Carrying Things for Strangers

Waiting at small island airport with teammates

Anyone who has traveled knows that you are never supposed to carry things for strangers. Travelers know this so well that you would never be approached by someone in the States asking for you to take something, but raveling on the islands is different.

Our first few times we were asked to carry something, it was small things— a letter or a manila envelope. Usually it was important papers that they couldn’t risk in the mail or it was cash that needed to get to somebody. Interisland mail is so unreliable that most people, if they have something to send, will head to the airport and look for a friendly face. As white foreigners we are seen as more trustworthy than even other islanders.

But it isn’t always small things. Sometimes someone has a box or a whole bag of stuff. They eye everyone’s luggage seeing if there is someone not using their whole luggage allowance.

We only agree to carry things on interisland flights because the airlines accept it as regular practice. They willingly give the baggage claim slip to some random person even though the bag is technically in our name. There is usually someone at the airport on the other end whisking away the item before we even have to think about it.  In the past we’ve taken passport applications, money, lifesaving medications, bags of produce and undisclosed luggage. But this last time took things to a new level. Our whole team was traveling to the little island. We were already checked in and just waiting for our flight to be called. One of our friends who works at the airport came up to us. We had the normal chitchat of greetings. We confirmed what he suspected, that we were on our way to the little island. “You know that person there has a little girl that needs to go to the little island. They are wondering if you would be willing to take her.”

Our teammate making new friend

I had already noted the little girl. She was probably 3 years old and dressed up in the traditional dress of the island. She was very cute. “So no adult is traveling with her. They want us to take her alone.” Yes that is exactly what they wanted. To be clear, they didn’t know us at all, not even a little bit. We’re not even islanders.

Apparently she had flown to our island, Clove Island, a few weeks previously with someone and now it was time for her to return home. Her mother would be waiting for her on the other end, they assured us. We quickly conferred with our team and in no time the little girl’s relative was at the counter securing her a ticket. Our teammate was also quick on the uptake and undertook getting to know our little charge, knowing that a plane full of white people would be enough to reduce most island kids to tears.

Our teammate worked her magic, gaining the little girl’s trust while we reflected on this truly island experience. She stayed attached to our teammate as we said goodbye to her relatives, went through security and waited for our plane. They told the airline she was almost 2 years old (even though she was clearly around 3 years old) so that they only had to buy an infant ticket. So it was on our teammate’s lap she went. She was asleep in her arms a little after take-off.

Our son turned 8!

Overall she was in our teammate’s “custody” for less than 2 hours. There was nothing official about it. And while our Western warning bells were going off, from an island perspective we were just doing a favor. If you don’t have a good reason to say no, it somehow seems unneighborly to refuse.

PRAYERS ANSWERED
The first week of our team language push has gone well.  We’re so thankful for teammates with a great attitude who continue to work hard in language.  They are doing so well.  Our kids made it through another trimester of school and now have two weeks off.  We are so thankful for the way they’ve been doing at school.  Our eldest son turned 8 this past week.  We are so thankful for him and his fun and creative spirit.

PRAYERS REQUESTED
There have ben many problems over on the French island—lots of strikes and government shut downs, blocked roads, and demonstrations.  Pray for peace, stability and a way forward for this troubled island.  Pray for our friends who work there and are finding life very difficult.  Pray for our old Brazilian teammates who have been trying to move to the French island and work at the hospital.  They’ve had horrible trouble with visa bureaucracy which may or may not be related to the troubles there.  We know they would do much good on that island, so pray that they will be able to travel there soon.  A colleague from the little island is returning home because of unexplained health issues.  Pray for a discovery of the problem, healing, and a quick return.  Pray for her other colleagues as they move forward without her.  Encouraging study groups of both men and women have been happening.  Pray for all those interested would find what they have been looking for.