Was That Real?

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Looking back on last night this morning, we can hardly believe what happened to us. Four days before we leave on a trip we’ve planned for months, and that will take us halfway around the world, we decide to offer a ride to a young woman struggling with groceries on University Boulevard, in Middletown, Ohio.

That young woman named Sheri is from the very place we’re going. She gives us her parents’ telephone numbers.

Once we’re here in China, we call Sheri’s parents, just to them know that she is ok and that we are available to help her in Middletown.

We get together, and find we have much in common.

A man who works with Mary figured the odds as best he could: there are 1.5 billion people in China and 500 million people in the United States. Mathematically, the chance is less than zero that we would meet someone from Dalian in Middletown.

And then to be made so welcome, to find them so companionable – it’s almost too much to take in.

But we know God’s math is different. Because as Gail said last night, she feels God brought us together. And I know Jakie is getting a big kick out of seeing us so amazed.

So today, we’re just trying to absorb everything.

We putter around the apartment, straightening things up. We watch some more episodes of Lost.

In the afternoon, I go for a walk. This time I walk to the shopping center. It takes exactly 30 minutes for me to reach the intersection where Mykal Department Store, Tesco and TrustMart are located.

It’s a nice day, nearly 40 degrees.

Back at the apartment, I thoroughly enjoy a hot shower.

We take a taxi to McDonald’s, almost exactly where I walked this afternoon. I order a Big Mac, Bernie a plain double cheeseburger. It’s a risk-were we able to communicate that he didn’t want anything on that? We get our order, and it’s perfect. I inhale the Big Mac and suggest we order again.

Our luck is not so good the second time around. Bernie’s burger has the works - catsup and mustard and pickles. He won’t let me take it back, though. Chalk it up to the language barrier.

More Lost episodes, then early to bed.