Change is Precious

 The islands are still very much a cash-based society. When we go to other countries we rarely even bother getting any local cash because most purchases are made with credit cards or phone apps. We’ve been in a new country for over a week and have yet to make a purchase in cash. But on Clove Island, most transactions are still done with physical bills and coins of various denominations.  But probably the most precious are those small bills and coins— in other words, the change. 

Our island change bowl

I remember being in America (back when people still used cash a lot to pay for things). Change was a pain. I remember being annoyed when I got a lot of coins. It weighs down your wallet and is really bulky. Once I got home, I would usually unload the loose change into a bowl which was very rarely touched except when people added more coins to it. 

Not that I don’t realize that enough spare change can amount to lots of money. In elementary school I was in charge of counting and putting into rolls all the coins brought in during a fundraiser. I can’t remember now what the fundraiser was for, but I do remember that all that loose change added up to a significant amount of money raised. But when we say that change is precious on the islands, it is not just the understanding that coins have purchase power. No, change is precious because it feels like a rare commodity. 

Remember that we’re not just thinking of coins— change is both coins and the smallest denominations of bills. On the islands, we don’t assume in a taxi or in a shop that someone will have a lot of change (if any). In the US, I wouldn’t have thought twice of breaking a $20 bill at a store. Here it can be quite rude to make a small purchase with a big bill. If they are feeling agreeable they might go (or send someone) to ask neighboring stores or hail a passing taxi to see if they can find change (or they might just tell you to do it yourself). Sometimes, they will just refuse and say they don’t have change.

When getting in a taxi, the polite thing to do is to tell the driver as you get in that you have a big bill so he has the whole journey to potentially stop and ask people for change. Even if someone already has all the change, they will ask and check if you don’t have the exact change and may proceed to give you a disapproving sigh and a miffed-look at having to part with so much change for you. 

The big problem for us has been that island ATM’s usually only give money in the largest bill denominations. Unfortunately, even the bank tellers are hesitant to give out change. Tom used to go into the bank after getting money out at the ATM to ask to change some of the money into smaller bills. They often gave him a hard time, sometimes even refusing, either lying and saying they didn’t have any or suggesting that he had to prove he had a local bank account to get change. 

Most people seem to value and hoard coins and small bills here, and this mentality means that we are always looking to break bills. I am actually disappointed when the total at a store is a nice, clean number because it means that I might not get any change out of the transaction. If a friend repays us with small bills, we get excited! If we have to repay someone and our small bills are running low, we might decide to be generous and round up to the big bill instead of losing a bunch of small ones. 

Enjoying fair food on vacation (bought with credit card)

So you can imagine our excitement that one of the island ATM’s has started giving out withdrawals with a mix of large and small bills! A game changer. Suddenly we aren’t always at a small-bill deficit.  

Looking ahead, it is possible that our days of cash purchases are numbered, even on the islands. A local cell company has an electronic money app that seems to be gaining in popularity.  Maybe the day will come when we can just use our phones to pay at the little shops in our neighborhood, but until then, we’ll guard our small bills and keep a close eye on our change supply. 

PRAYERS ANSWERED
Our teammate made it safely back to Clove Island (despite some travel troubles on the way in) and was warmly welcomed by neighbors. We have had a very nice time with Megan’s parents and brother so far. 

PRAYERS REQUESTED
Pray for our teammate in her first week back home on the islands— that she would reconnect well with friends and neighbors and that how to proceed with hospital work would be straightforward. There have been some difficult situations on the islands, pray for those that are having to respond to these situations that they would have wisdom and discernment to be lights in the dark and for for health and safety for all. Hashiri has asked for prayer that her family would find peace together in their home. Megan’s uncle passed away this past weekend— pray for her aunt and cousins as they grieve this loss.