Saturday Post -- 16/06/12

Surrounded by people of stature. Story of my life...

Life here rarely runs according to the script but things certainly went significantly pear-shaped during my cousin's visit here last week, to extents even I've never seen.


Monday was Douglas’ last full day here and, being our weekly rest day, we planned a final, relaxing visit to the local lake for the afternoon. Based on form, we really should have known better. What happened was the perfect encapsulation of the frequently, unfailingly manic culture we live in.

Accepting that the problem with the water supply wasn’t going to be fixed any time soon (by Monday it had been five days since the repairman said he’d come) we did what we had to do and called one of several companies here who can fill your well from their massive transportable tanks for a small fee. I got them around 9.30pm and they said they’d be here soon.

It wasn’t till 12.15pm (and some way into England vs France) that the water boys (“I pictured a rainbow…”) finally showed up. However, despite ordering four tanks’ worth to fill our well adequately, they had just the one. And given that things shut down for two hours over lunchtime, that meant the lake visit would now be at the mercy of their prompt arrival.

They were back at 3pm, now well into the afternoon, and by this point we are accepting that the lake visit will be brief. However, the tank is filled and we’re all set to go. But as we’re getting our things together in the house, a ferocious revving sound can be heard outside. We pop our heads out and…the water boys’ truck is stuck in the field outside our house, the situation exacerbated by the moisture still lying from the previous week’s inclement weather.

"We're gonna need a bigger crane..."

Two hours and three vehicles later, the truck is finally out and we can all go to the lake. Except it’s now 5pm and the sun will have set within an hour. ¡Adios laguna!

I joked with Douglas that in some ways I was glad he was going home the following day as he seemed to have bestowed a curse upon us. Nonsense though I spoke, we’ve had a rather bittersweet experience in the ensuing days of seeing everything fall back into place since he left – the water supply is now switched on and the sky-rocketing mercury is threatening to smash the thermometer.

Furthermore, things have been much more normal ministry-wise, including lots of great opportunities in the classrooms and in the Foundation to share Christ. In the schools, we were able this week to distribute booklets telling the story of Jesus in manga form (that’s a Japanese style of comic-book for those of you who aren’t down with the kids). And in the English class, we had a great discussion about justice, what we deserve from God, and how we can’t rely on our own resources to avoid his punishment.

Additionally, our building project made headway again this week, with the inspectors from the cooncil out to verify our plot’s dimensions and grant permission to build (which we will formally receive this coming week).

All joking aside, however, it was a pleasure to have Douglas here and to share Trinidad with him. We introduced him to all the people that matter in our lives and, while he couldn’t see the full extent of our work, he at least got a very clear sense of the near-constant logistical barriers we face in ministering effectively here. Most importantly, he got a well-earned break from the rigours of medicine and we were all too happy to facilitate that.

Prayer

• Please remember Douglas who, having arrived home safely in Virginia on Wednesday night, went straight into his anaesthesiology residency on Thursday morning. Rather him than me, I tell you. Pray that the rest will have been of benefit to him as he gets to grips with things.
• Please pray for the youth group who, spurred into action by reflecting on service over the past couple of months, have opted to serve the church tomorrow (Sunday) afternoon by organising a big clean-up. Pray that the activity will cause them to think more on this theme, and how they can, as young people, continue to serve the church.

 Praise

• For the practical stuff all getting sorted out over the last few days – when the background detail goes haywire, it can be an exhausting drain on our ministry, so give thanks that we’re (relatively speaking) back to normal now.
• For Douglas’ time here and the invaluable opportunity to enjoy some family time (and, if we’re honest, some of Trinidad’s finest cuisine – fried alligator tail, anyone?) over the past couple of weeks.

¡Que Dios les bendiga!

Craig & Amanda