living. Some sort of bird call? As my body started to shake off sleep I recalled what this noise was. Roosters. All of them fighting for attention. My watch said 3 am. This was going to be a long morning.
The week progress. Doubt had still invaded my mind, causing havoc in my ability to help my team and make relationships with the children. Then slowly, ever so slowly, it has started to lift. The Bible has been constant throughout all of my inner turmoil, reminding me of the truth. God is here, you are meant to be here, God is doing things not you, God works through all of your mistakes and sinfulness, GOD is the love you need to reach out to others.
Today is Saturday, time continues to pass whether I wish it to or not. Every day I am being taught that lesson. I’m still making mistakes in usage of my time, how I interact with my team, and my attitude. However, every day the trust that I have in my LORD grows ever stronger. Most days it feels as if turtles racing through peanut-butter are moving faster then me. But I’ll keep on going on, to the end of this time and more.
Thank you for reading me attempt to use pretty words to express what has been happening to me on this trip. After finding out how much work these take I might end up doing them every other week. I’ll still do Truthful Tuesdays every week but Cinematic Saturdays might just take longer to get out into the world.
