Bangladesh- The Lord Provides
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Ram Chandrupur,
Bangladesh
Monday, November 21, 2005
THE LORD PROVIDES (9/7/05)
Yesterday was our first day at our language school house. We arrived around 4:00 in the PM. The house was dirty and devoid of any edible food. After saying our farewells to our co-travelers, we were on our own. So from where will supper come? Walk to the end of the lane and see if there is anything there to buy. On leaving our little compound, we meet a neighbor who spoke some English, he was heading to the next town and invited us to join him. He hailed a flatbed rickshaw (a three wheeled bicycle with a flatbed on back.) We three climbed on board and traveled the mile to town. There, our new found friend helped us buy some bananas, bread, and apples. He agreed to accompany us back to the house, since it was obvious we needed some help. Supper was meager, but adequate with some rice and veggies brought by a neighbor.
Electric was off for at least two hours that night, with no fans. When we had electricity, a/c and fans were appreciated. Our cook, (Ismatara) who we barely meet the day before showed up at 8:00 AM the next moring, when we were expecting her at 10:00. She could speak no English. We could speak no Bangla. We managed to coexist in the house for a couple of hours, then one of the MCC directors unexpectedly showed up and helped with the communication. As arranged the previous day, she brought some eggs and more bread, which we had for breakfast. By showing her a pile of dirty laundry, she got to work washing in a bathroom tub, using soap she borrowed from a neighbor since we had none. She also borrowed a match to light the two burner gas hot plate.
Then what? Buy food. Ismatara and Ethel decided to go shopping together. It started to rain and rain hard. Our relief translator agreed to drive them to the market, since walking was going to be quite a mess and riding a rickshaw worse. (oh, by the way, there is a transportations strike, so all trucks and many buses are not running today. Strikes seem to be regular occurrences here in Bangladesh. Any non-motorized vehicle like a rickshaw is not affected by a strike.)
All arrive safely back in an hour with enough food for the day. (Our cook will shop for food each day on her way to work) For now its straight Bangladeshi diet, since there is no way we can explain how to make meat loaf and potatoes.
The Lord provided. Amazing!
J
