Ok, so I've been writing a lot of really spiritual sounding stories for this blog, but I feel like I need to lighten things up. And I would like to preface this story by saying our team really needs a good laugh now and then. Therefore, I believe is simply a testimony to God's goodness, and His really impressive sense of humor.
Before we went to our last barangay our leader, Mike, and translator, Joal, hiked from Ji Contol to Osmena (there's a tilde over the "n" in Osmena) to talk with the barangay Captain. When the guys arrived in Osmena the Captain told them that our team couldn't come because they had no where for us to stay. So, the next day a few others from our team walked to Osmena to check things out. Next to the barangay hall we saw there was a "health center" that looked all but abandoned. And we figured we should go ask the Captain if he would let us stay in the health center, even though he had already turned down Mike and Joal. To our surprise, the Captain agreed to let us come!
Now, fast forward with me. It's our next to last night in Osmena. We've just finished dinner. Cup noodles and rice, baby. The whole team is sitting inside the health center reading a short biography on Amy Carmichael. Then all of the sudden, there was a "knock, knock" on the door. Low and behold, it was the Captain and his first counselor! Now, don't be deceived by the titles "Captain" and "First Counselor." I suppose they are official in the context of their tiny barangay, but are probably not what you're imagining. At around 7:30 p.m. these gentlemen strolled up wearing faded tank tops, unbuttoned shorts, and flip flop (slippers). The lovely first counselor also had a cigarette in his hand that he was ready to light up at any moment.
When we saw them standing at the door we all quickly stood up to show the proper respect. Cheryl frantically moved our underwear that was hanging on the close-line in the middle of our room. Someone else grabbed our one and only chair and placed it in front of the Captain. Well, he graciously accepted and sat down in the chair. Next, there was the awkward silence, which is really not that awkward here in the Philippines. Then the Captain, who was a very soft-spoken man, started to speak. Our translator Joal talked with him for a few minutes. While they chatted, Wesley told everyone else what was going on. The Captain was apologizing for the way he acted the first time Mike and Joal had come to Osmena and asked for permission to visit.
As the Captain and Joal talked, we all sat there nodding our heads and smiling like we understood was what being said. I guess there was a lull in conversation, so the Captain shifted around in his chair a bit. Unfortunately, the chair was already broken and it collapsed to the ground. Yes, the Captain fell completely out of the chair and onto the dirty concrete. In the process of his fall, one of the chair legs busted open our almost empty rice pot, which made an incredibly loud noise. Without really thinking, I jumped up to help the Captain. I realized that he had a difficult time standing up, but I figured he was just a bit shaken from the fall. Once we got him back into his chair the First Counselor blurted out something about a "drink."
"Drink" as in alcohol. And it all started to make sense. The Captain was drunk. After another minute of the not awkward silence, the First Counselor patted the Captain on the back and said something like, "Let's go, Cap!" So, we all stood up again and said, "Maupay nga gab-i (Good Night)." As soon as they were out the door, our whole team laughed hysterically for a long time! We tried to continue reading the Amy Carmichael bio, but could only make a sentence or two before someone started laughing again. Good times. Thanks, Lord.
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