WALA WALLET

I lost my wallet. Yea, you can imagine how convenient that is in this country. But God used this moment of frustration to show his provision.
There are a number of connections here so stick with me: I was traveling to do Bible studies at a slum in Cainta and the only seat left to me on a bus was next to Evelyn. We had a short but revealing conversation about our lives and our purposes for being in Manila. She lived in Texas for many years but now was raising her son in Manila after the death of her husband. She helped me find my destination, without I would have never found it, and we parted with her giving me a card with her number saying, “if you need anything please give me a call.” I thanked her for her help, sticking the card in my wallet, and went to Bible study.
Two weeks later, while on another bus to Cainta, I remembered her help and expressed my gratitude via a text. The same day I became very sick…just a cold, but the kind that you wish for a bed and a sharp knife to cut your head off. I couldn’t see straight think straight or barely speak. Not fun, especially when 2 hours from home. My travel home included a jeepney equipped with a sound system playing the Red Hot Chili Peppers, stopping to buy some very good chocolate for Jess and my accidentally jumping aboard the “all female” train car (you should have seen their faces). It was an adventure. Now the last leg of my trip was still a question for me as I had not yet found the correct jeepney to drop me off where I needed to go. As usual when trying to discover a way home I asked people sitting next to me. They clearly saw I did not fit and I was sick and as usual helped as much as they could. When we approached my stop I told the driver to “Para, po” or “stop” and he replied but I didn’t understand him, so I repeated “Para, po, Sauyo ditto.” Or “stop here at Sauyo”. I can’t express to you the frustration I felt, being sick, and passing my stop. I weakly said, “No, I’m so confused.” The man across from me tried to assure me it was ok…I didn’t believe him.
They dropped me off in front of Sauyo market. This is where my wallet fell out of my pocket. As I surveyed my surroundings I recognized the market because I was accidentally taken there earlier that day, so the guy was right it was going to be ok. Then I discovered I had no more money and my wallet was gone. Panic took me for a moment, I wanted to lie down and go to sleep…I wanted my mommy. :-)
I made my way through the crowded market and I got home on a tricycle having Jessica standing out front with money to pay the driver. I was glad to be home but very upset about my wallet. I lost money, a credit card, documents and to wrap it up I felt like a world traveling failure. To compound my frustration we couldn’t find a way to call the credit card company to cancel my card.
Then I received a text from Evelyn. She informed me there was a man, Dan, who wanted my information, that he had something for me. After short dialogue we were able to call Dan. His father had picked up my wallet after I got off the jeepney. They are Christians, born again, and promised me the wallet was intact so that I should sleep well. We arranged to pick it up from his mother. When I finally picked it up two days later at “Followers of Christ Fellowship” I offered to give the family money…not much only P100 or $2. The mother refused, “it would not be a gift if I took money. Just promise me to read the Bible more.” Amen.
So get this: I would not have received my wallet back without Evelyn’s number in my wallet or without me texting her that day so she would have mine or sitting across from an honest believer. Strange connections in Manila. Praise God!