Bangladesh Journal: Wednesday June 28, 2006

I woke up this morning to the sound of Lauren’s alarm (5:15am). She didn’t hear it. After this morning, I really feel like I could be very easy to get unto a set comfortable schedule, which is not what this trip is suppose to be about. I do not want to be comfortable to the point where I could slip into easy ways or comfortable ways of acting. Breakfast was good. So was QT. I have become more comfortable with the girls and my body. Since it is so hot we walk around in the bare minimum of necessary clothing. Not that I ever hated my body or felt big, but after yesterday it was good to feel like my body is OK and to be comfortable in what would make me feel temperature cool.
Then we had a time of worship. We began that time by praying for the staff so many of them are so worn out. They are not getting QTs, they have meeting instead. I can’t imagine how draining that must be. Then we went into a time of songs and scripture being read aloud. God has truly gifted Adriel with a heart for worship that honors HIM. Everything worked together like the “dance of Bangladesh”. That phrase Sarah said as we were driving through traffic from the airport. She said it all was a dance. Then when she went out into the streets she was excited to be part of the dance. It is truly beautiful to think about. And like a dance there are parts that are faster or slower, and quiet or loud. Also every once in a while someone missteps and there is something off, but the dance keeps going
After worship we did language lessons. Like usual I may pick up at first but I have a problem retaining it. So I will need to practice. From there we broke up into 4 groups to do observation in three places and prayer. I got to go down the streets, through the mall, and up on the roof. I felt more comfortable walking down the streets and through the mall. I felt like I could walk with my head at its normal height, they said keeping your head down draws more attention. I also look around where I am walking, but still my line of vision never lingering and never making eye contact. The groups rotated so I got to go everywhere and pray. I, however, was not comfortable on the roof. There were men working on the roof of the factory, a couple building down, who stopped working to stare at our group. I don’t know why, curious or for other reasons, but I could not just walk by like in the streets. I became very uncomfortable. Also there was a smell of garbage from on top of a different building that I could not escape. The smell reminded me of when my mom worked at United Airlines and there was a dumpster by the loading docks, which we had to go by sometimes when she would drop off uniforms or take things form her office. It’s weird to smell something that was once so familiar so far away from home.
We then had lunch. The rice and chicken were absolutely amazing, but due to being so hot I didn’t want to eat a lot. We then had more language lessons. At times I know what the BSFB staff wanted to say in English or communicate to us, so I help along and he/she is glad for that, but I feel like I am once again translating for Hilary before she decided to talk. I need to just soak it in more before I’ll be comfortable saying anything.
After this we had free time. I journaled and then played cards with Sarah, Lauren, and Megan. I learned how to play Dutch blitz. After that a couple of us went shopping for our outfits; I had only found one the day before. This was another NOT fun experience. I actually hit my breaking point and began to in the store. Some girls who were wearing the same size as me were able to find clothes, but when I went to try them on, the shoulders were too tight, the back was too tight, or something like that. It just sucked. It is really funny how I can go through this roller coaster of emotions. Also it was dark out so I was frustrated about that. There are no streetlights so you can’t really see anything as you walk from one store to the next.
Well what made the night a little better was dinner. It was really good, and we had some ice cream. Oh I needed and wanted that. We then had a speaker (Rana). I guess he is going to come and speak every week. He was really good, outgoing, and interesting to listen to, yet I didn’t understand everything he had to day. He is blunt and doesn’t beat around the bush, which is also good. He told a story that I didn’t understand at first. “In the woods there was a jackal who was crippled. There was also a tiger that had to kill his dinner every night. The tiger would eat his food and then throw the scraps to the crippled jackal. One day a healthy jackal sat by the crippled jackal. The tiger say this and ate the jackal.” Rana never said which jackal the tiger ate but I will have to think and pray about what this story means. After that I crashed really hard and went to sleep quickly.