With permission, I am posting this great letter from friends Chris and Ros about Ros’ trip to the doctor for a check-up back in September. Helps you to picture a little bit more about life here.
Dear All
The other week I went to see my doctor for my monthly check up. I arrived at 10am, to be first in line for clinic to start at 12 noon. Once I was booked in for the appointment I went to a local café, revised my Tagalog grammar, and watched the rain begin to pour very heavily.
On my return to the waiting corridor I was told that I would have a substitute doctor as my doctor was not available. Eventually, after waiting another hour, I was told that the substitute could not come because of the bad weather, so another substitute would be coming! I eventually saw this doctor at 2pm. The appointment lasted 20 minutes. The baby seems to be fine and I got to hear the heart beat.
My journey home was then quite an adventure. Firstly I got off my jeepney in the wrong place (one stop too early), then a kind lady directed me to the rail station – only it was the wrong line! I eventually worked out where I should be and got the correct train line. At the other end of the line it was still raining and the queues for the Multitaxi were very long.
Eventually I saw some normal taxis and found one that would take me home (but for a price!) because the weather was so bad. Also in the queue at the station was the father of a child from Chris’ class and we shared the taxi. I only knew him vaguely but it was good to have his company.
Due to the heavy rain, traffic was very slow moving. Our driver even took to driving on the wrong side of the road (“contraflow” a typical Filipino road habit!)… I closed my eyes at that point! Then we got stuck! The main road to our housing subdivision had flooded knee high and no traffic could pass any further. So we got out and walked until we reached the flooded area.
Some very enterprising Filipinos had pedal bikes with side carriers (usually for big water bottles) that they had put planks over the top for people to sit on, so they pushed us both through the water and we didn’t have to get wet. They were having great fun and pleased to be earning some money at the same time.
A bit further on we walked through water, but only ankle deep – still not pleasant when the water looks like a mud bath. I was very grateful as the parent with me helped me through the water so I wouldn’t slip. Overall, from the time we got out of the taxi, it took us 45 minutes to walk home. I got home at 5:30pm having left that morning at 8:30am for a twenty minute appointment! It took me the whole of the following day to recover my energy.
The experience reminded me that God does not let our foot slip and really does watch over our coming and going (Psalm 121). I believe that I was able to share that taxi and have the company of that parent to get me home safely. It would not have been safe or fun to have been on my own in that situation. I’m now gearing myself up for my next trip to the hospital for my next scan on October 8th. Please pray that we have better weather!
