“For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.”Psalm 30:5
Do you often doubt in the dark what God has shown you in the light? Does heaviness of heart press on you at night when it gets dark? Often things look brighter in the morning when we see it through a different lens.
After Cebu, Philippines in Asia, our next stop was going to be Bohol. I would finally get to see the place God had called us to serve. This would be home for the next four years.
The night I was supposed to leave Cebu it started raining. Really raining! I had never seen it rain so hard and so long. This is part of living in the tropics as I would soon learn.
One of the missionaries named Sandy, an old friend, came to get us a few days earlier than expected. She had already been living in Bohol for a year and would escort us to our new place. Sandy and her husband were both in our wedding. Seeing her felt like seeing family. A familiar face in a sea of unfamiliarity was like the feeling of being home again.
Jim wasn’t ready to leave Cebu and needed a few more days with the group of young people we were responsible for, for the month. But he encouraged me to go ahead of him. He would follow some days later. This way I could get some rest and have some time with Sandy before everyone joined us. It seemed like a good idea.
Our transportation to get to the island would be a boat. Sandy and I left at night with the rain still coming down. I had visions of the boat going down, me draining and never seeing Jim again. I found comfort that we weren’t in the Arctic with icebergs like the Titanic. Fortunately, it was a bit warmer too.
Inside the boat, instead of rooms or chairs for us to camp out for the night, I saw lots of rows of cots lined up each side by side. Not knowing what to think, Sandy said “This is where we will be sleeping tonight”.
Lying next to people we didn’t even know. Strangers! All night!“No, not me!” I thought. Sandy must have known what I was feeling because she began to reassure me all would be fine. I am not sure if it helped but I did appreciate her kindness.
It is way too hot! These people are different and definitely not like me! To lay down next to them where I am so close our arms might touch. No Way! Was my initial attitude. I ended up staying awake either talking to Sandy early on or just sitting there watching my things to make sure no one stole them. Of course no one cared, they were sleeping. And eventually so was Sandy next to me.
We arrived 4 hours later (today it would only be an hour and a half because the boats are a lot faster but back in 1982 they were real slow!). We couldn’t see anything in front of us due to the rain still coming down so hard. I didn’t know how to process it all as I took it all in. It was a little overwhelming none the less.
(Bohol Pier in day time)
We got to Bohol where Glenn, Sandy’s husband, picked us up in this vehicle called a jeepney. Jeepneys are like trucks with a long compartment in the back, that have a roof on it with sides and open spaces for “windows” to let air in. Inside were boards on each side in the back where you could sit. As we rode, it seemed like forever through the city and up this hill to the missionaries home.
I couldn’t see anything outside due to the rain, darkness and the plastic flaps down around the “windows” of the jeepney so we wouldn’t get wet. I couldn’t imagine where they lived. I found out later it was only about 20 minutes but it seemed like an hour. Funny about first impressions, they are just first impressions.
It was about 2 o’clock in the morning by now and we were tired, or at least I was. Jet lag, not sleeping on the boat much and just getting over being sick, didn’t help either.
As we arrived at the house, we noticed it was pitch black dark outside, everywhere! This was strange to me. Even in the house. The kids greeted us with candles and flashlights. It was a blackout! All electricity was down due to the storm. “What have I gotten myself into!” I reason, as I looked around at everything. This was icing on the cake. How much can I take?
However, the missionary and the kids didn’t seem to be rattled so I wondered, “Is this the way it is all the time?” I didn’t know what to think. My emotions were numb and all over the place at the same time. I was so tired, I just wanted a bed! Maybe I am dreaming and when I wake up I will be back in America and this would have never happened.
The next morning I did wake up, not in America, but to a warm American family who just happened to be in the Philippines. I awoke to sunshine and to a beautiful family who showed me love and made me feel that we were right where God wanted us to be. This was going to be home and it was okay! Things seem so much brighter in the morning than in the evening when everything is dark.
“His mercies are new each morning and His steadfast love is never ceasing.” (Lam. 3:22).
Personal Reflections: What are some of your first darkest experiences of a new place? What did God use to change your heart? What do you think of the statement joy comes in the morning? What part of the story can you relate to? Would love to hear your story in the comment session of “When Life Seems Dark”.
From One Pilgrim to another together on the journey
”Consider how you may spur one another on towards love and good deeds….. encouraging one another–and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:24-25 (NIV)
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