The Trip

 It all started yesterday morning. I was laying on my bed, luxuriating in being sick and therefore not working on the porch. Ben was also sick. He had a bad headache that had lasted several days. Ben pulled himself out of the hammock, came over and flopped down on my bed, and asked “Mom, why don’t we go somewhere? I want to show you BeOhTah”.  I immediately thought to myself that going someplace while I was not feeling well was not a good idea. But reluctantly, after much urging from the rest of my family, I consented to go. Jason and Travis were ecstatic, they packed their bags, fixed up the motor bikes, and were ready to go in just a few minutes. I must admit, I was not that fast.With Ben and I on one motor bike, and Jason and Travis on the other, we headed south. About 45 minutes down the road, we came to a road that took off to the left, and headed on up to the hills. By that time, I was having fun and enjoying the ride. The road was pretty good and it was very pretty with mountain ranges spread out in front of us. It didn’t last long! I have been trying to figure out how to describe this road to you. The only thing I can say is that it might qualify for the greatest 4 wheeling opportunity in the world. It makes the Garretts road look like a highway. (for those of you who have been there) We were zipping up and down those mountains…. Like straight up and down….who needs switch backs? Then, add to that the fact that they have probably never even heard of gravel. It is all dirt and rocks and dust. In the rainy season, the dirt would be mud, and the fact that it had no gravel would account for the deep ruts that we tried valiantly to stay out of. Our first mishap was at a hill that Travis and I figured out was close to a 40% grade. Our trusty motor bike was doing its level best to get us up that hill when it’s efforts failed. I went to jump off the back of the bike, while Ben tried to keep the bike upright, and my leg hit the muffler and burned itself! Then, Ben got the bike going and yelled back over his shoulder that I would have to walk. Great! Guess I could use more exercise. The only problem was that it was a very steep hill! Jason had gone roaring by on his motor bike and I was a little envious of Travis being able to ride when I heard a shout behind me. Travis had fallen off at the bottom of the hill and was trying to catch up to me. So, we panted our way up that hill and had just gotten to an even steeper part when we actually heard some crazy fiend with a pickup truck coming our way. (I know he was crazy because no normal person would have a truck out there) The nice thing was that when the crazy fiend saw us, he turned out to be quite nice and stopped to pick us up. We were worried that he would never get started again, but he did! He took us up to where Jason and Ben were sprawled out on the ground giving thanks for getting up the hill. Then, we actually had to get back on! I can’t tell you how many times I had to get off and walk, or how sore my posterior got before getting to BeOhTah, but we did make it! My assessment of that ride was that it was very much like riding a bucking bronco, and like a horse, you have to get off on the proper side, or you are going to get hurt!BeOhTah is a little village, nestled in a valley with mountains all around it. There are little wooden or bamboo houses dotting the hillsides with a nice sized stream running through the middle of it. Ben lived in this village for many months, and we went right to his house. The neighbors were so excited to see him again, and after getting settled, we went right down to visit them. They live in a rather large house, and are some of the sweetest people I have ever met. They welcomed us into their home, and seated us around a little sand box on the side of the living area. There was a little fire on the sandbox and its warmth was very welcome by that time of the evening. They cooked us some rice while we sat and talked. The lady of the house did something that I have never seen before! She picked up the rice pot out of the fire with her bare hands! She did not hurry about it but carried it to where she wanted it with no hurry at all! I was ready to faint just watching her do it, but she just laughed at my horrified expression and did not act like it hurt at all! I think that she must have burned herself so much that she did not have any nerves left or something. Her hands did look normal though, I checked them out pretty thoroughly!We spent the night at their place, laying on the floor beside the fire. It was nice and toasty warm at first, but as the fire died down it got very cold. I am still not good at sleeping on the floor, so I didn’t get much sleep at all. But it sure was neat, laying there in the middle of nowhere, knowing that this was these peoples home. They have nothing except for what they can make or grow themselves. Ben took us to their rice field. It is about ½ mile, straight up the side of the mountain. Each year, they have to clear the jungle, prepare the ground for planting, plant the rice, transplant the rice into the rice paddies, take care of the rice, harvest the rice and carry the rice back down to the village when they are done. Their rice field covered several acres, and this was enough rice for just one family for just one year. Literally, if they do not work, they cannot eat. I was staggered by the amount of work that they have to do. I would never even make the hike up that steep mountain to get to the rice field in the first place, let alone have to work all day up there after getting there.When we told them that we were only going to spend one night and then go back home, they begged us to stay longer. The old aunty counted on her fingers to four, telling me that the shortest amount of time I should spend with her was 4 days, and that 10 days would be much better! We tried to explain that the rest of the family was at home and that we had to leave, and she was very sad. When she learned that I do medical work, she told me all about her problems and asked for medicine. I was just kicking myself for not bringing any!While driving out, we saw a whole bunch of little children, maybe in the 4-7 year old range hiking down the hill. Ben said that they were on their way to school from a neighboring village. (that means miles away in rugged, steep, snake infested terrain) They will stay at the school all week, and then hike home for the weekend. After looking at that rice field, I understood the sacrifice that their parents are making to send them to school. These kids go to school because they want to, not because they have to.Once back to the wider cow path, we drove a little out of our way and visited the pagoda on top of the mountain. I find it very sad that the demons have such control over the people. The pagoda has sharp points all over it, and I have been told that it is to keep the demons from sitting on the top of it. But, a little way from the pagoda, they have a whole bunch of spirit houses. I guess the spirits can sit there without getting in trouble!When I stand on those mountain tops, I see villages tucked into the hills in every direction. There  are hundreds of villages that have no health care, and no one to tell them about God. I can’t tell you how that makes me feel. There is so much need, and so few who are willing to help them. And yet, this is only one little corner of the world. How many of us have spent our lives living for ourselves? We wonder if anyone will notice our latest outfit, and we gossip about what this person said about that person and how upset it makes us! We want the latest car, and a good job, and stuff to fill the void that only God can fill. We selfishly hoard our money, saving it in case we ever have a need.  If we could only see as God sees. We have thought that we were Christians when we don’t even know what the word means. If you want a deeper walk with God, then seek him, and when he tells you to go, then go! That is the only way that we can grow as Christians, and that is the only way this world will ever be reached for Jesus and we can all go home.