As I was home over the holidays, I got to see many of my friends and family and easily the most frequently asked question was "how are things going down there?!" and most got a similar response along the lines of "things are really good, not always easy, but good!" - which more often than not led to a conversation about what wasn't "always easy". Many heard me grumble about what it's like to be white and have everyone expect you to have money and are constantly asked for money. This genuinely is a challenge and is frustrating - but today it was a different story.
I went on a monthly large grocery shop in town and was returning home with all my groceries in a friend's car, that could not make it up the last little hill by my house. She kindly parked at the bottom and flagged down a young man who was headed up the hill to ask if he could help me (so I didn't have to make two trips). In my head, I automatically started calculating what a fair price would be to pay the man to carry my groceries up the hill - because I knew that would be the expecatation. 25 gourdes? 50 gourdes? (63 gourdes = $1). In any case, it wasn't a significant amount of money but it's the expectation that I would pay is what drives me crazy.
The young man agreed to help me with the box up the hill and knew where I lived already (because I'm the white girl that lives in the neighborhood that walks my dog around). I confirmed my house and off he went while I gathered the rest of my items. I expected to find him standing at the gate of my house with the box when I finally reached the top of the hill. To my surprise, the box was left in front of the gate and the man was gone. I have no idea who he is or where he lives (though I can only assume he lives close by).
I was immediately struck with humility because here I was grumbling about less than a dollar that I was going to give a man for helping me carry my groceries. A dollar that could provide him with a meal for the day or a bus to go see his family. Whatever his story - he was not under the assumption that I would pay him. He helped me out of the kindness of his heart and not under the cultural expectation that white people have money.
I have spent the rest of the day today reflecting on this simple yet very impactful interaction - I am humbled by these people and this country constantly - if I am looking for it. I must remember to look for situations that I can learn from.
God - I pray that I would never grow so comfortable that I stop learning from others. I want to be humbled by your presence and your work through others.
