the run around

Have you ever felt like you have been given the run around?

Here in Madagascar it seems that this can be a normal occurrance. Just last week I was notified by a mail man that I had packages waiting for me at the main post office in the capital city about 1 hours bus ride into town. So, I embarked a bus and made my way into town not only to gather the packages but to meet with my language teacher for my Monday lesson.

I arrived at the post office and was sent in three different directions. I collected two packages and was fully inspected. Glad that some of the presents were wrapped and I was able to explain that it was my "anniversary" or Birthday and that people from the States loved me and wanted to bless me in this way. So, I did not have to open the other box. I paid my tax, this time it had grown to $20 american dollars on my end and was allowed to leave with the wonderful boxes of love that had been sent to me.

Two of the packages had been delivered to another station on the other side of town. Crazy! This is a first for so many of us. So we followed the directions, drove through town, past the turn off to our house and kept going like we were going out of town in the other direction. Went up a hill, around a corner and then after asking about three different people where the post was located for Ambohidratrimo we found the building. Parked the car, walked through the dirt, down a long set of steps to a ratty older looking building with one person sitting outside. She heard us talking and instantly I knew that she worked there because she was up, on her feet and asking for the "taratassy" or paperwork. I signed my name in two spots, paid my tax, this time only 2,000 ariary per package and was on my way. After all of that we were in and out of the post office in less than a minute.

I am blessed beyond measure with the kindness that people bestowed upon me by sending such thoughtful gifts of dream whip, soup mixes and drink mixes, super glue, birthday, Thanksgiving and Christmas cards with such amazing sentiments inside of them. The old time cartoons, hard candies, gum, brown sugar and baking soda were extreme blessings and touched my heart so directly! I am going to sleep tonight thinking of the items from home that I might be able to make in order to still feel connected in the smallest way, especially through this holiday season.

Praise the Lord for this amazing care! Thank you Diane, Peggy, Peter, Frank and my church in Fullerton! You really know how to send LOVE through the mail!