Today's trip to the market started out like most trips:
1) figure out who wants to come, in this case, Acacia and Liana
2) lather up with sunscreen, stick on a hat
3) find enough functioning bicycles
4) gather Sudanese pounds and bags
Off you go. Unfortunately, today I forgot the water...
The ride was mid-morning, not too hot or bright and more downhill than the return trip. The road is a rich orange color of dirt and trees are set far enough back that they don't offer shade. We passed pedestrians, a few motorcycles and only one vehicle on the 15 min ride.
Our new bike baskets easily detach from our bikes and we walked around the market with them. We bought some rice, lentils, tomatoes, and greens from various vendors with their wares on wooden platforms or on the ground in buckets.
When I was buying the homemade peanut butter squeezed into little plastic bags, Liana said that she was feeling faint. We found a chair to sit in for a while, causing the concern of that portion of the market. Many were assuming she had malaria and was feverish. This has happened to her before when she overheats and hasn't drunk enough water. After awhile she felt like she could walk to the bike. Our plan was to walk the bikes to Scott's compound nearby for rest and hydration. After a few steps of pushing the bike, she slowly sunk to the ground in a ball. Two kind women immediately grabbed her bike and mine. While carried her to Scott's they pushed our bikes the distance. Most of the people in the market were looking and concerned. A small contingent continued with us all the way to Scott's.
After Scott's kindness of juice, water and a cool place to sit, she perked back up and biked back home with great gusto. Later when Scott was in the market, several people inquired after her to make sure she was well.
I'm grateful for the genuine concern and quick jumping-in to help that this caring community provided.
1) figure out who wants to come, in this case, Acacia and Liana
2) lather up with sunscreen, stick on a hat
3) find enough functioning bicycles
4) gather Sudanese pounds and bags
Off you go. Unfortunately, today I forgot the water...
The ride was mid-morning, not too hot or bright and more downhill than the return trip. The road is a rich orange color of dirt and trees are set far enough back that they don't offer shade. We passed pedestrians, a few motorcycles and only one vehicle on the 15 min ride.
Our new bike baskets easily detach from our bikes and we walked around the market with them. We bought some rice, lentils, tomatoes, and greens from various vendors with their wares on wooden platforms or on the ground in buckets.
When I was buying the homemade peanut butter squeezed into little plastic bags, Liana said that she was feeling faint. We found a chair to sit in for a while, causing the concern of that portion of the market. Many were assuming she had malaria and was feverish. This has happened to her before when she overheats and hasn't drunk enough water. After awhile she felt like she could walk to the bike. Our plan was to walk the bikes to Scott's compound nearby for rest and hydration. After a few steps of pushing the bike, she slowly sunk to the ground in a ball. Two kind women immediately grabbed her bike and mine. While carried her to Scott's they pushed our bikes the distance. Most of the people in the market were looking and concerned. A small contingent continued with us all the way to Scott's.
After Scott's kindness of juice, water and a cool place to sit, she perked back up and biked back home with great gusto. Later when Scott was in the market, several people inquired after her to make sure she was well.
I'm grateful for the genuine concern and quick jumping-in to help that this caring community provided.
3 comments:
That's ministering in weakness. Reminds me of flying over my bike handlebars in the market--painful, but an opportunity to be ministered to. Glad Liana is re-hydrated. Is it raining at all??
Wow! Sorry to hear she went down like that, but my heart just fills up for the people there! Wish I was with you guys - and what about these detachable baskets??
I'm sure God will use this to connect you even more tightly to the community. Having them minister to you is a healthy turn-around.
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