Woke up this last Sunday to a beautiful sunny morning. I love the church where've I've been going this last year so I was eager to be fed and refreshed for the week.
As you may know, the traffic here in Manila can be quite the adventure. However, I am a fairly confident driver and I have adapted to the weaving and dodging ways of driving in the Philippines. But I guess there is always the exception. Because on my way to church on Sunday I was T-boned by another car. I swerved to avoid it as much as possible but unfortunately could not have saved my little Lance (my mitsubishi lancer).
I looked out my driver's side window to see a little honda civic sitting right there. While trying to maintain my cool I moved forward to the side of the road so that I wouldn't be blocking traffic (something I later learned you should NOT do). As I got out of my car this old man got out of his and apologized for the accident telling me he never saw me coming. I told him it was fine but just earlier that week had heard a story about a friend who did not call the police and now regretted it, so I told him that I wanted to call the police just so that we could report that it had happened.
As soon as the cops arrived the man's demeanor changed and he began blaming me saying that he had the right of away. After standing around for nearly an hour the cops told us that since I had moved my car they couldn't sketch the scene and I had to go down to the police station to report the accident (had I left my car right where it had happened they might have been able to declare who was at fault at the scene).
By now I have called my friend Wendy and Ted who have joined my room mate and me. I am so grateful to them, they were such a moral support! Having 4 white faces though creates quite the attention, so much so that people were actually slowing down to gawk! haha
Anyway, we get to the police station and by now the old man is so irritated with me, and starts calling me names, and telling me it's definitely my fault. When asked to give my side of the story I explained to the police that I was driving down the road when he neglected to stop at the stop sign and ran into me...I even had to pull out my teacher voice when he kept on trying to interrupt me :) Thank you fourth grade!
After another hour of going over our stories and filling out our paper work the police informs me that since the man refuses to admit it is his fault we'll have to go to court (because he doesn't have insurance). I am so overwhelmed at this point, and feel like there is no hope, that my car will forever have this huge dent in the side I start to cry. Great...now I'm the crying white girl... let's just invite even more people to stare.
After the old man left, the police were so gracious to me and apologized to me for the whole situation and the stubborn old man. They told me it was surely his fault and that I just need to report it to my insurance and let them fight it for me. Uhhhh. what a morning right?.... well my friends and I decide that it's lunch time so we'll take a visit to our favorite Indian restaurant and treat ourselves. I am so shaken up though that I have Kelli drive.
As we get to lunch I begin thinking that it's ok. It's not he end of the world, and worst case scenario I'll have to pay out of pocket to get by car fixed. It's disappointing, but as my friend Tedge prayed for lunch, He is Lord over all and He protected Kelli and me.
After lunch I am feeling much better, and think the best thing would be to get back on the horse and ride again. So I tell Kelli I'm fine and I'll drive home. As I'm leaving the parking lot I remember that there is a huge sale going on at the mall next door, and when there is a sale in the Philippines everyone and there mother show up. So the traffic is TERRIBLE. bumper to bumper....unfortunately I say that statement literally, because yes I was hit again. I stopped the car and look at Kelli and literally say to her, "you're kidding me right," to which she responds, "have you seriously been hit again?" I get out of the car and look at the car which was was trying sneak past me but clipped my rear bumper. There is large white scratch...I am so shocked I can't even cry, think, and barely speak. I look at him and tell him this is the second time I've been hit that day. The guy was so apologetic and I could see that he had no money. He was a driver for some large company and so I decided to forget it. I wrote down all his information, but couldn't get myself to call the police AGAIN.
So yea, by the end of Sunday I felt like everything was breaking. I was exhausted, stressed, and miserable. The next day I started to blog about the whole situation (cause I'm always looking for something to blog about) and as soon as I started to write I realized I needed to get some perspective. I was still too mad, frustrated, and confused about the whole situation. Later that evening I skyped my beautiful sassy sister Clare and began verbally processing. I realized that this was my first week where I thought...."why couldn't I be here next year? The Lord has blessed me so much, and could that possibly be a sign that I am doing exactly what He wants me to be doing? That my work here is actually making a difference."... and then as I explained to Clare I clearly remember thinking, "I mean I even have a car which is a huge blessing!"
As I was verbally processing (which is quite often) with my sister I had to ask myself could this possibly be an attack?... I still don't know, and perhaps I will never know. But it has made me think even harder about staying. I have been encouraged in the last few days with the verse from Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope."
Please pray for me as I make this huge decision about another year as well as if you would like to continue to support me financially and through prayers. The Lord is good and He will make his plan known to us, and I will simply follow that path.
Pray for just enough illumination for the next step, and then the courage to take it. -David Crowder
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