Philippines Week #5
Monday, March 3, 2014
Today was my first day at my host house
In my Metro Manila immersion.
I am blessed to be staying
At the Echavez’s Residence!
They live in North A.
One of the upper most north sectors in Manila
Today was my first time taking the jeep alone from my host house in Novaliches.
It takes about an hour and a half to two hours
To commute to the centre every morning.
People say that I’m not too good with directions,
But I believe otherwise!
The journey to the Global Mission Center was something I will never forget.
Jeep time!
I’ve taken the jeep before
But this time was different
For some reason
There was something so interesting
About this ride
It may have been the fact that
This time I was by myself and was paying closer attention to the details
Or
The Lord was revealing something that seemed so ordinary to me
But was in fact something so extraordinary
As I sat in the cramped jeep
Amongst individuals I do not know
I glanced at each one subtly, hoping they did not notice my intrigued look
I noticed their expressions
Their movements and their words
I watched them speak to the driver
The passenger at the end of the jeep would pass their money to person beside them
Then the person would pass it to the next, to the next, and then to the next
Until it reaches the driver
Then the driver would just hand back the change to the closest person,
Trusting that the person will give back the change to the right person.
This same process would continue every every-time!
I noticed this before
But The Lord was allowing me to experience this again
From a different perspective but at this particular moment
I was so amazed at the fact that there was a great sense of exchange in:
Trust
Honesty
Understanding
and
In Love
Trust, with one another
Trusting that each person would hand the money to the driver and hand back their change
Honesty, with yourself and each other
Honest in how much you will pay and where you will say you will go to the driver
Understanding, each other’s personal situation
Understanding without speaking, knowing that each individual has
Their own story and struggle
Love, your neighbour
Loving your fellow seat mate, your fellow neighbour in valuing
Their presence and their money
It was a special moment
Presented
In a mundane location
Part of my ordinary routine
But yet, this is where The Lord decided to speak to me
He allowed me to experience
Heaven on Earth.
I was experiencing Heaven on Earth
In a jeepney.
The Lord is Infinite
For His presence and
His promise for us
Can be experienced infinitely
In an infinite amount of places, situations, and moments
When the Lord shows us a glimpse of Heaven
It is up to us to open our eyes and be aware of where The Lord is revealing His Promise to us
Maybe in the places we least expected!
Our God is definitely a God of surprises!
Amen:)