Morning Journey

It's 8:00, time to run out the door. This morning it's easy to leave, the boys aren't up yet, and therefore not begging me to stay. Shoes on, grab back pack and down the stairs. I smile as I pass some neighbors. Everyone is out and the day has begun. I cross the busy street, dodging cars and bikes. As I turn down the alley to cut through to the needed bus stop, I see the all too familiar sights and smell the aroma of life. My 10 minute walk through life. Men pulling their carts with different breakfast items. None that are native to me, some that look tempting, others that don't. One vendor has a megaphone that has his voice recorded, playing over and over the name of his contribution. Something I have never heard of. I speed up as a pass the public restroom. I don't want the smell to invade my senses, taking away the sweet smells around me. I see two women setting up their tables, each item placed just so to be adequately represented. They stop a minute to share a few words, maybe a joke. They talk in the abrupt, loud manner of the local language. They laugh. None of their words are recognizable to me. They see me coming, stare for a brief moment and get back to work. Everyone I pass stares. I return the stare with a smile, getting an embarrassed smile in return. A young woman is filling up a basin of water, preparing to wash her hair there on the sidewalk. She doesn't notice me with her important task at hand. As I pass the Elementary school I can hear the children reciting after the teacher. Maybe I could join their class, although they are far more advanced than I am. I walk by the small local market. It's buzzing like thousands of bees. I finally reach the main street and turn just in time to see the #16 bus pull away, that was my desired bus. Another will be along shortly. Now I have a few minutes to catch my breath after the brisk walk and to sip on my coffee. #16 pulls up and I step on, swipe my card and see that there is a blessing before me, a vacant seat. I get to relax on my way to class. The street is crowded but I hear very little. The bus is quiet. We stop at a red light and the bus driver turns off the engine to conserve gas. We sit in almost silence and I am thankful for the few quiet moments that are rarely a part of my day. The bus makes it's way through town, stopping to let people on and off. I often wonder where their day will lead them. Work? School? Back to their family? Do any of them know my Savior? Traffic seems light today and I reach the school with a few minutes to spare. Three hours of class in a cold classroom. Today is a good day, I don't feel completely lost during the lesson. Maybe I will get this language after all. Maybe I will please Father in my purpose for being here. Maybe this place will one day not feel so foreign to me.