God Favors the Simple

So, Martha is not very mobile the day before she gets a new hip here in Phuket, Thailand. We needed a few things, so she sent me on a mission to obtain the items we needed to survive for the next few days.

Garbage bags, coffee, milk, water and some stuff from the pharmacy. There was a small looking grocery store around the block which we passed by in a grab earlier on the way to a mall.

The store was much larger than it looked and not at all tourist friendly. I have never used Google translate as much as I did just to find where everything was. No, the isles had no signage, and everything was in Thai.

Let's just say, finding everything was a time-consuming challenge.

The store had different sections each with its own cashiers...and there were large lines at each.

I got what I needed in the pharmacy section and went to their cashier. I pulled out my Credit Card, and she wrote on a pad 500 and pointed at my card shaking her head no. I understood that the items must be over 500 BHT to use the card. 500 BHT is 16 dollars...and I was shy of that. So, I paid in cash, no problem.

I finished going through the rest of the store for about 4 more items. It took a half hour.

After standing in a long line for a cashier, I Google translated to a woman standing there..."is this line for fruit only?" This did seem like a fruit section...so I figured I already looked stupid, but it would have been worse to wait 30 minutes longer to have the cashier give me the look.

The woman pointed around the corner after she looked in my carry basket.

I got in another line, in the right line, wondering if I had enough cash. I had 320 BHT after the pharmacy visit. Ah, but I had several credit cards. They usually work at larger stores and most restaurants.

However, if the pharmacy, being in the same building was any indication of a normal policy for that building, if my item's didn't make 500 BHT, there were bottles of wine behind the counter. I could just add one, and boom, I should be golden.

I wasn't.

Apparently, or wasn't a building or store wide policy as they didn't take cards at all.

Keep in mind, all of this communication was in unintelligible language on both sides, many hand signals, and quick typing in Google translate.

I pulled out what cash I had, the 320 BHT and gave her a questioning look...she held up the milk only and said 100 as she pointed at it. Her message was clear. I did not have enough.

Google Translate: "How far is the nearest ATM?"

After much discussion amongst several cashiers, a few patrons, and a growing line behind me, a woman in another line said in very broken English "you stay, I lead you".

I waited until she completed her purchase. Then she led me out of the store to an older gentleman standing by a Grab moped.

Here in Thailand Grab does people in cars and on mopeds. However, mopeds are generally used to get food for folks. This guy had a food box on his wee little bike.

He said, "I take you to ATM and back." The woman was his wife. I figure they were both in their late 60's so barely older than me.

You must understand, riding in a car here is a bit terrifying. It's not as bad as Rome or Mumbai, but I would not, on my life, rent a scooter or even a monster bike on these roads. These drivers are nuts.

Realizing, I had no options and could not be rude to their generous offer, I trusted God's guidance and hopped on the tiny space between the food box and the man...

Yes, I think i have even more gray hair on my head...or whiter anyway.

We went along weaving through the traffic, and other scooters zipping around like crazy hornets. Between cars, I found myself wishing, for the poor man's sake, that I wasn't so fat. He did make quite a few grunts in a couple of turns.

We did make it there and back again.

I got in line again and paid for my items now worth my life. I tried to pay the man and his wife, but they refused. I had to just thank them profusely.

I love the Thai people, and I just love how God puts me in the weirdest circumstances and then provides for my desperate need.

I know He will bless this man and his wife in a great way.

Mission accomplished.